EoS_User Loc: Oshawa, Ontario Canada

A big thank you to everyone who replied to my question. Yes I had been looking for a totally blured background. But did not achieve that. I now understand that a longer focal length would have given more blur. However, shooting 20 of these hydrants all but one I had my back to the wall of a building and one was still too close to get it's full height. mafadecay, I've read that what you say is true about staying away from the limits of a lens' aperture settings. Does this hold true for all lenses or just most of them? Katbandit, thanks for the positive input of what I was able to achive. I am happy with the shots, just wanted more blur though. coco1964 no worries easy mistake to make. I posted more of these hydrants in the photo gallery area if anyone is interested. Search on "Fire Hydrant Art" to find them.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

A few possible solutions to gaining additional blur (bokeh) to the background:

1. Take the photo with a telephoto lens as a stitched panorama using manual focus (on the hydrant) and largest available aperture. Note: this method is tedious and requires a lot of computing power to stitch but can do the job.

2. Use a tilt & shift lens.

3. Use a LensBaby.....kind of a combo toy and tilt & shift lens.

4. Post process. Suggest trying Topaz Lens Effects which has numerous lens effects. There is a 30 day trial before buying available.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

You point is a bit difficult because of so many variables. The posted comments have been correct but sometimes our expectations aren't. The focus drop off isn't also like following off a cliff. Sometimes it's very gradual and sometimes very abrupt and the reason is all the factors previously mentioned.

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

All lenses have different characteristics but generally they will perform better when not wide open. I am not saying do not use the f/1.8 aperture as sometimes it proves useful otherwise what is the point of having such a fast lens. What I am saying is that a lens will perform better 3 stops from wide open. I think I use f/8 more than any other aperture. For something like a table top studio image this lens is fantastic.

Primes are considered better optics than a zoom but a zoom is made to do more than one focal length and it can not be fantastic at every lenth on its scale where as a prime lens is made to do just one focal length. Zooms have more flexability and easier to carry one lens for more situations so it is entirely down to personal preference and what you expect to be shooting that day.

I liked your images as they are and for telling a story the background works well semi sharp. It gives a sense of location and depth. But I know what you are saying it is nice to have the ability to completly blur out the BG.

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Unfortunately, when taking pics like yours, sometime the environment won't allow you to get the exact results you want and that is where post-processing become necessary. Since you may not have had the opportunity to use a longer lens and gotten further away, just take the pic into PS, PSP, GIMP, etc and add some blur to the background.

By the way, I really like the capture on this one, like the tribute to the military except that it is on an object that is often disrespected by the dogs.....

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

YOU have it right. no matter lens you use, if the subject size on the sensor/film is the same and the aperture is the same, the DOF is the same. There are some very minor differences with focal length, but they are more academic than practical.

However, perspective will change and that can make it difficult to accept the fact that the DOF is the same. All this talk about lens length and aperture is tangential to the real answer and is just confusing the issue.

So getting a longer lens and backing farther away will do nothing except change perspective. The BG will look the same - you will just see less of it.

EoS_User Loc: Oshawa, Ontario Canada

Wahawk and CaptainC, thank you for your input on this subject. Everyone who replied has helped me understand more about this subject. I will continue to experiment and see what else I can acheive.

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

This is a fantastic place to learn hot to do things the members are so helpful and wonderful.... Thank you