How to Use Depth of Field in Photography - Explained

Depth of field is one of the most important creative and technical factors in photography. Let's examine the tools at your disposal to change depth of field with any camera.
This tutorial begins by explaining the three different ways to change depth of field: aperture, focal length, and focusing distance. We then move to real-world examples of how to use depth of field in practice, including situations where the three factors may be working against you.
The final part of this tutorial covers two methods to extend your depth of field beyond the ordinary limits of your lens: focus stacking and Brenizer method panoramas. Although there are a few other methods of extending your depth of field artificially (such as manually blurring the background in Photoshop), these two techniques are the most versatile and natural-looking ways to do so.
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This video is not sponsored! You can support Photography Life and Spencer Cox Photography by buying anything through my affiliate links!
Here is all the photo equipment I use: bhpho.to/3XUv32a
And here’s my video gear to film this video: bhpho.to/3Yt8th1
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I said in the video that I'd provide links to some more advanced topics that are beyond the scope of the video. Here are the pages I recommend:
Wikipedia on depth of field: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_o...
Depth of Field Myths (my article for Photography Life): photographylife.com/depth-of-...
Why camera sensors don't directly change depth of field: fstoppers.com/education/under...
Equivalence (getting identical looking photos despite different camera sensor sizes): photographylife.com/equivalen...
That should tide you over for a while :)
~Spencer
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#DepthOfField

[@christinemaclennan2354]

The web is enormous, but I am so thankful (you have no idea how thankful) that my algorithm landed me on your page. I'm a teacher (in Canada) and I've been struggling with putting together a self-delivered photography course for my students simply due to the overwhelming and inter-connected information they need to ingest at the onset of learning. Your video (after years of searching) is so well explained and your tone and enthusiasm are comforting yet "serious" ~ if you aren't already, you really should consider teaching (and this is coming from someone who has been teaching for 25 years). Seriously, you have the gift of bringing your subject area down to a manageable yet informative level. And I'm going to intice you with this information . . . if you live in Canada (chances are you probably don't), after 10 years of teaching, many teachers are making close to $90,000 (CAD). Not that money is everything ~ but it is nice to be comfortable and to be rewarded for what you do. I don't know why people are shamed into not admitting that?

[@paulorrmorais3697]

You really are a great Teacher! Thanks a lot!!!

[@briansquibb999]

Thank you, Spencer! One of my favorite channels!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Really appreciate it, Brian!

[@antonoat]

Clear, concise and informative. Thank you.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you liked it, thanks for the feedback!

[@Tstinzy]

Thank you so much for the awesome explanation. No one else made it so easy to understand! I appreciate all the examples and visual displays

[@vikassaraf3122]

Awesome man!! Honestly, I didn't ask for this but I needed this lesson! Thought I knew depth of field but apparently I didn't!! Love always🖤💯

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Happy to hear it, thanks, Vikas!

[@Tony-Elliott]

Brilliant information and explanation ,thanks for taking the time to make these videos

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing, Anthony! I think it’s worth the time if people can learn something from them.

[@rosemaryalles6043]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pearleva1]

Thank you so much very easy to follow absolute brilliant it so easy to follow and I will try this out thank you so much someone who explains it simple so I can follow

[@tamashaasz]

Excellent content and very valuable information. Thanks for sharing!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing, Tamas!

[@christianlopezhn]

WIthout a doubt the best explanation video I have seen about this topic!

[@ikezach5469]

Great explanation of DOF photography with great examples.

[@AliasJimWirth]

I was just watching the Hudson Henry and Rick LePage "Office Hours". They mentioned you and the topic of DSLR vs Mirrorless cameras. I found your KZbin channel and watched this video which caught my attention. Let me say what an excellent explanation of depth of field you give here and what an articulate speaker you are. I enjoyed this video and subscribed to your channel because of it. I look forward to watching many more of your postings. Thank you.

[@iXmovie]

First person speaking of how to fix DOF not only what it is. Well done 👍

[@callemdavies8992]

Excellent summary - wish I'd had it outlined like this when I began learning!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you liked it! Same here, really - there's just more and better quality tutorials for photographers these days, even compared to just a few years ago. At least in video form.

[@joyceyang6976]

Very well explained Spencer, I’d like how you jump right into subject with informative content. And I always find something new to learn from your “not too long” video! Excellent job, thank you for sharing! 😃💕

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Joyce! Glad you liked it.

