Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

Depth of field relates to the portion of a scene that appears sharp in the image.

Of course, we could give you an expose on what this means using physics but I do not think many of you would want that, just as most will use the washing machine, irrespective of the fact that they have no idea of how it works.

For those using their mobile phones and low cost automatic cameras there is no way you can set these things manually, unless there is something about your appliances that I do not know about.

If so, please leave me a comment to that effect as I could do with some enlightening, too.

However, those little automatics and phones will have some internal workings which will work out your requirements reasonably well by using their internal, built in, settings.

But if you want to tell the time, use a watch.

If you want to use the phone or text, by all means use your mobile.

But, if you are fussy about your images and wish to improve your photography, use a camera and not the usual 'el cheapo' version.

If you don't want to go beyond the scope of your present somewhat inferior equipment and are happy with the results you might like to concentrate on improving your composition skills and such things as use of the 'rule of thirds' and perspectives and get to know about framing and natural lighting, for starters.

But this hub is about depth of field and I've put on an instructive video for you as well as the usual range of pictures to help you understand it better.

Even if your camera works it out you are well advised to try to at least have some understanding of this concept.

"The depth of field varies depending on camera type, aperture and focusing distance, although print size and viewing distance can influence our perception of it.

The depth of field does not abruptly change from sharp to unsharp, but instead occurs as a gradual transition". Quoted section is from Wikipedia.

You need to be able to understand the relationship between f numbers and aperture sizes and I have selected two excellent pictures from the Internet which clearly show this relationship and you'll find that automatic cameras are digitally programmed to work this out and apply it, given the limitations of their own design.

However, many who do do their own settings do it rather clumsily and their photographs can leave a lot to be desired except perhaps in their own eyes.

As against this, with practice, many learn to do it exceptionally well, but if you're going for speed and action you just may not have a chance to work it out and automatic will generally beat you, hands down.

Now I know that already many are puzzled with the terms f stops and even apertures.

f-stop

  the setting of an adjustable lens aperture, as indicated by an f number. Also, f stop. Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary f-num·ber
n. The ratio of the focal length of a lens or lens system to the effective diameter of its aperture. ap·er·ture n. 1. An opening, such as a hole, gap, or slit. 2. a. A usually adjustable opening in an optical instrument, such as a camera or telescope, that limits the amount of light passing through a lens or onto a mirror. b. The diameter of such an opening, often expressed as an f-number. Underlining by ME

I guess by now you are beginning to understand what depth of field is all about, especially if you've sneaked a look at the pictures already, so now, other than by the captions accompanying the pictures I don't think I have anything further to say.

Perhaps I shall expand on it more in another hub, some time, but these more difficult hubs are very time consuming, and, as you know, they certainly do not pay.