Understanding Depth of Field
Jamie Perez • December 18, 2023
If you take a look at the screenshots above, you'll notice that one has a background is more in focus than the other. That, my friends, is called depth of field.
What is Depth of Field?
Depth of Field refers to the distance between objects in an image that causes them to look sharp and in focus or blurred and out of focus. Understanding how to manipulate depth of field can allow you to creatively emphasize certain things within your shot.
What influences Depth of Field?
- Distance - The distance between your camera, the subject and the background all play into this. If you are close to your subject with your camera, the background will appear more blurred. If you're shooting from a distance, you'll have greater depth of field.
- Focal length- The focal range of your lens also plays a huge role in achieving a certain depth of field. Longer focal lengths on a lens (600mm) tend to create shallower depth of field. Shorter lenses on the other hand (35mm) provide a deeper depth of field.
- Aperture (F-Stop)- This is the primary factor that influences depth of field. Aperture is measured in f-stops (f/1.8 f/4, f/16). The lower f-number (f/1.8) means your lens has a wider aperture, resulting in a shallow depth of field with a more blurred background. A high f-stop number (f/16), has a smaller aperture meaning more of the scene in the background will be in focus.
Creative uses of depth of field:
- Portrait Photography: This often uses a more shallow depth of field. This method helps draw attention to a person's face rather than what's going on behind them.
- Landscape Photography: A deeper depth of field is preferred in landscapes because you want to be able to see the whole image in focus.
- Macro Photography: When capturing super tight and up close shots, a shallow depth of field will help isolate a tiny subject and make it pop more against the background.
- Storytelling: Both are used effectively here. Interviews can be shot with a shallow depth of field to achieve a cinematic look, while the rest of the b-roll can often have greater depths of field.
Depth of field can be a very versatile aspect of both photos and videos. Both work in different circumstances, depending on the look you're going for. Play around with it and experiment to find out which modes you prefer in different settings.
Most of the time when nonprofit organizations are sharing stories, we are hearing from staff members, the founder and clients. All of these are perfectly fine stories to tell... but what about sharing the donor stories? When a nonprofit has regular donors, there's probably a story behind WHY they believe in your cause so much. There's a heartfelt element to why out of all the nonprofits they could donate to -- why do they choose YOURS to give to time and time again? They most likely relate to your mission. They believe what you believe about a problem that needs to be addressed and they wanted to be part of the solution. Maybe they went through a traumatic situation that your organization is helping people solve. Get to know your donors. Be curious. They're just as much a part of your organization as your staff and clientele. By sharing their stories, they not only feel more involved in an organization they already care so deeply about, but it also could be a great way to attract MORE donors who can relate to their story. Donors give because of stories -- their gifts don't come from coercion; they come from emotion, a desire to connect. It opens up a relationship and this is how wallets open and lives are transformed. People want to know they belong to something and that they're making a difference. It feels good for anyone to know they're needed, wanted and appreciated. Show them the impact of their gift through storytelling. Don't just focus on them when you need something from them. Engage them. Make them part of the organization's journey. To help get you started, here are a couple questions that could ignite some great soundbites when interviewing your donors: What happened in your life that makes you so compelled to support our cause? Why is this need so important to address? With these questions, you're not only asking them to address the need that your organization is addressing, but you're still focusing on THEIR story. By bringing them along this journey and asking these questions, it helps remind them why they give monetary gifts to you. And their story and their reasons could encourage others to do the same. BE CURIOUS. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF STORIES THAT ARE NEVER TOLD BECAUSE WE NEVER ASK . By being curious, sharing THEIR story, you're showing them you not only care about them helping your cause, but you care about them as people. And who doesn't like to share their story with someone who is truly interested?
Owner of Beyond Words Jamie Perez interviews woman on camera in studio setting
We see this time and time again... organizations wanting to tell an emotive story through video and then being disappointed that the final product wasn't as heart-tugging as they'd hoped. This mainly happens for three reasons: 1. Controlling the narrative. There are too many cooks in the kitchen. Organizations want to include everyone in the conversation and then there's too many opinions on what should be included in the video, who should be included, what should be shown, etc. This convolutes the message and becomes a jamboree of information and takes away from the natural flow of what the true story should be. 2. Trying to fit everything into one video. Organizations often don't think about what it truly means to tell a story. It's not talking about all the facts and features of the organizations, the different types of programs, showing the building, etc. We don't need to know everything about you. We KNOW you're doing incredible work, but we can read the facts and figures through the caption or text on your website. What we want to see and feel is the stories and emotions that accompany what you do. Which brings us to the next point... 3. Focusing on the features rather than the people. While it's great to inform people of the logistics of your organization -- those things are often not unique and they don't really retain people's attention. What does accomplish these two things, however, is gripping people by the heartstrings by focusing on one or two people's stories to show the audience the impact you make. It's not about telling me all the generalities of your organization. We really need to hyperfocus on ONE story that embodies the difference you make in people's lives. Remember what a story truly is. It has characters, it follows a journey, it presents a problem, a solution, has layers, and evokes emotion. If your videos are mostly just a summary of what you do as an organization, then you haven't really told a story. You've told me WHAT your organization does. The true heartfelt stories are always found in the WHY.
