What is depth of field?

The depth of field is how much of the photograph is in focus. For example, a photograph has “shallow depth of field” if the foreground is in focus and the background is out of focus.

In the fololwing photograph, there is a long depth of field, the sunflowers in the foreground are in focus and so are the ones in the distance.

Long depth of field

In the following photograph, there is a shallow depth of field, there is one sunflower in focus and then everything in the background is very blurred.

Shallow depth of field

How to control the depth of field

The depth of field of a photograph is controlled by the aperture. When you use a wide aperture such as f/2.8 – you will create a shallow depth of field. When you use a small aperture such as f/22 – you will create a long depth of field. Also when you are using a more zoomed in lens, you will end up with a shallower depth of field.

Have fun experimenting!