Blur Background -- Coolpix S6000 ???

[DizFan101]

Hello I own a Coolpix s6000. I bought it a day prior to my 2010 trip since my old camera broke.Anyway, i don't use that much and was wondering
if anybody can show me how to do the blur background aka

(Image was borrowed by Clearskies Trip report you can read here -->ClearSkies Trip Report!)

Does anybody own a Coolpix s6000? if so please help...

 

[Lecard]

It will probably be difficult to consistantly pull off with your camera (especially the exact type of image you posted). It's not a type of setting or anything and the quality of the image is often based on the quality of the lens you are working with (when it comes to SLR cameras) so the image quality may not be the same quality of the image you showed.

The easiest way to describe to get this type of photo (lets use the image you posted as an example) would be to focus on Daisy and hold the focus lock on her and then move your camera over until Donald is in the frame and then snap the photo.

I don't own an S6000 so I'm unsure if you have a setting to move the focus box of the camera away from center but that technique would be about the closest I can think of off the top of my head to achieve what you are looking for I believe.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I will give you some terms so you can search for more info.

You're talking about the principle of Depth of Field - in particular, shallow depth of field. (Deep depth of field means everything is in focus throughout the photo.)

The blurred background itself is called Bokeh.

Here's a link to get you started. http://www.digicamhelp.com/taking-photos/advanced-techniques/dof/

Getting the same look as in clearskies' photo will be difficult on a point and shoot camera because it is limited in aperture size and focal length.

Pick up a book called Understanding Exposure if you want to learn more.

 

[Experiment_626]

The blurred background itself is called Bokeh.

Not to be pedantic, but technically, "bokeh" refers to the quality of the blurred area of an image -- how smooth it is, the shape and consistency of the out-of-focus highlights, and so on.

Please don't throw anything at me …

Scott

 

[Experiment_626]

For achieving the look the OP is after with a P&S, there are ways to stack in the deck in your favor. Get as close as possible to the subject you want to have in focus, zoom in as much as possible, and try to choose subjects where the background behind your subject is as far away as possible. Still, getting this effect with a P&S is especially difficult in many cases -- the sensor is small, which means greater depth-of-field in general, and the lenses usually have a fairly small maximum aperture, which also works against you.

Nevertheless, if you choose your subjects carefully, you can find times when you'll have success. Good luck!

Scott

 

[DizFan101]

Thanks for all your help.
I am looking upon different websites to see and someone got this w/ a coolpix s6000

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Not to be pedantic, but technically, "bokeh" refers to the quality of the blurred area of an image -- how smooth it is, the shape and consistency of the out-of-focus highlights, and so on.

Please don't throw anything at me

Ha! How'd you know I'd do that?

Well, pedantically speaking, the quality of the blur is subjective.

But realistically, I've seen it referred to both ways. I think it's probably safe to say that whether bokeh refers to the blur itself or the quality of the blur is semantics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."

But for the purposes of this post, I just wanted to give the OP some terms to look in order to get started with learning.