How to take photos with a blurry background

If you wondered how to make the background in the photo blurry so that using the correct focus only the most important element in the photo is highlighted, then you will find useful information from this article :).

Blurred back and front background. My photo. F2.0, 50mm, ISO 200, 4000 ', Helios-81n, Nikon D40

Blurred background and foreground. My photo. F2.0, 50mm, ISO 200, 4000 ′, Helios-81n, Nikon D40


The blurred background in the photo can be in two main ways:

1. Using the camera settings
2. Using software

Blurred photo

Blurred photo


On the blurring power and creating bokeh is the strongest The following physical parameters affect:

  1. Geometric aperture lens, it’s the same aperture. The smaller the F number, the finer the depth of field (depth of sharply depicted space) and the more the background and background are blurred.
  2. The focal length of the lens. The larger the focal length of the lens, the more the background will be blurred.
  3. Focusing distance to the subject. The shorter the focus distance (the distance between the camera and what you shoot), the more blurred the background.
  4. The distance between the subject and the background. The farther the background from the subject, the more blurry it is.
  5. Optical design (more specifically affects the nature of the blur). The better the optical design, the more pleasant the bokeh :)
  6. Indirectly affects matrix size the camera. More than matrix size, the more viewing angle and the closer you need to get to the subject, which, in fact, rests on the 3rd point. Therefore, they argue that full-format cameras blur the background more strongly than cropped. Speaking rudely, the more crop factorthe harder it is to blur the background.
  7. Also, blurring is affected by special nozzles and filters on the lens. Here an example of a simple home-made Center Spot filter.

You can also blur the background using special graphic editors. But, of course, a more natural and natural blurring of the background occurs directly when shooting. In order to blur the background with the camera as much as possible, you need to configure it correctly.

What is the best way to set up your camera

1. Need to maximize aperture... F-number is usually responsible for the aperture. It is very convenient to take photos with a blurred background in the aperture priority mode, which is indicated on the camera mode dial by the letters'A' or 'Av'. Open - means to decrease the F number. For example, the F3.5 aperture value is greater than the F5.6 aperture value. If, for example, the camera is set to F8.0, then to open the aperture you need to lower it to the minimum allowable, usually F5.6, F3.5, F2.8. On fast lenses, even F1.8 and F1.4 can be set. For example, on a piece of paper I printed “This is the background” and to blur it I first shot at F / 1.4, and in order to develop it more, I shot at 16.0

The effect of the aperture on the depth of field and on the blurriness of the background

The effect of the aperture on the depth of field and on the blurriness of the background

2. You need the maximum focal length on your existing lens (that is, unscrew the zoom to maximum). Than more will be the focal length, the easier it will be to blur the background. To do this, you should make the maximum approximation on a digital camera, and on a SLR - simply transfer the lens to the focal length with the maximum number. For example, if you have a standard '18 -55mm 'class lens, then it will be best to blur the background at 55mm (at the maximum extreme position with the largest number of focal lengths). On a regular digital camera (aka 'soapbox'), sometimes you can simply turn on the macro mode, while the lens itself is set to the maximum focal length.

Sample photo with blurry background

Sample photo with blurry background

3. Finally, get as close as possible to the subject you are shooting. The closer the subject is to the lens, the stronger the blur. In this case, the lens will focus closer and closer. Just see that the frame is well-arranged, otherwise you can shoot something completely different from what was planned.

Sample photo with blurry background

Sample photo with blurry background


Boke

Of course, many have heard of bokeh. Bokeh is the nature of the background blur, including its intensity. If the lens blurs the background well, then the lens is said to have good bokeh. There is a lot of debate about the beauty of bokeh - which lens is better or worse. Bokeh has its own plasticity, distortions, twisting, etc., the feeling of beauty of bokeh comes with experience and each has its own.

Sample photo with blurry background. Soft bokeh

Sample photo with blurry background. Soft bokeh


Chasing bokeh

The pursuit of better bokeh is a comparison of a huge number of shots, all sorts of arguments in favor of a particular lens, which leads to the pursuit of fast and long-focus lenses, which cost a lot of money.

Sample photo with blurry background

Sample photo with blurry background


Which lens blurs the background the most

Coming from previous thoughts, the lens with a large focal length and large aperture... For example, 50mm lenses blur the background well - lenses with a XNUMXmm focal length and a large aperture F1.4, the short telephones of the 135mm F2.0 type blur the background even more strongly, the 200 mm F2.0 telephones are even stronger, and so on. But the longer the focal length and the larger aperture, the more expensive the lens. Therefore, usually amateurs stop at a fifty-kopeck piece of the 50mm F1.4 type, or on a dark, but long-focus telephoto lens of the 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 type. Which lens is best for you - it depends only on your personal considerations.

