Depth of Field Module 5

Aperture is the camera part that controls the amount of light that enters the camera. Aperture is measured in f/stops. The size of the aperture will primarily affect how much of the scene is in focus, the depth of field.

The larger the aperture opening (f/2), the shallower the depth of field will be. Your subject will be in focus but the area behind and maybe in front of your subject will be blurry.

Using a smaller aperture opening (f/22) will create deep depth of field. Almost everything is reasonably focused.

Aperture Video

Portrait mode and Landscape mode are like “automatic depth of field modes.” Portrait will put your background out of focus and Landscape will make sure that everything is in focus. Macro Mode will also create a shallow D.O.F.

Same photo using various aperture settings for comparison

When shooting a shallow depth of field that has light sources in the background, you camera may record these as circles. This light effect is called “bokeh,” and comes from the Japenese word "bok" which means blur or haze. Bokeh

Macro (close-up) mode allows the photographer to get much closer to the subject than is otherwise possible. Macro refers to any photography done within a range that is considered closer than the “normal” 3-6 foot subject distance, the distance between the subject and the camera. Macro (close-up) Mode

Abstract Photography is the photographic art that is not representational of real objects in the natural world. Abstract art focuses on elements and principles of art, rather than a subject we recognize. Abstract Photography

Macro or Abstract?

Module 5 Assignments 1.Shallow D.O.F. 2.Deep D.O.F. 3.Macro photo 4.Abstract photo Extra Credit: Bokeh!