Edit in JSFiddle

<img id="css-filter-blur" src="http://css-plus.com/examples/2012/03/gaussian-blur/i/fence.jpg" alt="Blur" height="200" width="300" />

<svg id="svg-image-blur">
    <filter id="blur-effect-1">
        <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="2" />
    </filter>
</svg>

#css-filter-blur { margin: 20px;
  -webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-out; 
     -moz-transition: all 0.3s ease-out; 
      -ms-transition: all 0.3s ease-out; 
       -o-transition: all 0.3s ease-out; 
          transition: all 0.3s ease-out;
}
#css-filter-blur:hover { -webkit-filter: blur(2px); filter: url(#blur-effect-1); }