Depth of field (DOF), or the zone of acceptably sharp focus in an image, was the main topic for this week’s assignment. It can range from a very shallow DOF where only the tiniest sliver of the subject is in focus (such as this dessert from a recent wine dinner) to a very deep depth of field where the entire image is in focus like the photo of the light house at Race Rocks below.
There are three factors that impact depth of field – aperture, the lens’ focal length, and the distance from the subject. Generally speaking, a longer lens, wider aperture, and getting close to the subject will produce a shallow DOF. Though varying the degrees of each factor can alter the depth of field greatly. Here are some other examples of both deep and shallow depths of field.
I LOVE the slug!