Extra photos for bloggers: before, after

The mission: Take a great portrait in front of a distracting background.

The equipment: The crummiest point-and-shoot camera on the market.

Your task: Throw the background out of focus so you can emphasize the subject.

Mission Impossible? Hardly. Even with the simplest point and shoot, you can get the blurry background you crave. Here’s how:

1. Put the camera on the “portrait” setting.
2. Move the subject away from the background.
3. Back away. Far away. Farther. Keep going. OK, stop.
4. Zoom in on the subject and take the picture.

That’s it! Try it for impromptu street portraits, vacation photos, or any time you need a great picture in a lousy location.

Click on through for the fine details and more clever photo tips!

How to Blur a Distracting Background (Plus More Handy Tips!)

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