DEPTH OF FIELD
Six Different Depth of Fields to Guide the Audience's Attention to the Subject
Deep Focus
Deep Focus allows the audience to see the characters and surroundings clearly.
It allows the audience to focus on both the main story which the camera is highlighting, and the details or elements around them. It allows them to view the details at their own pace. Deep Focus allows for viewing layered action: the ability to see action in all lengths of distance.
Shallow Focus
Shallow Focus renders one specific element in focus, and the rest out of focus. This element can be in the background, foreground, or both. The “Bouquet Effect” can occur, where out of focus lights form a blurred hexagon type of shape.
It is used to guide the audience’s attention to a specific element, and only that element. This can make the effect romantic, add meaning to an asset, isolation, or a character’s emotional state.
Soft Focus
Soft Focus has no element in the frame completely in focus.
It was previously used in Noir films to make their female characters appear softer, and heighten their beauty. Soft Focus isn’t typically used, but can often be seen in dream sequences or flashbacks.
Rack Focus
A Rack Focus shot provides a change in the depth of Shallow Focus within a shot: changing from one subject to another in the same shot. It also allows for revealing new elements in a shot without cutting.
Split Diopter
A Split Diopter shot has two elements on opposite sides of the screen each have their own shallow focus. It allows for viewing elements in the foreground and background without using Deep Focus.
This is used when you have two characters at different focal distances, but want them to have their own Shallow Focus. This is very uncommon in usage, since it utilises both Deep Focus and Shallow Focus simultaneously, which is atypical for human vision to see in day to day life.
Tilt Shift / Swing Shift
Tilt Shift (or Swing Shift) allows for a very narrow portion of the centre frame to be in sharp focus, while the rest is blurred.
It is used to give an effect of miniature sizes when doing a crowd shot, or if a character has a blurred vision and can only see a narrow amount, use Tilt Shift.
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