[@shawngerman2540]

Hey man, I would like to say thank you for the videos you produce and post on your channel. The content always seems to be on point and your style of explaining concepts and techniques is easy to process (no pun intended..😅) and enjoyable to watch.. Thanks.

[@terrylarkin690]

This was great information I'm à retired Navy Photographer 1971 1975 old film days. I photographed the Apollo 16-17 recoveries the last two Manned Moon Missions when I was 19yrs old. You are very well versed and you would be a very good instructor. Our Photo School was in Pensacola Florida. It's at Naval Air Station in Pensacola.

[@richmondessamoah8154]

I had a presentation on Depth of Field and this video really helped. Thanks a lot

[@JAMtastesgood]

Thank you! This has been so helpful as someone just getting into the hobby :)

[@georginekwa9971]

First time visitor 😀Thank you 🙏🏽 so much .. I really needed your explication on this subject once again … it is such a complicated aspect of photography and you make it for ME so much easier to apprehend it .. over and over 🥰 little by little .. I’m your fan 4sure😍

[@RickMentore]

First time in tow years I've visited your channel and I am happy to say you are just as cool & engaging! I would happy recommend this channel to fledglings and anyone looking to brush-up on the basics!

[@newtuber4freedom43]

Always great content!

[@ryanpowell2540]

Very nicely explained. Thank you.

[@cathellis6015]

Thank you. Useful.

[@MichelleRenee-ui5th]

Thank you for this!

[@neversonjames2342]

I was just trying to get a basic understanding of depth of field, but you blew me away. You know your stuff. There is much more to photography than I thought, whoa.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you found it so useful!

[@arjunisonline3807]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel hey man! love your content. I was wondering why you aren’t uploading anymore 🤔

[@beatfarmerfan]

Hey Spencer, hope everything is good with you! Haven’t seen any of your great videos in a few months, just wanted to say we miss you.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Hey Steve, thanks for saying so! Yeah, doing well, just extremely busy. I’m going to make more videos soon. Finishing up a few things right now but I’ll definitely be publishing videos throughout 2022. -Spencer

[@alanw.4511]

Nice vide man!! Subbed.

[@briansquibb999]

Hi Spencer! I surely hope you plan on more videos in 2022. Your videos are so helpful. Thank you very much and Happy New Year!!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Happy new year to you! I’ve been working on some videos and expect to have at least one posted before the end of the month. Thanks for asking!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I haven't forgotten about this! Just finished filming another video for the first time in almost a year. Editing will take a few days. Thanks for sticking with the channel even during our drought.

[@beatrizmolinares8619]

Excelente!!!!

[@catherinemwendechannel7556]

Very insightful

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you liked it, thank you Catherine!

[@Wielebny33]

Hello, I'm starting my adventure with macro photography and I want to give you some advice. I've already learned a lot, and I really like your work and videos. I am photographing the A7 III and I have already ordered the lens: laowa ca-dreamer 100 mm f / 2.8 macro 2: 1. I would like to use Yongnuo YN24EX lamps, but there is nothing to the A7 III at this price. What would you advise, thanks in advance and best regards from Poland

[@marthalindsey5599]

Super!

[@Suhailkhan53]

Great video

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Suhail, I’m glad you liked it!

[@gabrieldibjunior5431]

Thanks a lot, Spencer . In the next videos, could you talk about the necessity of using hyperfocal distance in landscape photograpy ? I mean, sometimes we don't have enough time to watch tables , adjust lenses and so on .

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thanks, Gabriel! See if this video is what you're after: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naTYfmaYiLiqmpY Hyperfocal distance charts are really annoying, and they're not even accurate (they don't take diffraction into account, nor how far away your nearest object is). I use the double the distance method instead. That video goes into it in detail.

[@GillesQuennevilleGQ]

Bravo. You are very good.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you!

[@lifejourney4two]

Hi Spencer, a question on focus stacking for a landscape shot. For a set aperture value you will have a set depth of field. So when selecting multiple focal points (near to far) the depth of fields at each focal point will overlap the adjacent one. Is there a method to selecting the sharpest focal point position in each focal plane that will make for the sharpest stacked final image? How do you decide how many focal points are needed for a focus stack? eg. Shooting at f16, do you focus at the prominent features in a scene that are at different distances from the camera? Hope that all makes sense. Appreciate the great channel content. Lars.

