Using bokeh for mood with the NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7

Working with f/1.7: when to open up and when to hold back

The f/1.7 maximum aperture gives you a lot of creative control, but you need to be intentional with it. Wide open, the depth of field gets very thin, especially at the minimum focusing distance of 0.16m. When photographing a stack of pancakes at f/1.7, only the top layer stays sharp, everything else goes soft. This can work well for mood-driven images. For a mini pavlova with berries, where you want to show the meringue texture and fruit without too much detail, f/2.5 creates a nice softness. The bokeh is smooth with rounded highlights thanks to the nine-blade aperture. For overhead images or dishes with height, f/3.2 gives me enough depth of field while keeping the shallow-focus look. I used this for a charcuterie board photographed from above, where the main spread stayed sharp while a plate in the corner went soft – enough blur to suggest there’s more without pulling focus from the main composition.

Macro: the hidden mood maker

When used in close-up/macro settings, bokeh becomes more pronounced. The background doesn’t just blur, it becomes colour and light, putting all the focus on your small subject. I photographed a prosecco pour at f/5, keeping the rising bubbles sharp. Lights positioned behind the glass created warm, glowing circles in the background that added atmosphere without clutter. The technique is to position your subject where light transitions from bright to shadow, then let the bokeh soften those tones behind your focus point.

Controlling light and background for emotional bokeh

Bokeh quality depends on what you put out of focus. I pay as much attention to backgrounds as I do to styling the food. Textured surfaces such as weathered wood or linen create bokeh with more character. Smooth surfaces give cleaner, minimal backgrounds.

Distance is important. The further your background is from your subject, the softer it becomes. I set up a dinner table and kept my camera in one position. First, I focused on a plate closer to the lens, then shifted focus to a plate further back. The bokeh effect was quite different – the same scene told two different stories. Focusing on the near plate made the far setting look like a soft suggestion of other place settings. Being able to change the mood just by shifting focus is useful for larger scenes – you can try different compositions without moving your set-up. The Z50II handled the low light well, and photographing at f/4.5 kept my main plate sharp while creating a soft glow in the background. Elements at different distances stay visible without being distracting, helping you direct where viewers look.

The mood you’re after

The NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 is versatile. It’s sharp enough for editorial work, fast enough for atmospheric images, and focuses close enough for texture details. The pairing is light and easy to handle, which helps when photographing in tight spaces or working with natural light. This lens made me slow down and think about what being out of focus adds to the image. Is this a bright brunch scene where you want f/4 and more context? Or a moody evening image where f/1.7 and strong bokeh create intimacy? For food photographers looking to expand their options, this lens offers a good range. Sometimes what you leave soft matters as much as what you keep sharp.