Secret to Bokeh?

[Xia_Ke]

zr is essentially right. The more you open up your lens (the lower the aperture number) the more you will isolate your subject, blurring the background, creating bokeh. Add to that the more distance between your subject and the background, the more pronounced your bokeh will be. Bokeh can vary A LOT depending on the lens. Here's a few samples I found on Flickr to give you an idea:

Canon 50mm f/1.8
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotopakismo/2055359862/

Canon 18-55mm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/geeo123/2909492801/

Some of the older portrait lenses can get some crazy bokeh like the swirly bokeh of the old Petzval lenses
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42499129@N00/3070239224/

[PRB]

Thanks Aaron for mentioning that the LENS you're using makes a lot of difference.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Aaron for mentioning that the LENS you're using makes a lot of difference.

No problem

I just remembered an article that demonstrates this quite well amongst modern Nikon lenses:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/bokeh-comparison.htm

[JoshD]

awesome, thanks guys

so the more narrow the aperture, and wider the focus area the less blurred the background will be.

looks like i can have some fun with this, good stuff