Minimum Depth of Field

These two images show what the effect of minimum depth of field can accomplish. The first image features a couple which have just received an ultrasound of their baby. The audience's eyes are instantly instantly drawn to the image, which is clearly the subject of the image. After the audience have initially noticed the image, they will then notice the background of the couple kissing. The use of minimum depth of field allows for more context to be applied to what is happening in the background by directing the audience's eye movement. The second image features a pitcher on a baseball team who has just thrown a ball. Initially this image may seem bland if it werent for the effect. The audience's eyes are immediately drawn to the ball as it remains in the right of the frame. Now since the photographer has purposefully directed the audience's eyesight toward this component, it becomes clear that this is a very important pitch instead of a generic pitch. As a result, it adds weight to the image instead of being just another action shot.

Minimum depth of field can be used in order to isolate images. This control over isolation is often utilised by photographers as it allows them to take control over their audience's eyesight. Anything that remains in focus is important while everything else within the frame is reduced to background. Photographers can also use this process to tell a story by focusing on a specific aspect of the image which will then give context to everything that is surrounding the subject. However, minimum depth of field is most commonly used in order to isolate a subject in order to reduce the background to nothing. This can allow the audience to notice something that may have gotten lost within the colours of the background but now appears sharp and prominent agains a blurred background.