PowerPoint on understanding Depth of Field (DOF)

1. Depth of Field
Thomas Hoepker
Muhammad Ali, Chicago, 1966

2. The depth of field refers to
the area in focus in front of
and behind the focal point.

3. f8 f5.6 f2.8
CONTROLLING DEPTH OF FIELD
You can control the depth of field (DOF) by altering the aperture to the
appropriate setting. The wider the aperture (smaller number), the less the depth
of field – see examples below. NOTE: You will not see the effect of changing
the DOF through your viewfinder when using a film SLR.

5. F 5.6 / 400mm F 5.6 / 17mm

6. Taken with telephoto lens e.g. 400mm
CHANGE THE FOCAL LENGTH – use a Telephoto lens
Another way to manipulate the depth of field (DOF), is to use a different lens
(i.e. alter the focal length). If you use a telephoto lens of 300mm, which
magnifies the scene, you will get a shallow depth of field, whereas a 28mm
wide angle lens will give a greater DOF. Sports photos tend to have blurred
background as the photographers use large telephoto lenses.

7. Taken with a high aperture i.e. f64
CHANGE THE FOCAL LENGTH – use a wide angle lens
Using a wide angle lens i.e. 28mm wide, will give a greater DOF. Landscape
photographs like to get as much of the scene in focus as possible and therefore
use cameras with large f.stops.The f64 club was a group of photographers
including Ansel Adams and Edward Weston
By Edward Weston
By Ansel Adams

8. Taken with macro lens e.g. 400mm
CHANGE THE FOCAL LENGTH– use a Macro lens
If you use a macro lens with a very short focal length i.e. 20mm, close to your
subject, this will also give you a shallow DOF, the equivalent to a 600mm lens.

9. Taken at a short distance from the subject/scene
CHANGE THE CAMERA – SUBJECT DISTANCE
If you use a macro lens with a very short focal length i.e. 20mm, close to your
subject, this will also give you a shallow DOF, the equivalent to a 600mm lens.

10. Workshop Tasks
Complete the following:
Take 1-2 rolls of film covering the following processes:
1. Choose a scene with a simple back, middle
and fore-ground. Avoid high contrast areas.
Take a series of portrait photos with your
model standing in the same place and different
aperture settings i.e. f2.8 – f16. Remember to
change the shutter speed to have the correct
exposure.
2. Use a telephoto and macro lens with a small
aperture i.e. f 2.8 to capture shots with a
shallow DOF. Use a tripod if available.
3. Use a wide angle lens with a narrow aperture
i.e. f.16 to capture a landscape scene with a
large DOF. You will probably need a tripod if
the shutter speed needs to be under 1/60
second
4. In your Photo Diary, collect a range of photos by
different photographers that illustrate the three
main methods of manipulating depth of field:
- by altering aperture
- by changing the focal length
- changing the camera-subject distance
5. Develop and print out your film. Make a contact
sheet and print up and illustrate in your photo diary
side by side task 4
Workshop Tasks
Complete the following:
Take 1-2 rolls of film covering the following processes:
1. Choose a scene with a simple back, middle
and fore-ground. Avoid high contrast areas.
Take a series of portrait photos with your
model standing in the same place and different
aperture settings i.e. f2.8 – f16. Remember to
change the shutter speed to have the correct
exposure.
2. Use a telephoto and macro lens with a small
aperture i.e. f 2.8 to capture shots with a
shallow DOF. Use a tripod if available.
3. Use a wide angle lens with a narrow aperture
i.e. f.16 to capture a landscape scene with a
large DOF. You will probably need a tripod if
the shutter speed needs to be under 1/60
second
4. In your Photo Diary, collect a range of photos by
different photographers that illustrate the three
main methods of manipulating depth of field:
- by altering aperture
- by changing the focal length
- changing the camera-subject distance
5. Develop and print out your film. Make a contact
sheet and print up and illustrate in your photo diary
side by side task 4