Beecher's Handouts /

Depth-of-Field / 16.1 - Introduction

Depth-of-field is a valuable composition tool.

When you focus on your subject—that's where the focus is the sharpest.

However—there's an zone in front and behind the subject that's acceptably sharp.

This acceptably sharp zone is the depth-of-field.

Compare the two photographs below.

In each, the camera was focused on the crystal paper weight.

Yet, there's more in focus in the right-hand photograph.

That's due to depth-of-field.

The amount in focus, the depth-of-field, depends on:

1) Lens opening

2) Distance from the subject

3) Sensor size

We'll look at each of these factors.