1. Depth of Field

3. Understanding how to control the depth of field in a photograph is an essential skill for you to learn and apply to your own photographs. So far in this course we have not looked at how depth of field can be altered, however you have been applying the principals each time that you have taken a photograph without realizing it. Introduction

4. Depth of Field ‘Depth of field’ can simply be described as – “the amount of the photograph that is in acceptable focus.” When discussing ‘Depth of Field’ we refer to it as being long, medium or short.

5. Depth of Field can be altered in 3 ways : ALTERING DEPTH OF FIELD 3. Increasing or decreasing the distance from the camera to the point of focus. 2. Changing the focal length of the lens. 1.The most well known method is to use the aperture settings on the camera lens. however Depth of Field is also altered by -

6. Using Aperture Settings

7. Using Focal Length

8. Altering the Distance to the Subject

9. Points to Remember Controlling ‘Depth of Field’ involves using a combination of all three – selection of an aperture, selection of a lens focal length and deciding on a distance from the point of focus. In addition it is vital that the exposure be correct, so if you choose to use higher apertures to increase the depth of field you will have to use slower shutter speeds to ensure that the exposure is correct and visa versa.

10. Now lets look at these principals in use. “Using Apertures” Using a small Aperture number eg. f2.0 will create a smaller ‘Depth of Field’. As the Aperture number increases eg. F16, so does the ‘Depth of Field’.

11. Aperture Set to f2.0

12. Aperture Set to f2.8

13. Aperture Set to f 4.0

14. Aperture Set to f 5.6

15. Aperture Set to f 8.0

16. Aperture Set to f 11

17. Aperture Set to f 16

18. “Using Focal Length” As the lens focal length is increased the depth of field decreases at any set aperture. With a 28mm lens set at f8.0 will generally make everything in the photograph look sharp (creating a long Depth of Field), however the same aperture with a lens set to 200mm will have a much smaller Depth of Field.

19. Lens Focal Length is 28mm

20. Lens Focal Length is 50mm

21. Lens Focal Length is 100mm

22. Lens Focal Length is 150mm

23. Lens Focal Length is 200mm

24. “Using Distance” By changing the distance that the camera is away from the focal point without changing the lens focal length or the aperture, the Depth of Field can be altered. As the camera is moved closer the depth of field becomes smaller and as the camera is moved away it becomes larger.

25. Distance from subject is 5 meters

26. Distance from subject is 7 meters

27. Distance from subject is 10 meters

28. Distance from subject is 15 meters

29. Distance from subject is 25 meters

30. Distance from subject is 30 meters

31. Points to Remember Controlling ‘Depth of Field’ involves using a combination of all three – selection of an aperture, selection of a lens focal length and deciding on a distance from the point of focus. In addition it is vital that the exposure be correct, so if you choose to use higher apertures to increase the depth of field you will have to use slower shutter speeds to ensure that the exposure is correct and visa versa.

32. Photo Samples

69. Good Luck