Project 52 – Depth of Field

The theme for week 10 of the Project 52 Pet Photographer’s blog circle is “depth of field”.

In photography, the term depth of field simply refers to the area of the scene which appears well in focus. When the depth of field is small, or shallow, the image background and foreground appear blurred, with only a small area in focus. A wider depth of field keeps most of the scene in focus.

The three main factors at work in obtaining the desired depth of field include the lens aperture, the focal length, and the distance between the camera and the subject.

A shallow depth of field is often used to isolate the subject from its environment while adding a pleasing artsy feel to the photograph. Obtaining the desired focus does take a little practice but the end results can be strikingly beautiful.

When photographing pets, I often strive for a shallow depth of field. I simply like the look and love how it makes the subject pop while adding some interest to the story being told.

The next photo is of my sweet Sadie and is one of my favourites. It speaks to me in so many ways, especially now that she is no longer with us.

Miss you Sadie Girl and your big hairy paws.

And last but never least, here are a few of this week’s hopefuls from the shelter. A shallow depth of field, with the resulting blurred backgrounds, in conditions where the backdrops are limited, allows for a much more pleasing adoption photo.

“Since the background is as important as the subject, you mustn’t let it default by chance. You must control not only vertical and horizontal, you must be aware of the depth of field (or lack of it) that you want in the background.” ~ Jay Maisel

Project 52 _______________________
This post is part of the Pet Photography Project 52 blog circle. To see what the next photographer is sharing for the weekly theme, “depth of field”, visit Darlene Woodward with Pant the Town Photography serving MA and NH. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here. Enjoy!