The background is not blurred

Why it happens

• The aperture was not open wide — kit zooms only reach f/4–f/5.6.
• The subject stood close to the background; distance matters more than settings.
• A wide-angle lens was used — 18mm barely blurs anything, even wide open.
• The photo was taken with a phone, where the blur is simulated rather than optical.

How to fix it

1. 1

   Open the aperture to the widest your lens allows (lowest f-number).

2. 2

   Move your subject several steps away from the background, then step closer to them.

3. 3

   Zoom in: an 85mm at f/1.8 blurs far more than an 18mm at f/1.8.

4. 4

   Look for a plain background — a wall or distant trees — so separation reads clearly.

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