Understanding Depth of Field in Photography: A Beginner Guide to depth of field in photography.
But what exactly is depth of field?
Simply put, it's the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that appear in focus. A shallow depth of field means that only a small portion of the photo is in focus, while a wide depth of field means that more of the photo is in focus. I like too think about depth of field as two diagonal lines on each side of the subject, the further those two lines are apart the wider your depth of field and more of your photo is in focus.
So, how do you control depth of field?
There are three main factors that affect depth of field in a photo: Aperture, focal length, and distance from the subject.
Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens through which light passes. The wider the aperture (represented by a smaller f-stop number), the shallower the depth of field. For example, f/1.8 will give you a shallower depth of field than f/8. While a higher f-stop number will give a wider depth of field, just be aware that you will lose sharpnes at both the very wide and narrow end. The general idea in landscape photography is to find a aperture that will give you a satisfactory depth of field and acceptable sharpnes. For most wide angel lenses this is between f.8 -f.11. Sharpnes in photography is basically the contrast of the edges of the object in your photo. According to Slrlounge.com : is sharpnes defined as the “acuity, or contrast, between the edges of an object in an image. A well-defined edge, one that makes an abrupt transition from one color or tone to another, thus giving definition to that object in the photo, is considered to be sharp”
Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens through which light passes.photo: Stock image trough Squarespace .
Focal length refers to the length between where light enters the lens and start to form a shape and the Camera sensor, and it also plays a role in depth of field. A longer focal length (e.g. 200mm) will give you a shallower depth of field than a shorter focal length (e.g. 50mm). If you want to go more I depth about focal length Reading this article will give you a deeper understanding of the subject:
Distance from the subject is another factor to consider. The closer you are to your subject, the shallower the depth of field will be.
So, now that you have a basic understanding of depth of field, it's time to put it into practice!
Here are some tips for using depth of field to your advantage:
Isolate your subject:
Use a shallow depth of field to draw attention to your subject by blurring out the background. This is especially useful for portrait photography or if you want to Isolate another subject like a flower, bird or anything else you find interesting. Just remember that longer focal length, wider aperture( smaller number) and closness to the subject will create a shallower depth of field.
Shot at f2.8 at 50mm to create a shallow depth of field . Photo by Are Ramstad
Create a sense of distance:
Use a deep depth of field to show the relationship between your subject and the environment. This is great for landscape and cityscape photography. For example, if you shoot landscape with a wide angel lens you should have a strong foreground, mid ground and background. Paying attention to this will help you show the scale of every part of your photo.
Play with perspective:
Experiment with different distances from your subject to see how it affects the depth of field. This can create interesting and unique compositions. Getting close to the foreground, especially with a wide angel lens will make the foreground appear bigger and the background smaller. If you shoot with a telephoto lens from a distance the different parts of your image will appear to be closer together. This is because a tele photo lens will give the illusion of compressing things together because the narrower angel of view. The narrow angel of view is also what causes a 200mm telephoto lens with a aperture of f.8 to have a shallower depth of field than a 20mm with the same aperture settings.
Shot at f.11 to get a image that is sharp and infocus trough out the image. Photo by Are Ramstad
Don't be afraid to switch it up:
Don't feel like you have to stick to one depth of field for all your photos. Different scenes require different approaches so mix it up and see what works best for each individual shot.
In summary, depth of field is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that appear in focus. It can be controlled by adjusting the aperture, focal length, and distance from the subject. A shallow depth of field isolates the subject, while a deep depth of field shows the relationship between the subject and the environment. Experiment with different depths of field to find the best look for each individual photo.
I hope that you found it informative and helpful. As someone who struggles with dyslexia, I want to let you know that I used a writing tool called OpenAI's GPT-3 to assist in the creation of this piece. GPT-3 has been an invaluable resource for me, helping me to fine-tune my writing and express my thoughts more clearly. While I was responsible for the overall direction and content of the post, GPT-3 helped me to refine the language and make the writing more cohesiv.
This month, I’m thrilled to share an inspiring interview with Rico J. Needham, a Chicago-based photographer, filmmaker, and visual storyteller. Rico’s work spans street photography, photojournalism, and filmmaking, all rooted in his desire to capture fleeting moments and tell compelling stories. In this interview, Rico opens up about his creative journey, the role of faith in his life, and the unique perspectives he brings to street photography and content creation. Whether you’re just starting out in photography or have been doing it for decades, Rico’s insights will motivate you to see the world in a new way.