>Another technique that can be very helpful on occasion is to open the diaphragm >of your lens to the maximum aperture. This beshallows the depth of field, >throwing the background out of focus and emphasizing the subject. If you use >this technique, be sure that the camera's autofocus system is focussing on the >subject, however. Using a wide aperture also gives shorter exposure times and >can help reduce movement due to wind. My suggestion is to print out and learn to use a depth of field chart for each of your lens/camera combinations and to ditch the autofocus feature entirely and use manual focus setting. There are very few digital cameras or lenses that will render true blue well out of the box, and that will also change as the quality of light changes. Digital darkroom techniques are mandatory for high quality print work. Mark Mazer Hertford, North Carolina USA