A primer of the concept of Depth of Field

1. Depth of Field: The area between the nearest
and farthest points from the camera that are
acceptably sharp in an image. (Photography, 8th edition)

2. Depth of Field: The area between the nearest
and farthest points from the camera that are
acceptably sharp in an image.
What Depth of Field (DOF) you choose will
help communicate to your readers what subject
you choose, thus creating a more effective story
telling image.

3. Three Factors
1) Aperture: The larger the aperture (such as f/2.8,
f/1.4, etc.), The less the depth of field.

4. ©Photography: 8th Edition
Three Factors

5. Three Factors
1) Aperture: The larger the aperture (such as f/2.8,
f/1.4, etc.), The less the depth of field.
2) Focal Length: The longer the focal length
lens, the less depth of field.

6. ©Photography: 8th Edition
Three Factors

7. Three Factors
1) Aperture: The larger the aperture (such as f/2.8,
f/1.4, etc.), The less the depth of field.
2) Focal Length: The longer the focal length
lens, the less depth of field.
3) Subject to Camera Distance: The closer the
subject to the camera, the less depth of field.

8. ©Photography: 8th Edition
Three Factors

9. 1) Aperture: The larger the aperture (such as f/2.8,
f/1.4, etc.), The less the depth of field.
2) Focal Length: The longer the focal length
lens, the less depth of field.
3) Subject to Camera Distance: The closer the
subject to the camera, the less depth of field.
Three Factors
• The inverse on all three factors will create greater
depth of field.
• A combination of factors can create greater effects.

10. Including background information
or choosing to isolate the subject
can create a very different feel
and level of communication.
Good Photography is all about making choices
and making those choices deliberately.

11. We may choose to show the general scene.
©Rick Rickman

12. We may choose to draw attention to the subject.
©Rick Rickman

13. Its the tool we use to convey the feeling
and extent of information we’d like to
emphasize to our viewer. A shallow
depth of field can put emphasis on the
subject and create a sense of mystery.

14. ©Ami Vitale

15. ©Ami Vitale

16. ©David Alan Harvey

17. A wide depth of field can create
a sense of grandeur and
breathtaking vista. It can also
draw the viewer into the scene.

18. ©Jay Ulall

19. ©Jim Richardson

20. ©Jim Richardson

21. ©Chris Johns

22. ©Chris Johns

23. ©Jim Brandenberg

24. ©Michael Yamashita

25. ©Jim Richardson

26. ©Rick Rickman

27. ©Rick Rickman

28. ©Rick Rickman

29. ©Rick Rickman

30. ©Lalita Segal, 2006
©Maggie Starbard, 2006
©Rebecca A. Reed, 2006

31. ©Vince Gaeta, 2006
©Will Jodar, 2006
©Dylan Parker, 2006

32. Things to Avoid:
• Incorrect Exposures
• Incorrect Focus
• Incorrect Apertures
• No Separation between objects
• Three un-identical objects
• Incorrect composition
• Muddy Background

33. No matter what our choice in depth
of field it’s imperative to remember
that our most important goal is to
choose an option that helps us
express our intended idea most
effectively.