Depth of field refers to the range of focus in an image. A broad depth of field keeps a wide range in focus, while a shallow depth of field focuses on a narrow range. Understanding depth of field gives photographers more creative control over their images. Aperture, or f-stop, is the primary tool for manipulating depth of field, with lower f-stops producing shallower depth of field. Other factors like distance, lighting, and lens selection also impact depth of field. Shallow depth of field emphasizes a subject by isolating it, while broad depth of field keeps more of the scene in focus.

1. Depth of Field
Photo 1
Ms. Young

2. What is Depth of
Field?
• Depth of field refers to
how much of your frame
is in focus
• A large range of focus is
considered a broad depth
of field
• A narrow range of focus is
considered a shallow
depth of field
What type of depth
of field is this?

3. Why is depth of field important?
•Understanding DOF gives you more control over the appearance of your photos
•You can manipulate how your subject is seen, or what is focused on in an image
•Details can be emphasized or eliminated, depending on the impact desired
•What other advantages might a broad or narrow DOF have?

4. How do you control your
DOF?
Aperture (F-Stops) Manual Focus

5. Adjusting
your F Stops
•The lower your F Stop number,
the less focus your image will
have
•The higher your F Stop number,
the greater focus your image will
have
•Standard F Stops will go down
to about 3.5, depending on your
zoom
•Short range lenses can go as
low as 1.2 (ours go to 1.8)

6. Manipulating
your focus
•DOF shots require manual
focus
•Shallow DOF, especially, will
require you to tell the camera
what you want it to look at
•DOF shots must be clear—even
the slightest blur will destroy the
impact of the picture
•Selective focus lets you
determine what in your fame is
telling the story

7. Other factors with DOF
Distance
• How close are you to your
subject?
• The closer your subject is, the
shallower your DOF will be
• Shallow DOF is hard on most
cameras, because standard
cameras don’t allow you to get
up close as you’d like
• Shooting in MACRO works
(sometimes), but full manual is
better
Lighting
• Manipulating your aperture
will change the amount of
light that is in the shot
• Very shallow DOF often
requires a faster shutter speed
• Shallow DOF shots are often
challenging because they tend
to be over exposed
• Adjusting white balance can
enhance the impact of DOF
Which principle should you keep in mind when
setting up shallow DOF shots?
Besides your F Stop and Shutter Speed, what
else could you adjust to help with lighting?

8. Examples: Shallow or Deep?
Shallow!

9. Examples: Shallow or Deep?
Deep!

10. Examples: Shallow or Deep?
Deep!

11. Examples: Shallow or Deep?
Shallow!

12. Selective Focus
OR
How does
changing
the focal
point
change the
image?

13. Challenges to DOF
Focus
• Manual focus is tricky and
takes practice
• Shallow DOF needs to be
precise—take several shots,
adjusting the lens slightly
• Pre-focus using auto, then
switch to manual to fine
tune the shot
• Too shallow can be
confusing to look at
Shooting People
• Tempting to shoot people,
portraits in shallow DOF
• Low F Stops are sensitive—if
your subject moves
closer/further from camera, you
have to adjust focus
• Large groups require a broad
DOF
• When shooting people, focus on
eyes and make sure they are
clear
• In a large group, focus on the
people closest to you

14. Examples—What is wrong?
Mom—in focus
Cousin Kevin—not in focus

15. Examples—What is wrong?

16. Determining Your Focus
Shallow
• Portraits
• Isolated objects
• Single subjects with “noisy”
backgrounds
• Macro subject
• When details are less
important
Deep
• Landscapes
• Distances
• Nature
• When details are important
• Subject with telling
background

17. Determining Your Tools
Shallow
• Lens capable of f3.5 or less
• The “nifty 50”
• Steady, level surface
• Strong subject
• Good light
Deep
• Large-scale scene
• Level horizon
• Sharp, clear focal point
• Tripod
• Good light

18. The Nifty 50
• 50mm lenses mimic the field of the human eye and therefore
will translate into your photos. This is partially why they are
called, “normal lenses.” Also referred to as standard, when
combined with good photographic techniques it can make
people feel more as if they are actually in the moment you are
capturing.
• A 50mm lens can be used to shoot in low-light, for portraits at
a wedding (or portraits in general), photojournalism, macros,
candids, etc. The only thing I don’t see them being used for
may be sports. Even if it isn’t your primary lens, your 50mm
should be your backup as it can do almost anything you may
demand of it. With all this in mind, remember that you are
the photographer and you need to make your tools work for
you.
• 50mm lens is so light and compact and you’ll be able to shoot
anywhere without the intimidation factor of a giant lens.

19. The 24mm (Ultrawides)
• Ultrawides are not fisheyes. Fisheyes distort and curve everything.
• Ultrawides don't distort technically, but they distort artistically. This is
why we use them.
• Ultrawides exaggerate the relationship between near and far.
• Ultrawides stretch out objects on the sides and the corners.
• Ultrawides exaggerate any slight misalignment of your subject and
camera.
• They do all this while keeping straight lines straight.
• 24mm is an interesting focal length for both full frame and APS-C
(crop sensor) cameras. On a full frame camera it's a very useful
wideangle, maybe the widest focal length that doesn't obviously give
rise to images with "perspective distortion".

20. So, what does this have to
do with Depth of Field?
• Your lens will play a huge factor in what you are
capable of
• Knowing what sort of “power” or “tricks” your lens
has helps you understand what kind of shots you can
get, or should be trying to get
• Either lens (and the standard lens) can get shallow or
deep fields, but each lens has a specialty
• What specialties do the 50mm, 24mm and 35mm
have?

21. Which lens shot this?
Nifty 50 Ultrawide

22. Which lens shot this?
Nifty 50 Ultrawide

23. Which lens shot this?
Nifty 50 Nifty 50