Throughout this exercise I have been experimenting with the use of a wide aperture (to create a shallow depth of field (DoF)) in conjunction with a long focal length and a close viewpoint. This is a common technique to highlight things through being in focus whilst blurring the background, and so training the eye on what is in focus.
I have learnt a couple of things from this exercise; one being that the closer you are to the subject matter, the shallower the DoF becomes (regardless of which f-stop you use). This is much easier to show with a very wide aperture. Take the two very similar shots below. I have done an experiment to prove the above statement. The subject matter is the gate. I have taken the first photo at f4.0, 1/180th sec and ISO 1600, focal length 105mm and subject distance 6.5m. In the second shot I have altered two of the variables. The first is that I have decreased the aperture to f4.5 (you would naturally think that this would increase the DoF). The second thing that I have done is to move two metres closer to the subject matter (now 4.5m). Compare the two images, the second has a much shallower DoF despite being shot with a smaller aperture. So it is important to understand that DoF can be altered using both aperture size and ‘camera to subject’ distance. The two views, despite being very similar, are saying very different things. The first is leading you through the important but integral (part of the picture) gate and then on into the gradually fading distance. Whereas image two is clearly saying that the gate is ‘the frontier’ beyond which ‘who knows what lies’. In image two, the gate is the statement.
f4.0, 1/180th sec, focal length 105mm and ISO 1600, and subject distance 6.5m
f4.5, 1/180th sec, focal length 105mm and ISO 1600, and subject distance 4.5m
The other thing that I have learnt whilst doing this exercise is that what is not in focus in an image can contribute or say as much as what is in focus. Take a look at some other images I took on the same day.
f4.0, 1/1500 sec, focal length 105mm and ISO 1600, and subject to camera distance 4.5m.
Although the sign is the big striking (In focus) part of this image, what is behind is what it is referring to, and ‘the prize’ that you get when you venture through the (blurred) gate. If the background had been in focus too, I feel it would have made the image too busy and confusing. By keeping it soft, it has enhanced the autumnal feel. Too add to the strength of the image, Lady Luck stepped in and, on review later, I saw the perfectly placed dead branch pointing into the picture (almost like the skeleton in the tomb, warning of the danger ahead, Indiana Jones-esque!).
Below is a sequence of four images that I took, all trying to show how shallow DoF can be used creatively.
1 
2
3 
4
The settings vary ever so slightly, but the idea/concept was the same, to focus on the main tree, with the background trees informing the viewer that this is a wooded area. Moving from left to right, the tree in the foreground gets nearer to the camera and the background trees become less defined. There is something positive to be said about each image and its construction (and each can stand alone as a fair picture), but for me the last image is what I had in my mind when starting this particular shoot, though not exactly as it has ended up. I had imagined that I would be able to capture all of the foreground tree, but as it happened the only way to achieve my aim was with a total mind reset on the composition. I am very happy with what I ended up with as it was not something I had ever thought of doing! I also particularly like the way the morning light is cast upon the bark of the tree, but even more, I love the old and healing graffiti which stands out due to the proximity of the camera. I think this image juxtaposes the rough feel of the bark against the soft focus of the background. This is a very good example of why the out of focus part of an image requires thought and pre shot visualisation.
I see! 