Maybe you have noticed that some photographs seem to be in focus only for the subject, while the background and the rest of the image is slightly blurred. This is a result of the manipulation of a camera lens' depth of field. Depth of field refers to the plane of focus for your lens.

Typically, only one thin plane is in focus in a picture. However, the loss of focus is so gradual that the band of clarity actually seems much thicker. What determines your depth of field is actually called the circle of confusion. When light rays enter a lens, they basically hit the film plane as a small circle. The smaller the circle, the smaller the depth of field. The smallest circle is called the least circle of confusion. The other part of a picture that still seems focused despite not being in the actual depth of field plane is part of the rest of the circle of confusion.

When you are taking pictures, you may want to manipulate your depth of field if you have slightly higher photography standards or if you want to create a larger print of your photo. There are three things that influence the depth of field:

Subject distance – The closer you are to your subject, the smaller the depth of field will be. Aperture – The smaller the aperture is, the greater the depth of field. Lens focal length – When taking photos from the same location, a lens with a longer focal length has a smaller depth of field than one with a short focal length.

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Once you learn how to manipulate your depth of field, you can take pictures where the focus is all on your subject. Then, you may want to display your image as a canvas work of art. For more information on turning your photograph into a canvas, check out YourCanvasPhotos today.