Portrait photo with blurred background

[Godfrey]

I have SONY A330 camera with a 18-55 mm lens. I would like to shoot a portrait photo with blurred background.
Please give me better camera settings/tips for this particular camera (e.g., priority mode, zooming length, distance from object, etc )
Thanks

[Geoff F]

We really need a bit more specific information about location (inside or outdoors) available lighting and type of background etc. Will you use flash or natural/studio lighting?

But very basically, opening up the aperture will reduce the depth of available sharp focus and give a blurred background. Providing there is sufficient distance behind your subject. Try shooting with Aperture Priority to give a suitable aperture.

Be careful about the lighting on the background though. Any over bright spots can ruin the effect.

Some experimentation is usually worthwhile.

[Manfred M]

Geoff has give you some good advice; the other trick with shallow depth of field shots is to ensure that the eye closest to the camera is in sharp focus, if other parts of the image are a bit soft, it will be okay. If the eye is not sharp, then the image will not "look right".

As you are shooting with a 18-55mm lens; shoot at the 55mm setting. That will do two things for you:

a. The longer focal length will result in less distortion in the face; and

b. The longer focal length will give you a narrower depth of field and throw the background out of focus more easily than a wider angle.


I assume this is along the lines of what you are looking for?


Karo 01 by The Grumpy Diver, on Flickr

[Godfrey]

Thanks guys !!!

Probably I may shoot outside with natural light. My camera has the lowest f value is 5. Should I use the lowest number?

My camera has 9 focus points, but I cannot select the preferred focus point manually. Should I move the camera till I get automatically focused point on the target object?

[IzzieK]

Pretty image, Manfred.

Geoff has give you some good advice; the other trick with shallow depth of field shots is to ensure that the eye closest to the camera is in sharp focus, if other parts of the image are a bit soft, it will be okay. If the eye is not sharp, then the image will not "look right".

As you are shooting with a 18-55mm lens; shoot at the 55mm setting. That will do two things for you:

a. The longer focal length will result in less distortion in the face; and

b. The longer focal length will give you a narrower depth of field and throw the background out of focus more easily than a wider angle.


I assume this is along the lines of what you are looking for?


Karo 01 by The Grumpy Diver, on Flickr

[Manfred M]

Thanks guys !!!

Probably I may shoot outside with natural light. My camera has the lowest f value is 5. Should I use the lowest number?

My camera has 9 focus points, but I cannot select the preferred focus point manually. Should I move the camera till I get automatically focused point on the target object?

Yes, shoot at f/5 at the 55mm setting. Set your camera to spot focusing (check your manual on how to do this - page 80) and use single shot autofocus (page 79).

[Manfred M]

Thanks Izzie - I was trying to make this shot look portrait like. Shooting conditions were so-so.

I picked up and used an ExpoImaging Rogue Flashbender, on the advice of some CiC members and it did the job for me.

[IzzieK]

Someone gifted me with the Rogue Flashbender...I haven't use it yet...guess I'm gonna have to use it now. It has great potentials.

Thanks Izzie - I was trying to make this shot look portrait like. Shooting conditions were so-so.

I picked up and used an ExpoImaging Rogue Flashbender, on the advice of some CiC members and it did the job for me.

[revi]

(...)

My camera has 9 focus points, but I cannot select the preferred focus point manually. Should I move the camera till I get automatically focused point on the target object?

Wrong, you can select any one of the 9 focus points:
use the Fn button, go to 'AF zone' (top right), click the 'AF' button, up/down arrows to select lowest option in the left column, right/left to select the AF point you want, click 'AF' button again to confirm, and shoot

(Perhaps a bit cryptic for others, just did the procedure on my camera)