Depth of Field (Continued)
In the following example, you will see 3 photographs I took using the same diaphragm (f/5.6) and using the same lens (105mm). The only thing I changed was the distance between the camera and the subject I was photographing.
On the first picture, I was 1 meter away from the flower. There is no doubt that what I wanted to show was the flower. Its background is completely out of focus and it doesn't distract the viewer from the main objective: the flower.
On the second picture, I was 2 meters away from the flower. The background is still out of focus but some details are beginning to take shape. You also need to notice the elements that are in focus in this picture, such as the stem of the plant on the right taking some of the attention off the flower itself.
On the third picture, I was 4 meters away from the flower. What a drastic change! Suddenly, I'm not just photographing a flower but the entire plant. And, of course, almost every element in this picture is in focus. There is no longer any defined centre of attention. The picture become boring and even dull.
As you see, which diaphragm we will use, how far from the subject to be photographed we will be, and what lens we will use are important decisions we need to make every time we take a picture. You have seen some examples and how a picture changes just by changing one variable; and how drastic these changes can be!
It is you, the photographer (either amateur or professional) who has to decide on the final result you want to achieve. To do this, you will need plenty of practice and testing. Try taking several photographs using different diaphragms, changing the focal length of the lens, changing the distance between the camera and the subject, etc. Shoot several pictures of a single subject (scene) and you will be surprised of the different results you will achieve.
In the next course, we will travel further into the world of Photography. We will talk about the shutter and its speed; about sensitivity; of the different characteristics of light; as well as exposition.
End of Course.
