Depth of Field: The Focus (or Lack Of) Should Be Deliberate

Depth of field is extremely important when producing a quality video. What exactly does it mean and why is it so important?

Depth of field is defined as the portion of an image that is acceptably in focus. At least part of your subject should be in focus (unless you are intentionally shooting out-of-focus). From here, there is room to get creative. Where do you want your audience to look? What part of the image or video are you trying to draw attention to?

Shallow Depth of Field
Using a shallow depth of field can have a dramatic effect on what the viewer’s eyes are drawn to. When taking a portrait or filming a spokesperson, a blurry background will draw more attention to the subject and make them pop off the scene. The part that is blurred is called the bokeh. This definition takes into consideration the intentional use of this technique and its function as an aesthetic addition to the image. The important consideration here is that intentionally blurring parts of an image or video makes it better. A shallow depth of field, no matter how impressive it can be, is not always the right approach.

Greater Depth of Field
A greater depth of field has equally important functions when shooting. The more you want to fit on the screen, the more depth of field you will need. Think of a sweeping landscape. You will want all of it to be sharp. This is just the opposite of trying to focus the viewer’s attention on one part of the image, but just as important for achieving your goals.

No Matter What, Be Intentional
The most crucial thing to remember about depth of field is that it should be done intentionally. Don’t expect your audience to focus their attention on certain elements of your photos or videos without first grabbing their eyes and placing them where you want. Focusing, or the intentional lack thereof, should always be deliberate. The message you send will be affected by the aesthetics, so plan accordingly.

If you want high quality video that will convert your leads into clients, then you need our help. Contact the Fairfax Video Studio, by calling 877.477.STUDIO or filling out our online form.