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Category: How to Use Camera Lenses and Focus

Photography Question 

Kevin Burns
 

How to Get a Blurred Background


When using aperture setting 2.8, that would be a large aperture, and a f9 would be a small aperture. If this correct ("please read below") ... then how would one get a blurred background: Would one use the large or small aperture? Zoom tele or wide setting? Or just anywhere in-between? How far should subject be from camera, and how far behind the subject should the background be? I understand that different lenses will have different numbers, so I am just looking for in general answers. My lens is T:2.8-3.0 f=6-36mm
Thanks all!!


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July 16, 2005

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  How far isn't an answer you can really be given. The general answer is to use a large aperture (low f/stop number) - the larger the more blur. The greater the distance from background, the more blur. The closer to the camera, the more blur. The longer the focal length, the more blur.
So stay down around f/4, fill the frame, and if your first thought is the background looks close, then move away from it. Practice till you learn to what to do beforehand.


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July 16, 2005

 

Kevin Burns
  Thanks!!


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July 16, 2005

 

Shari L. Dunn
  It also depends on your lense. It sounds like you have a macro lens? You want to try and zoom in a bit and have the aperture around f4 or under, also if your shutter speed is adjustable, you'll want to make sure you can take a photo for natural light with no less than a 1/100th or you'll get motion blur. Just try to keep the f-stop at 4 and bring the zoom in as close as you can and keep practicing. I have the best luck with a 200mm lens but that's me, my husband with a 45mm lens. Hope this helps and good luck.


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July 19, 2005

 

Kevin Burns
  Thanks!!


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July 19, 2005

 
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