Sharp image blurred surround

Hi I have a Powershot SX40 HS, can you please tell me how I can take a photo, where I can focus on one particular item and blur the surrounding area.

Lillie

I guess using Av mode and the lowest aperture number that you can (f2,8, f4 etc etc)

Look up under "panning shot." There are hundreds of ways to pan too.

are you looking for images with thin depth of field? http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Depth_of_field

You're going to be pretty limited by that camera. To maximize the effect you're after:

Get the camera as close to the subject as possible
Get the background as far away as possible
Use the largest aperture your lens has
Use the longest focal length your lens has

Do what Mike says.

What is it you are trying to shoot? Each subject has it's challenges, so it would be helpful if you could tell us what it is you are wanting to photograph.

TooManyShots wrote in post #15206134
Look up under "panning shot." There are hundreds of ways to pan too.

None of which will work if his subject is stationary.

TooManyShots wrote in post #15206134
Look up under "panning shot." There are hundreds of ways to pan too.

Dan Marchant wrote in post #15206722
None of which will work if his subject is stationary.

Isnt panning itself a technique, and therefore, only ONE "way to pan"?

Whether to pan or not will depend on whether the OP is referring to the effect of a shallow depth of field on a static subject, or is trying to capture a moving subject and wants to convey that impression of movement.

Panning is the way to go with the latter, but will be totally inappropriate for the former.

colintf wrote in post #15206103
I guess using Av mode and the lowest aperture number that you can (f2,8, f4 etc etc)

the best way if you can do that with the Powershot SX40 HS

colintf wrote in post #15206103
I guess using Av mode and the lowest aperture number that you can (f2,8, f4 etc etc)

using Av mode. So at 24mm @ f2.8, what is the best distance to the object to achieve the best results? *Excluding closeup and macro shots.

As close as possible, but you might want something longer than 24mm if you want to blur out the background

Canajun wrote in post #15213295
using Av mode. So at 24mm @ f2.8, what is the best distance to the object to achieve the best results? *Excluding closeup and macro shots.

Take a look here to see the approximate result you'll get (choose the correct sensor size) with different focal lengths, f-stops, and distances to the subject - http://www.dofmaster.c​om/dofjs.html