Photography Tips of The Week #2

Selective Focus and Depth of Field

 
There are many ways to make your subject stand out in your photographs. You can use contrasting colors, textures, dimensions, change your view point, or you can just simply separate it from the background with selective focusing. Selective focus is a process of carefully controling the camera focus on your subject alone and completely ignoring or blurring the background. It's a creative manipulation of the Depth of Field in your photographs.

Depth of Field, for those who are not yet familiar, is the focal zoning from the foreground to the background, that indicates the sharpness of the subject(s) in your frame. It can be controlled with these three (3) factors, the aperture, the distance of your camera to the subject and the focal length of the lens. Through the aperture control, using a bigger opening (f-stop, ex. f/1.2 - f/2.8) can create a "Shallow Depth of Field", wherein, only the object of your focus remains sharp, and the rest of the background is blurred. While using a smaller opening (ex. f/8 - f/22) can result to a "Deep Depth of Field" wherein, the majority in the image from foreground to the background, is sharp. 



The distance between your camera and the subject can also determine your depth of field. If you stand closer to the subject, your focus will be concentrated more on it than the background, creating a shallow DoF. If you want a sharper image, move a little back from your subject to increase your DoF. 
  
Likewise, if you use a longer focal length, like telephotos and zooms (ex. 100mm above), the area in your focus is "compressed", thus, isolating your subject from the background. But it is not always the case, it still depends on your settings and distance of focus. Results  may vary with different lens and focal lengths. For example, a small f-stop (f/11) on a 35-70mm zoom lens, set on 35mm and focused on a 9 feet distance, can result to a Deep DoF with a sharp image from 6-20ft. On the other hand, with the same f-stop and distance but focal length set to 70mm, the DoF is relatively shallower with only 8-11ft sharp image. 


One great way to maximize the effect of focus and sharpness in your images is by understanding the Hyperfocal Distance of your lens.The hyperfocal distance is basically a point in which your focus and everything from that point to infinity will be sharp. Different lens, either prime or with varying focal lengths, have different corresponding hyperfocal distance. Mastering this can make outstanding landscapes with really sharp image all throughout the frame. A great example are the works of Allan Barredo (view them on his blog, Lantaw, http://lantaw.blogspot.com/ ). I'll see if I can also grab a chart and share it with you some other time.

Understanding Depth of Field and mastering the 

control of it can really help you in creating great quality images. It's what determines the output or the look that you want in your photographs. It's also a useful means to direct the viewer's eyes in the flow that you want. So it's very important to maintain a separation of focus with your subject and the background. Needless to say, that you're subject must be easily identified from the background through the difference in sharpness and focus. No matter how good a composition is, if the focus is off, then it's just a wasted shot. 

  
 Most of my photos, especially close-ups and macros, are done with selective focusing. It's what helps me create the mood that I wanted in my images. Even in my portraits and architectural photos, selective focusing is a great tool that creates emphasis and perspective on my every captures. Of course, it would be even better with the use of a good set of lens (fast lens with bigger aperture), and a creative viewpoint to capture that unique work of art. 



  

 You can also use selective focusing in enhancing  or isolating a portion of your subject. I normally use it to emphasize the eyes of the models in my portraits. Creating a single directional flow for the viewers and captivating them, making them linger on my subject.


Thanks again for your time... and see you next week on another Photography Tips!

Have a great week, everyone!