Cinematography Exercise – Depth Of Field and Focus Shift

Introduction

In visual storytelling, focus plays a crucial role in shaping the audience’s perception of the subject. Directors and cinematographers leverage focus, particularly depth of field, not only as a literal tool to unveil significant elements, like a frightening monster but also subliminally to elicit emotional responses to the content or scene.

Understanding and manipulating Depth of Field (DoF) and Focus Shift are essential skills for any photographer or cinematographer. This exercise is designed to provide hands-on experience in these aspects using a camera with manual mode. Even a basic camera like the Canon 1500D will suffice.

Materials Needed:

• Camera with manual mode
• Three subjects for composition

NOTE: These examples were shot in Canon 1500D.

Exercise 1: Focus Shift

Objective: To capture three photos with focus shifted to individual subjects without adjusting aperture or shutter speed.

• Photo 1:
  • Only Subject 1 is in focus.
  • Adjust the focus ring to ensure Subject 1 is sharp. Do not change Aperture or Shutter Speed.

• Photo 2:
  • Only Subject 2 is in focus.
  • Refocus on Subject 2 by adjusting the focus ring. Do not change Aperture or Shutter Speed.

• Photo 3:
  • Only Subject 3 is in focus.
  • Use the focus ring to shift focus exclusively to Subject 3. Keep Aperture and Shutter Speed constant.

Note: Pay attention to the changes in focus and observe how it impacts the overall composition.

Exercise 2: Depth of Field

Objective: To capture three photos with varying depths of field without adjusting the focus ring. The Real focus will be on subject 1 throughout exercise 1

1. Photo 1:
   • Subject 1 is in focus.
   • Adjust Aperture and Shutter Speed to achieve the desired exposure while keeping Subject 1 sharp. Do not change the focus ring.

1. Photo 2:
   • Subject 1 is in focus and Subject 2 appears to be in focus.
   • Adjust Aperture and Shutter Speed accordingly without changing the focus ring.

1. Photo 3:
   • All three subjects appear to be in focus.
   • Fine-tune Aperture and Shutter Speed settings to ensure all subjects remain sharp. Maintain the same focus ring position throughout.

Note: Experiment with different Aperture settings to observe how they affect the depth of field.

Conclusion – Cinematography Exercise

This practical exercise allows you to explore and master the concepts of Depth of Field and Focus Shift. By manipulating the aperture and focus ring strategically, you’ll gain valuable insights into controlling what appears sharp in your photographs. Experiment with different compositions and settings to enhance your understanding of these fundamental photographic techniques.

Article Credits/Mentor
Prof. Sh. Joydeep Bose
Cinematography