What exactly are seeing? "Artifact" is a very generic term in digital photography, if I want to be picky I can find several artifacts in those pictures. Just asking...

However, in the first picture what jumps out at me is the picture distortion. That is caused by the barrel effect. I didn't try to look at the exif data, but this most likely the kit lens. Kit lenses, as good as they may be sometimes, are usually in the lower end in the quality line. (1)The focal length is probably at it's widest length, that is where the barrel effect is most noticeable. (2) The angle of the picture, the picture was not taken in the middle of the room so he/she is closer to on wall than another. It is amplifying the effect of the distortion.

Zjoe

At first, I thought "artifact" as in an archaeological or historical item. Then, I read Zjoe's comments and understood what you meant.

A digital SLR camera is capable of using interchangeable lens. A very wide lens normally creates piture distortion as Zjoe explained. If you don't want it, then simply use a normal zoom range lens.

As for the 2nd photo, are you talking about the blurred background? If you are, it is done so the subject is stand out and is the focus point of the photo. This shot is achieved by setting a small aperture to show a less depth of field (DOF). Again, if you want a long depth of field which shows more background, simply set the aperture to a higher number.

Basically, both photos were probably taken intentionally "as is" and it's not a download or digitized effect.

With a digital SLR, you can pretty much do whatever you want with it. That is for mostly, with the companion of whaterever lens and flash you'd be using.

Sorry, I don't know if I helped you or not. Perhaps, you'd need to be more specific with what area of the photo you meant by "artifact".

Natalie