Taking photo question

How do I take a photo where the subject is clear

but the background is kind of blurd,if that sound right.

I've just got a FUJI S5700,

Think we need a photography section if any body is listening;)

Not sure if there is a setting on the camera for this, or if you need a special lens.

Your depth of field (how much is in focus) is primarily determined by three things - focal length, aperture, and distance to the subject.

Unfortunately, a lot of point and shoots can't give you much in the way of shallow depth of field, because the sensors are so small. If you have a manual or aperture priority mode, try taking your shot with a wide open lens (small aperture value)

its got an aperture mode I'll keep practising thankyou.

Digital cam? Point, shoot, Photoshop Or any free photo-editing software. It takes time, but it's worth taking the trouble to learn how to edit your pics.

So its the editing then, not the photo taking, I've got microsoft

digital imaging I'll have a play with that, thankyou

If you're good with a cam, then you can achieve what you want, providing you have the right equipment. If you're like me and not one of the greatest photographers on earth, then you can achieve impressive things with photo-editing software.

Do you recommend any.

Think I need to read the instruction book, on mine

Do you recommend any.

Think I need to read the instruction book, on mine

We all have to resort to that eventually

If you want to try editing, you might like to try paint.net - it's free and powerful, but needs .NET installing if you don't already have it (Windows XP or Vista).

So its the editing then, not the photo taking, I've got microsoft

digital imaging I'll have a play with that, thankyou

You could achieve it in editing (selectively blur the bits you want blurred), but it is quite possible in camera.

marypoppins,

as it's digital camera you can experiment with no cost unlike a film camera.

Set the camera to aperture mode.

Set your subject up, doesn't have to be a person, a dustbin will do, with abackground.

Choose a focal length of the lens, say 6.3mm , set the aperture of your lens , say f=3.5, focus, and take a shot.

Then choose another aperture focus and shoot.

Make a note of the aperture as you go.

repeat ad nauseum.

You can then compare all the shots you have taken to see how the depth of field changes with aperture and which gives you the effect you want.

You can also repeat the whole exercise with subject at different distances from the camera.

These links are more than you need but do give a simple explanation at the beginning (I ignored the maths cos I don't understand it!!!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field

http://snodart.com/tutorials.php

HTH.

The lower the number on aperture mode the less background will be in focus.