Sample photo with blurry background

Sample photo with blurry background


More thoughts about blurring

If you delve into the subtleties of what affects the bokeh more, then it is difficult to reach a consensus, but please note that sometimes the focal length affects more than aperture the lens. Also, the blur of the background is indirectly affected by the size of the sensor for the same lens. So on full-frame cameras they say that blur is stronger with the same lens. The depth of field of the lens does not change - it is a physical quantity. So what's the catch? And the catch is that the focusing distance of the lens changes to compose the same frame. And of course, the farther the background is from the subject, the more it will blur. By the way, short-focus lenses with large aperture it’s better to blur the background, which is close to the subject.

Background blur in a full-length portrait

Background blur in a full-length portrait


Photoshop will also help

If the picture is taken and you want to blur the background, then Photoshop or another program will come to the rescue. There are a lot of blur methods and I will not dwell on them.

What is blurring the front and back (far) plan in general?

What is blurring the front and back (far) plan in general?


Conclusions:

For maximum blur, shoot with the widest aperture and the maximum focal length of your lens. In this case, the further the distance between the background and the subject is and the closer the distance between the camera and the subject, the more the background will be blurred. If the camera cannot provide a normal blur, you can finish it in a special program, such as Photoshop.

↓↓↓ Like it :) ↓↓↓ Thank you for your attention. Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 444, on the topic: How to take pictures with a blurred background

  • Gregory

    Matrix
    The total number of pixels is 16.4 million
    The number of effective pixels is 16.2 million
    Physical size 1 / 2.33 ″
    Crop factor 5.7
    Maximum Resolution 4608 x 3456
    Type of matrix CCD
    Functionality
    White balance is automatic, from the list
    Built-in flash, red-eye reduction
    Dual Image Stabilizer
    Shooting modes
    Macro shooting is
    There is a timer
    Timer 2, 10 s
    Aspect ratio (still image) 4: 3, 3: 2, 1: 1, 16: 9
    Lens
    Focal length (35 mm equivalent) 22.30 - 579.80 mm
    Optical Zoom 26x
    Aperture F3.1 - F5.9
    Viewfinder and LCD screen
    No viewfinder
    LCD screen 230000 pixels, 3 inches
    exposure
    Shutter speed 8 - 1/2000 s
    Manual adjustment of shutter speed and aperture no
    Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 steps
    Exposure metering 3D color matrix, center-weighted, spot
    Focusing
    Face focusing is
    Minimum shooting distance 0.01 m
    Memory and Interfaces
    Type of memory cards SD, SDHC, SDXC
    The amount of internal memory 52 MB
    JPEG image formats
    Interfaces USB 2.0, video, HDMI, audio
    Food
    Battery Format: AA Compatible
    Number of batteries 4
    Record video and sound
    There is video recording
    MPEG4 Video Codecs
    Maximum video resolution 1280 × 720
    Maximum movie frame rate 30 fps
    Maximum frame rate when shooting HD video 25/30 fps at a resolution of 1280 × 720
    Sound recording is

    • Arkady Shapoval

      At a distance of 10m this is not possible with your camera.

  • igor

    how to take a subject at a far distance so that the photo is not blurry

  • Andrei

    And with this Canon EOS M camera you can create a blurred background or front background, I'm just looking for a good hybrid camera and can’t decide for a long time ??) Give me some valuable advice, please)
    here are the specifications:

