What you need to do is use a wide aperture (that's a lower number). For example f22 is a really tiny aperture and everthing will be in focus but f2.8 is a wide aperture and the 'depth of field' will be incredibly narrow so that only things near the focus range are in focus. So select this and then focus on your subject..

If you are using an SLR with depth of field preview then you will be able to see the effect of altering the aperture through the view finder..

On most camera's you will need to set the camera to AV mode or possibly Manual but that's more work..

Because nearly all cameras use the widest aperture during preview you should find that the view you see in the view finder is roughly what you want. The problem is that when you press the shutter release you are finding that the background becomes in focus because the camera closes the aperture down only then..

Another issue can be the amount of light. With a really large aperture then shutter time has to be very fast or too much light will enter the camera. If it's a sunny day you may not be able to get the camera to go fast enough to get the desired result. If you have the option then move into a lower light situation and use a lower ISO number...

Use the Lassoo tool in Photoshop and select the area around your subject in which to add some Gaussian Blur. Not as good as using a lens with very wide aperture, longer focal length and nice smooth bokeh... but if you don't have one handy....

John.Please visit me at:http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/backtothebridgehttp://www.pbase.com/johnfr..

Telephoto plus wide aperture (and relatively short distance to subject) will really isolate your subject, but then you have to focus really carefully...

Stezz wrote:.

Guys, how do you blur the background while highlighting the subject??.

CANON G7stezz..!.

The Canon G7 is a small-sensor camera, so it's hard to do. Zoom in all the way, then set the aperture to f/4.8. Position yourself so the subject is framed how you want it, then take the picture. As long as you're within about 75 feet of the subject, and the background is reasonably far beyond the subject, it should blur...

John farrar wrote:.

Use the Lassoo tool in Photoshop and select the area around yoursubject in which to add some Gaussian Blur. Not as good as using alens with very wide aperture, longer focal length and nice smoothbokeh... but if you don't have one handy....

Is there a way of doing this with Elements 4, it has Gaussian Blur but I'm having trouble isolating the background..

Regards,.

PJGhttp://shorengro.zenfolio.com.

'Remember there's a winner in every race.'..

Use the Lassoo tool in Photoshop and select the area around yoursubject in which to add some Gaussian Blur. Not as good as using alens with very wide aperture, longer focal length and nice smoothbokeh... but if you don't have one handy....

Is there a way of doing this with Elements 4, it has Gaussian Blur.

But I'm having trouble isolating the background.>>.

As far as I am aware the Lassoo Tool is in the Toobox. Select the kind of lassoo you want and draw around the object area you want to blur and then apply the blur lightly to suit. You can also draw around the subject and select inverse if that makes it easier..

Here's one from a Fuji 9100 where I used the technique in Photoshop recently to help accentuate the car and the driver from a distracting background. Just a little, but I think it helps..

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John.Please visit me at:http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/backtothebridgehttp://www.pbase.com/johnfr..