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Question: Beginner photography question!?
I'm a aspiring beginner photographer!.
My teacher let me borrow his Olympus E-20n Camera!.
Thing is, I have no idea how to use it!.
How do I get that affect where the main object of the photo is sharp yet the rest of the photo is blurry, making the main object pop out!.
It has a few options at the top, Program Auto, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority!.

Help!? =/Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
That technique is called selective focus!.
With those options use the aperture priority mode and set it to a low number!. This technique is used in portraiture a lot!. Or to blur out a distracting background, it is very effective way to draw attention to the subject!.
http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/21125021@N0!.!.!.
http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/21125021@N0!.!.!.
http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/21125021@N0!.!.!.
http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/21125021@N0!.!.!.
http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/21125021@N0!.!.!.

Just some examples and note the exif data!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

You are trying to control the Depth of Field!. The Depth of Field is the amount of linear distance from the camera that is in focus!. You control that by adjusting the aperture of F-Stop!. The larger the F-Stop number the deeper your depth of field will be!.

If you set the camera to Aperture priority and adjust it to the smallest F-Stop number (it will likely be a number less than 5) you will be able to focus on the subject and the background will be blurry and out of focus!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

if you use the automatic setting and focus the lens directly on the object you want to be sharp or "pop out" then the rest should be blurry!. in most cases with my expirience, if you are too close to the object it could make everything in focus so if you stand farther away and just zoom in on the object you may have a better chance at capturing this effect!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think that you are thinking of the macro setting!. Usually on a camera that is the one with a flower on it!. Aperture is what is letting light in, and shutter speed should probably be at 100 or 125!. But I would just stick to Program Auto!.
The best thing to do is just play around and figure out what you like and dislike and what works!. You should probably ask your teacher to show you some pointers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The comments about aperture priority are exactly correct!. A large aperture (small number, like F2!.8 or F4) gives you a small depth of field, which means a limited part of your photo will be in focus!. Things in front or behind that plane will be out of focus!. Whether your lens is wide angle, telephoto or something in between will also influence how much the background is blurred



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the blurry objects in the background are usually done by panning that means if the object is moving then follow the object with your camera!. dont just look through the veiw finder and move your head actually have the camera move with it in the same direction!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

for you as a beginner you should stay at the auto program!. your camera should be able to focus the object on its own and the blurry surrounding is there anyway if you do so!.Www@QuestionHome@Com