All effects

Blurred background

Soft, separated subject

The subject is sharp and the background melts away. This comes from a wide lens opening, a longer focal length and distance.

How to get it

  1. 1

    Open the aperture as wide as your lens goes (a low f-number such as f/1.8).

  2. 2

    A longer focal length helps — 85mm blurs more than 35mm at the same aperture.

  3. 3

    Move your subject further away from the background.

  4. 4

    Then step closer to your subject.

Example settings

Focal length50mm or longer
Aperturef/1.8 (widest your lens allows)
Shutter speed1/250 s
ISOAs low as the light allows