Depth of Field

An advanced technique to emphasize an

element in a photograph.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
 What is depth of field?
Technically, depth of field refers to the area of the photo
that is in reasonable focus, in comparison to other
areas of the photo.

Blurry

In focus

Blurry

Saturday, July 17, 2010

 What is depth of field?
A depth of field shot uses focus to draw attention to a
particular object in a photograph. This can be used to
convey emotion, and allows a photographer to
communicate themes and ideas.

Note here that the

Ttokebi at the front
is sharper than
those in the
background.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

 How to modify depth of field
Depth of field relies on one thing: Aperture.
Of course, higher aperture numbers means a smaller
hole for the light to travel through.
Higher aperture numbers (example, F22) allow us to
selectively manipulate the depth of focus in a photo.

Note that the area behind

the dog is a bit blurry in
comparison to the dog,
which is the subject of this
photo.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

 Try it out

Switch your camera to aperture priority mode. This is

usually an A on the mode dial of most cameras.
Select a higher aperture value. Note that closing the
aperture to a higher f-number will result in less light
falling onto the image sensor, which will require a
slower shutter speed. A tripod is advisable for lower-
light situations.

Image copyright Sean McHugh.

Used without permission.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
 Resources

Cambridge in Colour DoF Tutorial

James Madison University: DoF Simulator
Luminous Landscape DoF Tutorial
DP Challenge: Depth of Field for Digital Cameras

Saturday, July 17, 2010