How do I blur background in photos??

[ejs0035]

Hi Im very new to all of this - have just bought myself a new camera (fuji finepix s2000) not the best, I know, and I know absolutely nothing about taking photos - have been reading all about exposure, ISO, aperture etc and have finally taken camera off Automatic, but no matter how hard I try I can not take a picture where the main feature in the photo is clear and the background blurred (ie person in pic nicely focused and the background nice and blurred) can someone please tell me how this is done!!!:

not even sure if Im posting this message OK

[kirbinster]

Very simple, you want a very shallow depth of field. The way you get that is to shoot at a very small f-stop number (wide open) like f/1.8 or f/2.8. Take a look at an online depth of field calculator and it will show you for your camera and lens at a given distance what depth of field you will get at a specific f-stop.

[WVCoalMiner]

Gonna be hard to do with that Point and Shoot.

[ejs0035]

Thanks for the help!! - my camera is not a point and shoot - but it does only have 2 aperture settings (at least i think thats what they are) f4 and f8.5 - although whilst I was 'playing' around with it the other day Im sure it changed (somehow) to f7.

[private]

What camera do you have?

[WVCoalMiner]

Fujifilm FinePix S2000 HD Camera Review | DigitalPixels.net - Photography Blog

Although the Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD has the usual compliment of creative controls and 'DSLR lite' looks, suggesting that it's suitable for the budding pro seems a little wide of the mark. So, is the S2000HD alternatively a good option for the relative photographic novice who nevertheless requires a large zoom reach? The answer is pretty much yes. It's fun to use, delivers the results and even if, in the final analysis, they're neither as sharp or as evenly exposed as some of the competition.

DSLR Lite look??? I still call it a Point and Shot it has optical zoom no lens interchangeability and at f4 your background is gonna have to be about a mile behind your subject to get it blurred LOL
Now if that P&S would open up to f1.4 @ 50mm you'd be set!!!! LOL

[ejs0035]

yep thats the one - fuji finepix 2000SD - please help

[kirbinster]

You should be able to get some shallow depth of field with f/4. Get close to the subject to have less depth of field too.

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by ejs0035

Thanks for the help!! - my camera is not a point and shoot - but it does only have 2 aperture settings (at least i think thats what they are) f4 and f8.5 - although whilst I was 'playing' around with it the other day Im sure it changed (somehow) to f7.

I imagine that if you put it in a shutter priority mode that it might be picking an intermediar f/stop that you may not be able to select yourself when in aperature mode -- but that is just a guess.

[WVCoalMiner]

f2.8 at 200mm L glass a $2,500.00 lens

Ms. America 2009
Had I used the 50mm at f1.8 would have blurred even more.
You are just NOT gonna be able to do this with that Camera!!!!!