Focussing Issue

[dexter]

Hi,
Need opinions from the veterans on the forum. I am newbie with a nikon d40.
I wish to click a typical pic of focus /out of focus subject.
e.g. i have a 3 flowers (A,B,C ) in near to far order.
The 3 pics i want are
1. click a pic with A (nearest to the lens) and rest flowers in bkground slightly blurred
2. pic with Flower B sharp and remaining blurred
3. pic with flower C sharp and remaining blurred.

I could click #1 but am unable to click #2 and #3

am i trying something not possible?
if it is possible , what the best technique to achieve it?
Any pointers to website /book will aslo be useful

thanks in adv
Dexter
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Nikon D40 ( 18-55mm)

[Rooz]

dex, what you are talking about is called "depth of field". to isolate your subect you need wide apertures and focal length. the reason you may not be able to achieve the blurred effect. is becasue your kit lens doesnt have a wide enough aperture and its a short focal length.

a good book to buy is Byran Peterson's "Understanding Exposure."

[toriaj]

Perhaps you could post your pics, so we know what is the problem. If it is that your camera will not focus on the second or third flower, try manual focus. Use the widest aperture on your lens, and get up within one or two feet of the flowers when you are composing the pictures.

[dexter]

Thanks Rooj and toriaj.
I was able to click the pics with varying the aperture and adjusting the dof.
Thanks for mentioning DoF. I searched for the same and got an interesting YouTube vid explaining the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfOC_Msb1dI
Thanks
Dexter