How to take pics when the subject is clear, and the background is not...

[interceptionseven]

Im using a Fujifilm Finepix S2000Hd, and would like to know the technique. Mind you, my camera doesn't have the A mode.. Is there another way?

[Liz Caldwell]

Does it have M?

[Liz Caldwell]

I was able to find the user manual online, http://www.fujifilm.com/products/dig..._manual_02.pdf

I'll see if I can't what you're looking for.

[interceptionseven]

yes.. it has M mode..

[Liz Caldwell]

Wow, your camera has strange settings, but it seems you've been faced with a challenge. According to your manual your camera does not have an aperture priority (which sets the shutter speed for you). You do have S mode which according to your manual (page 44), if you are in S mode you can press the +/- button to select your shutter speed, if you do the same while pressing the shutter half way you can select your aperture which will be displayed in red.

Rahter than going through all of that, however, I challenge you to learn how to do it all manually.

[takethislife5150]

theres a number of ways, but with a point and shoot, try a wide aperture, and maybe compose it so there isn't anything in the immediate background, so blurring is easier

[interceptionseven]

hmm.. the thing abt my manual mode, i set the manual mode and aperture value, shutter is 1/160 and f3.5 and f7. no other numbers, i mean, no other f number, only shutter is changed. its as though i rather use S mode to capture pics..

[takethislife5150]

so you can't adjust the aperture even on M?

dang.

One of the reasons I invested in a dSLR. Complete control.

[interceptionseven]

hahaha.. yes i know..

but i cant invest on a DSLR straight away.. coz i dont have any photography back ground so i started with a semi-pro camera first. well thanks anyway.

i tried a few shot with a shutter speed of 1/160 to take a pic of a clip. when i review the pic, the background was blurred while the subject was sharp.. f no. was 7 i think... guess i need to do more experiments with it..