CW - DOF workshop

Shallow DOF : 100 ISO ; f2.8 ; 1/20sec

The use of shallow DOF in this pictures brings in a softer look, with the book label in focus and the rest slightly blurred. A shallow DOF focuses our attention on a specific element of a composition, and creates a more ‘romantic’ vision of the still life. It creates a sense of vignetting around a single focal point, but we still take the other objects which are not in focus into account.

            Medium DOF : 100 ISO ; f11 ; 1sec

With a medium DOF we still have the sense of vignetting in the picture, but not as much as with a shallow DOF, so we can see the majority of the composition in focus. This change flattens the picture, as it gives us the impression that the object are more or less at the same distance from the camera.

            Deep DOF : 100 ISO ; f22 ; 4sec

Because of the use of a deep DOF, all the elements of the still life are in focus and we have a lot less sense of distance between the camera and the objects. With such a flat view, I think it makes the picture less interesting, in this case, because we lose the softness of the shallow DOF,  the picture looks more harsh and our eyes aren’t guided to a specific point. We don’t really know what to bring attention to either.

I think the most effective depth of field for this still life is the shallow DOF, because it brings depths and a focal point to the picture. It also brings a nice soft look to the composition.

Shallow DOF : 100 ISO ; f2.8 ; 1/250sec

Using shallow DOF to shoot portraiture makes the person stand out from the background and look more “3D” then with a deep DOF. The model looks very sharp as they contrast with the blurry background shallow DOF creates. The focal point is obviously the model, we are not distracted by the rest of the composition.

Deep DOF : 1000 ISO ; f20 ; 1/50sec

Deep DOF flattens the pictures and we lose sense of distance between the background and the model. As everything in the picture becomes sharp, we don’t have an obvious focal point and we don’t really know where to look at first. Deep DOF does not make the model stand out as much in comparaison to the background as shallow DOF does. We also lose sense of the 3D features in the model’s face which gives them flatter face features.