Concepts in Photography
Depth of field
Portraits or
The depth of field is the focused area around the subject. Therefore, a small DOF signifies that the focused area is narrow and a large DOF means the focused area is wide.
A photo with a small DOF, which stresses the subject and makes the rest of it blurred, can be obtained by using a telescope lens or selecting a low aperture value. Conversely, a photo with a large DOF which shows all the elements on the photo sharply focused can be achieved by using a wide angle lens or selecting a high aperture value.
The wider the aperture is (namely the lower the aperture value), the lower the DOF becomes. Under the condition where the focal length is equal, a low aperture value leads to a photo with a low DOF.
50 mm F5.7 | 50 mm F22 |
Small Depth of Field | Large Depth of Field |
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