    Image Sensor CMOS 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Aspect Ratio: 3: 2
    18 million effective pixels
    EOS Integrated Cleaning System
    Low Pass Filter: Built-in / Fixed
    JPEG image resolution 3: 2: (L) 5184 x 3456 / (M) 3456 x 2304 / (S1) 2592 x 1728 / (S2) 1920 x 1280 / (S3) 720 x 480
    RAW: 5184 x 3456
    Photosensitivity Auto / 100/200/400/800/1600/3200/6400/12800
    EF-M lens (EF and EF-S lenses compatible with the EF-EOS M mount adapter)
    Equivalent to 1.6x the focal length of the lens
    Includes 18-55 DC III Kit
    Focus Hybrid CMOS AF system. Phase detection pixels integrated in the image sensor
    System / AF points: 31 AF points (maximum)
    Autofocus Modes: Single-Shot AF and Tracking AF
    JPEG image recording: high quality, normal (Exif 2.30 compatible) / Design rule for Camera (2.0) file system
    RAW: RAW (14 bits, Canon's original second version RAW file)
    Full HD video recording (1920 × 1080)
    Shutter Shutter with electronic first curtain and mechanical second curtain
    Exposure: 30–1 / 4000 s (in 1/2 or 1/3 increments) / manual long exposure
    Exposure Measurement Evaluative Metering
    Partial metering in the center
    Spot metering
    Center-weighted average metering
    White balance Auto white balance using image sensor
    Values: Auto / Daylight / Shade / Cloudy / Incandescent / White / Fluorescent / Flash / Manual
    White balance compensation:
    1. Blue / Amber +/- 92. Purple / Green +/- 9.
    Digital Image Effects Intelligent Scene Mode
    Snapshot mode: Creative Auto / Portrait / Landscape / Macro / Sports / Night Portrait / Handheld Night / HDR Backlight / Program AE / Shutter Priority AE / Aperture Priority AE / Manual Exposure
    Movie Mode: Auto Exposure Mode / Manual Exposure Mode
    Viewfinder No
    LCD Monitor Clear View II LCD touchscreen / 77 mm (3.0 ″) 3: 2 / approx. 1.04M dots
    Coverage: 100%
    Viewing angle: approximately 170 °
    Built-in Flash No
    MOV Playback (Video: H.264 / Sound: Linear PCM / recording level can be manually adjusted by the user)
    DPOF (Direct Print) Supports
    SDXC, SD / SDHC memory cards
    Communication with a computer miniHDMI / 3.5 mm / video output (via USB)
    Power Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E12
    108.6 width mm
    Depth 102.3 mm
    Height 66.5 mm
    Weight (gram) 488
    24 month warranty
    Black color

  • Vladimir

    and I’m wondering if this camera can do a blurry background, I also want this myself)

  • Elena

    Hello! Can someone please tell me about the lens, for Nikon D 90. I have had a landscape lens since birth, that is, with a large aperture. I want to buy with a little, so that the background (background) is blurred with a bokeh effect, for portrait photos, possibly in full growth, by a company of people. I read, I read ... and I do not understand. I don’t feel like scamming. Tell me what suits me, specific models if possible. For the price is not too expensive and not very cheap.

  • Elena

    And I want to add. that I know and understand how to use all these points, but in practice I don’t know what exactly suits me .. What is the average model, bought at the price and blur effect

    • Victor

      NIKON NIKKOR 50MM F / 1.8D Lens
      Or Lens NIKON 50MM F / 1.8G AF-S NIKKOR
      Because Do you have a screwdriver you can take 1st it will be cheaper by 3 thousand

  • Ksenia

    Arkady, but tell me on the Nikon D80 camera can I get a qualitatively blurred background?

    • anonym

      One can

  • Nurzhan

    Good day. I have a camera nikon d3100 18-55mm I can not understand how to fully configure the M mode I can not find the instructions. Arkady tell me how to get into the menu to the aperture and shutter speed?

    • Nicholas

      why do you need to go to the shutter speed and aperture menus in M ​​mode .. everything is visible in the viewfinder, change exposure parameters anywhere

    • Onisimko

      Take a picture on Sony Erickson, on the machine. About ten years. Then go to the automatic DSLR. But not as cool as the d3100.

  • Guzel

    Hello !!!)) Sorry to bother you, can you tell me too ... is it possible to achieve a blurred background with Nikon D 5100 ?? I tried to adjust, well, it does not work (the photo is all blurry, maybe I am doing something wrong ... Thanks in advance!

    • Nicholas

      In aperture priority mode, open it as far as possible

  • Guzel

    lens 18-55 ...

    • anonym

      maximum open aperture and zoom at 55

  • Alina

    Tell me, which one is better to choose a lens, so that the background is more blurry? Now I have a kit d3100

    • anonym

      Macro lens, portrait, tele ... anyone will blur

  • Nastya

    Tell me for Sony Alpha 35 which lens is suitable?

  • Anton

    Hello! Please tell me, Nikon D3200 Kit 18-55 II, I want to buy one, how things are with back blurring on this, or what else to buy. Thanks.

  • Anna

    Hello! Please tell me, is it possible to take pictures with a blurry background on the Olympus sp-620 uz camera?

  • Julia

    Arkady, thanks for the useful article. Found you through Google. How to blur the background interested.
    I will give a link to your site in my photo blog http://lysulka.blogspot.com/

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thank you.

