How can I take photos with a blurry background?
Asked 6/16/2013
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2 answers
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I accidentally took a photo where the subject is sharp but the background looks blurred, and I’d like to learn how to do that on purpose. I usually shoot in auto mode and I’m still learning exposure settings. What controls this effect, and what can I do with a compact camera like the GEX500 to get a blurry background again?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
3
The shallow depth of field you see is a combination of aperture, sensor-size and focal-length.
This has nothing to do with ISO or shutter-speed but these have to balance the exposure.
The wider the aperture, the shallower the depth-of-field. The longer the focal-length, the shallower the depth-of-field. To maximize the effect you therefore should shoot as zoomed in as your can and with the widest aperture possible.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
What you want is usually called a blurred background or shallow depth of field.
The main things that help are:
- use the widest aperture available (smallest f-number)
- zoom in / use a longer focal length
- get closer to your subject
- keep the background much farther behind the subject
ISO and shutter speed do not directly create background blur from depth of field; they mainly help balance exposure. (Shutter speed can blur a background in a different way during panning, where you follow a moving subject.)
With a compact camera like the GEX500, this effect can be harder to get because small sensors and short lenses naturally keep more of the scene in focus. The easiest way to improve your chances is to move closer to your subject and place the subject well away from the background.
So, for a portrait-style shot: stand close to the subject, zoom in as much as practical, use the widest aperture your camera allows, and avoid backgrounds that are close behind them.
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