Use the largest aperture possible the lens has, which is the smallest f number the lens will go to, i.e f1.8 and set the camera to aperture priority mode ('A' on the mode dial).
This will make the in focus range of the lens very small, all the foreground / back ground will be out of focus.
To really exaggerate the effect, if you use a zoom lens, which will possibly have a maximum aperture of f4.5 or similar, and use it at its maximum zoom setting.
You need to be careful sometimes as the focus range can be so small that some parts if the object you want to capture can appear out of focus.
You really need an SLR to get the best effect. Compacts and phone cameras have tiny lenses and therefore tiny maximum apertures so don't show this effect off very well, if at all!
This shot taken with a 50mm f1.8 lens set at f1.8 shows how the focus range is within the middle of the object.
Or cheat as in the above iPhone photo and use a lens tilt shift generator app where a clever programme electronically does the same (or at least similar). You can also get this for SLRs and forms a sort of bellows between the camera body and the lens.
Last edited by jdl_1967; 19th April 2011 at 12:29 PM.
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