  • Marina

    Arkady, thanks for the educational program - accessible and understandable)). I have a Canon EOS 550D, a kit lens. After the courses, I decided - I like portrait photography and of course with bokeh, as without it)). As I understand it, the fifty-kopeck piece is shining for me, I want 1,8 or 1,4, I will figure out the finances. Tell me specific models, please. Thanks in advance!

  • Dmitriy

    'Got sick' with photographing and, reading articles about it, I realized that photography requires: 1. education (theory) 2. painstaking and patience (studio, portrait, little bird animals in terms of waiting for a suitable pose or movement) 3. ability and desire to move legs (goodbye too lazy!) 4.so you need to invest money 5..6 ... the more interesting life has become! Thank you Arkady - write for us.

  • Lyudmila

    Please advise. I want to buy an inexpensive digital camera ... somewhere up to 2000 yew. UAH But it is desirable that the pictures are cool and clear. I'm a beginner so far I don't understand anything about it))) and I would like to blur the background. Thanks in advance.

  • Elena

    Hello Arkady. I have a Canon600D 18-55mm camera. I want to buy a Canon EF 50mm f / 1.4 lens
    I want to consult whether it is worth it, or a waste of money?

  • Alyona

    I bought a canon eos 1100 d camera recently. Tell me how to make a blurry background!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I think you should read this article first. If an incomprehensible question arises, then ask it here.

  • Alyona

    Hello Arkady, I read your article a little and figured it out. I can’t do it below 5,6 and the background is not very blurry. Tell me what to do. In general, when I photograph an object it’s not clear. Maybe I’m doing wrong (((

  • Maksim

    Hello Arkady. Thank you for the article! I want to give Zhenya a gift for DR, Nikon D90 and Nikon 85 f / 1.8D AF Nikkor optics - can this "tandem" achieve good background blur?

    • Jurman

      Maxim, of course you can, even how.

  • Yana

    Tell me, which one is better to choose a lens, so that the background is more blurry, for a portrait photo of children? Now I have a Nikon d5200 18-55VR kit

  • Ivan

    Hello Arkady!
    Please tell me the camera up to 7 tr, or several models that can blur the background. Thank you in advance!

  • Vladimir

    Thank you very much for your work - very informative, accessible, interesting!
    From now on, I am your regular reader / student.

    • Anatoly Snezhan

      When there are so many questioners (and 90% of blondes and blondes ask, without reading a single paragraph from the set of cognitive articles by A. Shapoval), then the only one answering, to put it mildly, is slightly worried, does not even have time to give it. (This is general reflection information.)
      But I have a big and interesting question. Arkady, tell me, please, if I have three H-mount lenses (MC Helios 81N, Telear, Mir-24), then what a modern amateur Nikon (but up to D7100 - this one is very expensive!) To me, not a teapot full of holes in photography, preferable to buy? So that both for the soul and for working with non-glossy press, and it is important that my lenses are of maximum benefit, work. I wanted D3200 first, then 5100 (until I read three negative reviews about breakdowns in a month, a year later ...). Now I'm thinking about the D7000. This one will be the most reliable. Among other things, there is also a shutter for 150 thousand guaranteed actuations (read somewhere). But it’s still quite expensive, and I won’t take pictures of their weddings, in short, money from my family, for a hobby ... The fact that my new camera will (or not) with a “screwdriver” is a circumstance for Soviet optics with a bayonet mount “ Does it matter? Please advise how to be and what to do? I also wanted to ask: in the kit for the lenses from “Kiev-20” (see above) there were also adapters - from the “H” mount to the M42 thread, well, such as Kiev (Nikon) - Zenith. What else can you do with them? What's your version?
      Arkady, I'm sorry, but I remembered one more misunderstanding (for me personally). You wrote (gave a link to the photo) that some copies of "Kaleinars" (or other lenses) require filing of the edge. Question: how can you grind it off so neatly? Explain not to a techie so as not to screw it up.

      • Arkady Shapoval

        Oftop. Half of the answers are in this article. https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/04/optika-na-nikon/

        1. Good inexpensive cameras for working with manual optics - Nikon D200, D300. But you need to be able to handle them. This is a completely different segment, in contrast to the D5100, D3200, D5200. I think Fujifilm S5pro (it has Nikon mount) is an excellent option for the soul of a knowledgeable person, for details here - https://radojuva.com.ua/2013/04/nikon-mount-legend/
        2. You can put the lens N on the zenith. You can do anything, most importantly, take more pictures.
        3. They simply may require rework, not everyone can do it.

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