Aperature

[Shoewrecky]

Good Day Everyone!
I am VERY amateur photographer trying to learn a lot about the basics and get the best and most use out of my camera in trying to help me become one day a good/better photographer.

I recently purchased a Canon XSi / 450D with 18-55mm IS Lens. While reading the manual, I decided trying to get the effect of a blurry background.
The manual states, turn the mode to Av and have a high Aperature. So I used the highest Aperature possible of F/5.0 but the effect I am trying to achieve doesnt seem to work unless I am only a few inches away.

I have my exposure on 0 and my ISO/AF on Auto. When pressing the button, I press it half way first then shoot. I have also tried changing it to lower aperatures,W/ and W/out flash, and portrait/macro mode as well.

I also put in my tripod and messed with the shutter speed just for giggles and didnt seem to help much either.

Is it me or maybe the type of Lens I am using? Thanks!

[hypertech]

This would probably get more responses in general photography. There is a great sticky in there about depth of field (your blurry background is often called "bokeh" and is a result of manipulating the depth of field).

Try to get more separation between your subject and the background. You will need a larger aperture a lot of times to achieve that look - f/5.0 is still pretty deep in most cases.

If this is really something you are interested in, go pick up a 50mm f/1.8 lens. It will cost you less than a $100 and will be capable of much larger apertures to practice and learn about depth of field.