Depth of Field Thomas Hoepker Muhammad Ali, Chicago , 1966

The depth of field refers to the area in focus in front of and behind the focal point.

f8 f5.6 f2.8 CONTROLLING DEPTH OF FIELD You can control the depth of field (DOF) by altering the aperture to the appropriate setting. The wider the aperture (smaller number), the less the depth of field – see examples below. NOTE : You will not see the effect of changing the DOF through your viewfinder when using a film SLR.

F 5.6 / 400mm F 5.6 / 17mm

Taken with telephoto lens e.g. 400mm CHANGE THE FOCAL LENGTH – use a Telephoto lens Another way to manipulate the depth of field (DOF), is to use a different lens (i.e. alter the focal length). If you use a telephoto lens of 300mm, which magnifies the scene, you will get a shallow depth of field, whereas a 28mm wide angle lens will give a greater DOF. Sports photos tend to have blurred background as the photographers use large telephoto lenses.

Taken with a high aperture i.e. f64 CHANGE THE FOCAL LENGTH – use a wide angle lens Using a wide angle lens i.e. 28mm wide, will give a greater DOF. Landscape photographs like to get as much of the scene in focus as possible and therefore use cameras with large f.stops.The f64 club was a group of photographers including Ansel Adams and Edward Weston By Edward Weston By Ansel Adams

Taken with macro lens e.g. 400mm CHANGE THE FOCAL LENGTH – use a Macro lens If you use a macro lens with a very short focal length i.e. 20mm, close to your subject, this will also give you a shallow DOF, the equivalent to a 600mm lens.

Taken at a short distance from the subject/scene CHANGE THE CAMERA – SUBJECT DISTANCE If you use a macro lens with a very short focal length i.e. 20mm, close to your subject, this will also give you a shallow DOF, the equivalent to a 600mm lens.

Workshop Tasks Complete the following: Take 1-2 rolls of film covering the following processes: Choose a scene with a simple back, middle and fore-ground. Avoid high contrast areas. Take a series of portrait photos with your model standing in the same place and different aperture settings i.e. f2.8 – f16. Remember to change the shutter speed to have the correct exposure. Use a telephoto and macro lens with a small aperture i.e. f 2.8 to capture shots with a shallow DOF. Use a tripod if available. Use a wide angle lens with a narrow aperture i.e. f.16 to capture a landscape scene with a large DOF. You will probably need a tripod if the shutter speed needs to be under 1/60 second In your Photo Diary, collect a range of photos by different photographers that illustrate the three main methods of manipulating depth of field: - by altering aperture - by changing the focal length - changing the camera-subject distance Develop and print out your film. Make a contact sheet and print up and illustrate in your photo diary side by side task 4 Workshop Tasks Complete the following: Take 1-2 rolls of film covering the following processes: Choose a scene with a simple back, middle and fore-ground. Avoid high contrast areas. Take a series of portrait photos with your model standing in the same place and different aperture settings i.e. f2.8 – f16. Remember to change the shutter speed to have the correct exposure. Use a telephoto and macro lens with a small aperture i.e. f 2.8 to capture shots with a shallow DOF. Use a tripod if available. Use a wide angle lens with a narrow aperture i.e. f.16 to capture a landscape scene with a large DOF. You will probably need a tripod if the shutter speed needs to be under 1/60 second In your Photo Diary, collect a range of photos by different photographers that illustrate the three main methods of manipulating depth of field: - by altering aperture - by changing the focal length - changing the camera-subject distance Develop and print out your film. Make a contact sheet and print up and illustrate in your photo diary side by side task 4

Workshop Tasks

Complete the following:

Take 1-2 rolls of film covering the following processes:

Choose a scene with a simple back, middle and fore-ground. Avoid high contrast areas. Take a series of portrait photos with your model standing in the same place and different aperture settings i.e. f2.8 – f16. Remember to change the shutter speed to have the correct exposure.

Use a telephoto and macro lens with a small aperture i.e. f 2.8 to capture shots with a shallow DOF. Use a tripod if available.

Use a wide angle lens with a narrow aperture i.e. f.16 to capture a landscape scene with a large DOF. You will probably need a tripod if the shutter speed needs to be under 1/60 second

In your Photo Diary, collect a range of photos by different photographers that illustrate the three main methods of manipulating depth of field: - by altering aperture - by changing the focal length - changing the camera-subject distance

Develop and print out your film. Make a contact sheet and print up and illustrate in your photo diary side by side task 4

Workshop Tasks

Complete the following:

Take 1-2 rolls of film covering the following processes:

Choose a scene with a simple back, middle and fore-ground. Avoid high contrast areas. Take a series of portrait photos with your model standing in the same place and different aperture settings i.e. f2.8 – f16. Remember to change the shutter speed to have the correct exposure.

Use a telephoto and macro lens with a small aperture i.e. f 2.8 to capture shots with a shallow DOF. Use a tripod if available.

Use a wide angle lens with a narrow aperture i.e. f.16 to capture a landscape scene with a large DOF. You will probably need a tripod if the shutter speed needs to be under 1/60 second

In your Photo Diary, collect a range of photos by different photographers that illustrate the three main methods of manipulating depth of field: - by altering aperture - by changing the focal length - changing the camera-subject distance

Develop and print out your film. Make a contact sheet and print up and illustrate in your photo diary side by side task 4