Beginner needing help blurring background for portraits

MichaelHo · 27 Oct 2007 at 12:44

Just got my 400D and been testing it out.
I have been trying to take portraits while blurring out the background however I can't seem to do this. I know that you need to keep the aperture quite wide for this and I can do it when taking macro type photos of plants and watches, but when I try with a portrait the background is still in focus.

Any tips?

Paul11 · 27 Oct 2007 at 12:59

as you say, use as wide aperture as you can.

also, use zoom with the lens, this might mean you have to move back a bit.

and try to have as much distance between your subject and the background.

edit:

you can also add this effect in your post processing afterwards in something like photoshop

MichaelHo · 27 Oct 2007 at 13:08

I'm just using the standard kit lens so max zoom is 55mm with f 5.6. My subjects pretty close to the wall so I'm guessing with these settings I will not be able to get the max degree of blur.

robertgilbert86 · 27 Oct 2007 at 13:08

Buy the 50mm f1.8 Mk II
You'll be very happy with results from that. I think it's only £50-60...

[Well if the subject is close to the wall then the wall would be in focus. Get the background far from the person and try.]

MichaelHo · 27 Oct 2007 at 13:13

Yep, thats definitely my next lens. Am just playing around with the kit lens to see how functions work etc. then will get the 50mm f1.8.

How do you PP background blur?

robmiller · 27 Oct 2007 at 13:14

Lasso the background and apply lens blur to it, but it's quite hard to do consistently and convincingly with anything but a really simply background.