Depth of field (DOF)

Depth of field (DOF) refers to how much of a photo is sharp in front and back of where you focus on the main subject. DOF is primarily controlled by aperture size though other factors come into play such as the focal length of the lens and the distance the background is from the subject.

Photographers may consciously control depth of field for artistic purposes, aiming to achieve attractive background blur known as bokeh. For example, a shallow depth of field is often used when taking close up shots so the background is blurred and the main subject is in sharp focus. Read more...