Public Forums > Photography > Depth of Field

How do I achieve this.

I want the model in the forground, nice and sharp and the back ground blurry. Is this a wide depth of field or small? Also with the apeture which way achieves this, it really confuses me whether a higher or lower setting gets this effect.

What is the best way to remember and does it make the shutter speed slower or faster.

Anyone who can explain this so I really get it would be seriously loved!

Hmm well I'll give it a go!  

If you want the model in focus and the background blurry then you need to have a shallow or wide depth of field.  This means that you are choosing a low deptyh of feeling (a low number)  for example. f/8.  The smaller the number the greater the effect will be.  

Just remember that the lower the number the wider the lens will be open.   The more open it is the less in focus the background will be.  

It makes the shutter speed faster technically - because you are letting more light in as the lens is more open.

Thank you Rowena. That makes more sense to me than anything I've read and anything in the manual. All these numbers are highly confusing but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I'll see how my photos come out tonight.

Hope it helps! its a bit silly but think small number, bigger lens!

Well I got it to work today! Yay. Thank you. I've got some ace pictures, not on here yet but if you are interested then they are over at http://jettica.deviantart.com

Thanks again!

The pictures look great! I am so pleased that it worked out for you :D