Canon EOS 50D Instruction Manual page 271

Macro lenses are ideal for taking portrait photos.
Since the subject stands out crisply against a hazy background,
you can capture the whole scene in an attractive image.
To create a beautifully blurred background,
just choose the Av ' mode setting
while keeping the aperture fully open (for example,
f/2.8 or an even lower f/number, depending on your lens).
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Try photographing a subiect against background illumination - such as gleams of light
falling through leaves - to capture images against a wonderfully luminous backdrop
Don't forget to set the aperture
2
as
fully open as possible.
By
making the
most of backlighting (shooting the
subject against light), you can take
an impressive portrait - using the
hair to create a shining "halo" effect.
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