Exploring Depth of Field in Photography

1. Aperture / Depth of Field Assignment

2. But first... a quick word about cliche`s

3. A Cliche’ is simply and image that has been over used. If your first response is to say: “Isn’t that Cute!”...It’s probably a cliche’

4. The Aperture assignment is about understanding how “Depth of Field” affects your images. Remember that Depth of Field is defined as the amount of the picture from foreground to background that appears to be in focus. There are 3 Factors that control how much Depth of Field you will have in a picture. 1. The f Stop - Remember that small f Stop numbers yield small or shallow depth of field and large f stop numbers yield large depth of field. 2. Camera to subject distance - The closer you are to your subject the smaller the depth of field will be. The farther away you are the more depth of field you will have. 3. Focal Length of the lens - Shorter Focal Lengths (wide angle lens) give you more depth of field at any given f stop. Longer Focal Length lens give you less depth of field at any given f stop.

5. Some potentially complicating factors: Camera companies have tried very hard to make your camera so easy to use that you don’t have to think about it all. That can work sometimes.... If you have a “ZOOM” lens on your camera as most newer cameras do these days it very easy to just “Zoom” in or out if the composition does not seem quite right. Unfortunately....by doing this you are changing how much depth of field you will have in your picture without even knowing it. My advice for you is this...Leave your camera at the “normal” focal length (50mm for non point and shoot) or if you have point and shoot...resist the temptation to use your W and T buttons. If your composition doesn’t seem right...1st...physically move yourself closer or further away from your subject. Camera to subject distance will affect your depth of field as will using your zoom function but it will be more obvious that you are “doing” something. If you decide to use your zoom just remember that you are not only changing the composition but you are also changing the depth of field.

6. Examples

7. Jacques Henri Lartique

8. Unknown

9. Eddie Adams

10. Eddie Adams

11. David Levinthal

12. Ansel Adams

13. Barbara Kasten

14. Joel Sternfeld

15. John Pfahl

16. Student Example Large Depth of Field

17. Student Example Large Depth of Field

18. Student Example Large Depth of Field

19. Student Example Shallow Depth of Field

20. Student Example Shallow Depth of Field

21. Student Example Shallow Depth of Field