Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro

I just started shooting with this Sigma 150-500 on a Canon 5DMKIII, so I have a lot of learning to do. How do I get the crisp shots with totally blurred background? Here's what I shot this morning.

Lorendn Loc: Jackson, WY

You are getting great, sharp shots with the combo of gear that you have. Good bokeh is the result of controlling your depth of field and selection of great background behind your subject. The depth of field must be 'designed' to allow all of your subject to be in focus but none of your background. This usually means the combination of close distance to the subject, a relatively long lens, and a large aperture. You have a great set-up to get close and have a lot of flexibility of your focal length but the hard part comes with your aperture control. Ideally, you would like to open up to f/2.8 (or even larger.) Your 150-500 has a maximum aperture of f/5 (I think) so you will need to be closer to your subject and the background will need to be farther from your subject to get the bokeh you desire. Good luck - these images are tack sharp and that is usually the hard part.

Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro

Loren -- thank you so much! This advice helps tremendously! :-D

jrb1213 Loc: McDonough GEorgia

I shoot with the 150-500 as well the attached photo had a shadow box fence 15 feet behind it and I was 12 feet from the hummer. I get decent bokeh up to 20 feet away when the focal length is in the 400-500 and the lens is wide open. Not much bokeh after that.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-142043-1.html

Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro

Thanks so much. This lens will take me a little bit getting used to, but I"ll keep trying. Tried it with a tele and it dropped all the way to f.9. It was late tho, and I was losing the sun. Also, this was hand held.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Shooting down on birds that are on the ground or on water keeps the background close enough that it is usually in some semblance of focus. If you can, get lower to the ground, to the level of the birds and you will see the background recede and get you the bokeh you are trying to achieve. Check out my sticky post at the top of the BIF/BOW section on getting low and improving your shots for some examples.

At longer focal lengths, there is so little DOF at any f/stop that the biggest factor is keeping the background far enough away is usually the only thing that is necessary.

Pockets Loc: Dallas Metro

Thank you so much, Birdpix!!! I'll practice getting low! :D