Published: | Updated:

WHAT IS PORTRAIT MODE?

First launched by Apple for its iOS 10.1 software update in 2016, Portrait Mode is a feature that blurs the background of whatever the user is snapping, to make the object or person being photographed stand out. 

The effect, also known as 'bokeh' is easily obtained on DSLR and compact cameras with manual aperture control, but is harder to replicate on a smartphone camera. 

Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke which means 'blur' or 'haze'.

According to camera firm Nikon, Bokeh is defined as 'the effect of a soft out-of-focus background that you get when shooting a subject using a fast lens, at the widest aperture, such as f/2.8 or wider.' 

To increase the likelihood of visible bokeh in photographs, one should increase the distance between their subject and the background, and this can be done by decreasing the distance between the camera and subject. 

Advertisement

Read articles that feature this panel

Instagram hidden code reveals it could be about to launch its own version of Apple's 'Portrait mode' to take professional-looking photos

California-based tech company Instagram may be launching a portrait mode feature that blurs the background of photos, similar to Apple's...

Instagram launches 'Focus' tool that lets users add iPhone-style portrait mode to photos and videos on almost any device

Called 'Focus', the feature allows users to take portrait photos, which soften the background once a camera detects a face in its view. It...

Most watched News videos