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How to Make a Background Blurry With an SLR

With its versatile file formats and ease of editing, digital photography has opened a variety of photographic possibilities. Effects that once took painstaking mechanical setting changes and calculations now take place in seconds with photo editing software. However, digital techniques do not always match the effect of their analog counterparts. Effects like blur, for example, can be added to photos digitally or with a simple technique using an SLR or Single Lens Reflex camera.

Things You'll Need

SLR camera

Instructions

- 1
  Set the shooting setting on an SLR camera to "Aperture Priority," represented by the symbol "Av" on many cameras. This will allow you to set the aperture and the camera will automatically set the correct exposure.
- 2
  Set the camera's aperture setting to its lowest number, or "highest" aperture setting. This will open the shutter as wide as possible when you press the shutter button, creating the maximum amount of blur.
- 3
  Point the SLR at your subject and press the shutter button to take a photograph. Take several exposures of the image at this aperture setting.
- 4
  Lower the aperture setting to the next highest number and take several exposures at this setting. Repeat this process with the next aperture setting, providing you with three levels of blur behind your subject.

Photography