GIMP Version: 2.8.10
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Beginner Level

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Can anybody please tell me the best way to select part of a photo that I would like then to make the the rest of the photo just a plain background.

A lot depends upon your photo, but the common means of selecting part of an image is the Free Select Tool or by using the Quick Mask option, This will cover you image in a transparent red and all you need to do is select the colour white and a brush and carefully paint the object you wish to keep, you'll notice where you paint the red colour disappears. If you make a mistake simply change your brush colour to black and you are then able to repaint the mask back in. Using shades of grey will give a varying degree of transparency to your image. Once your happy then simply click the quick mask icon and a selection should appear of the area you have painted.

Thank you so much He4rty, this was just what I was looking for Took me awhile to find the Quick masking tool lol

Now that I have the part of the photo i want which is the best way to reduce colours that keeps the photo recognisable as I am going to create an afghan by grafting the photo onto it and would like to only have a few colours to work with.

Thanks

one of the poster filters (I have 3 different poster filters and G'Mic has some, too, but there is the basic poster filter under 'colors' that comes with gimp…you can pick just how many different colors you want from 2 on up.