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How to Take a Portrait With a Blurred Background

The term "Bokeh" refers to a slightly out-of-focus background that can appears in pictures. This technique that is done in camera at the time the picture is taken is particularly effective when done in portrait photography. The soft background helps to direct the viewer's eye to the subject of the picture. The effect is created by using a lens that has large minimum aperture and using the lens at its largest opening.

Things You'll Need

Digital or film single-lens reflex or point-and-shoot camera
50 mm or 85 mm lens

Instructions

- 1
  Attach a 50 mm or 85 mm lens to your digital single-lens reflex camera. If you are using a point-and-shoot camera, set the lens to a 50- or 85-mm position. The background is important for this to work. If you are shooting in a studio with a plain backdrop you will not see any result from this technique. A nature scene of trees, flowers, beach or landscape offers a good background for this method.
- 2
  Turn the camera on and set the exposure mode to "Aperture Priority." You want to control the size of the aperture for this to work correctly. By selecting "Aperture Priority," you set the aperture --- the opening in the lens --- and the camera will select a shutter speed for the best possible exposure.
- 3
  Turn the input dial and select the largest aperture setting which is represented by the smallest number. For example, if you are using a 50 mm f1.8 lens, the f1.8 is the largest aperture for that lens. Turn the dial until you see f1.8 appear in your screen or viewfinder. At this setting you need to be precise with the focusing.
- 4
  Hold the camera up to your eye, position the focus point on the subject's eye, press and hold the shutter release halfway down to activate the focusing and metering programs on the camera. Once the camera has focused on the subject's eye, compose the picture to your liking and press the shutter release all the way down to take the picture.

Photography