[@antistiolabeo8950]

Well thought and presented video, as always. Can I beg for a next episode about controlling background exposure in macro photography (with and without flash)? That would be great :)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Antistio! I'm not immediately planning to make a video on lighting up the background in macro photography, but I can give you my thoughts here. On one hand, when you're using a flash for 1:1 macro photography or more, you have three routes: let the background go dark/black, compose in such a way that the background is extremely close, or position a separate flash to shine on the background. That third option isn't really feasible outside of studio contexts (or perhaps some oddball flash heads like the Venus Laowa KX-800). On the other hand, when you're shooting without a flash at magnifications like 1:3 or less, you'll get a well-lit background regardless (and the same is true if you're using a fill flash). This is how I get bright backgrounds in almost all of my dragonfly and damselfly photos - I just don't use a flash. Hope this answers your questions. I may make a video about it at some point, but realistically there are some other topics I'd like to get to first.

[@prits_nahh]

Does the zoom capacity of the lens affect the blurriness of the background?

[@Sankalp402]

Love from india

[@drownthepoor]

What city is featured at 2:57? Is that San Francisco? The architecture and hill makes me think so. Also I notice palms in the main setting where you're recording the demonstration dialogue. Is this also California? Either way, great explanation my friend. I've never owned a DSLR, but I've done minor photography over the years. It's become more important to me lately as a content creator, and though I have many friends who are photographers it's not something I usually get a chance to ask them for demonstration. This is a great explanation.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

That photo was San Francisco, you’re right! I filmed the tutorial portion of the video in Florida, though. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@drownthepoor]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel Hah that's funny because somehow it 'felt' like it wasn't California, but I assumed if the shot was in San Fran it was likely Cali as well.

[@Aisengor]

Why you stopped uploadiing? You are my fav photo youtuber!!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Very kind of you to say! I’m working on new videos, just been busy running the Photography Life blog these past few months. Keep an eye out because I’ll definitely be posting videos again.

[@Aisengor]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel I was worried for your health cause of the pandemic but then i saw some comments below and your responses. Glad you are healthy, i am new to photography and your videos helped me significantly. Will be waiting for next video, no pressure though. Have fun!!

[@Aviator168]

Does a depth of field too large make the picture look flat? Or just shoot at a large depth of field and blur out things that are not interesting in post processing.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

It depends on the photo. A lot of landscape photographers like having a large depth of field so that the foreground and background are both sharp. But sometimes, the blur from a shallow depth of field adds nice dimension to the photo. I personally never blur it out in post-processing, though.

[@bishfrie]

Spencer have you merged your channel back with photography life?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Yes! I’m spending most of my time over there writing articles, so my apologies if there isn't much content here for a bit.

[@Hornwiesel]

Why did you stop uploading videos?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

I will be uploading frequently again in 2022! I had to pause for a lot of 2021 to run the Photography Life blog, but we’re finishing up hiring more writers there now. Should have much more time for videos next year.

[@Durio_zibethinus]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel I found your channel through KZbin's algorithm and another hidden gems lately, instead a gear based photography channels. Glad to see you will start to active again.

[@tomasschiappacassi2401]

Can't you just crop into the frame you had intended from a shot further away???

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Good question but no, cropping does not change the depth of field you capture. Zooming in does. You can test this yourself by cropping a zoomed-out photo, then comparing its depth of field against a zoomed-in photo, holding all other camera settings the same. You'll see more blur in the background of the image where you physically zoomed in.

[@grantosborne3062]

what has happened to your you tube content??

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Planning to post another video soon. I’ve been super busy writing on Photography Life for the last few months and haven’t had time.

[@grantosborne3062]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel glad to hear that you are fit and well. In these Coronavirus days there was a doubt.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

@@grantosborne3062 For sure. Thanks for asking.

[@Ninshie1]

"Works for cat photos too" 😂

[@sedwards7428]

shallow depth of field...one has to to stop the video and think what that means (low f number....) or is that high f number? Talking in. numbers / stops is clear ...otherwise one has to think -- large depth of field means........ but if you say larger or large f number...one knows exactly .

[@iNNoCeNttDReAMs]

All of this sounds easy until you try it and realize how Aperture affects the ISO/shutter speed and then you realize why photographers carry tripods