Photography class in the palm of your hand (6) Beauty and sadness of depth of field

In this class of palmprint photography, let's talk about the introduction of "depth of field" and its role in photos.

Generally speaking, the depth of field actually represents the clear range of the scene. When we talk about depth of field in spoken language, we usually associate it with shallow depth of field. The depth of the scene brings less clear range, but relatively, it also brings more paste background.

This blurred background is quite dreamy, and it is also what many people pursue when buying cameras and shooting.

▲ Deep shooting is usually used for scenery and tourism. HTC U 1 1 shooting.

Naturally, there is a "shallow depth of field" and a "deep depth of field". Generally speaking, due to the inherent limitations of mobile phones, the depth of field of photos taken is usually larger and deeper.

So, under what circumstances will we use "deep depth of field"?

Of course, the depth of field is clear in a large range, and naturally the part we will use is the scene that needs to be clear in a large range. What is this scene?

Generally, landscape photography when going out belongs to this kind of map. In addition, a group photo, or a sightseeing photo of people and landmarks here (people and landmarks want to be clear) is the use of deep depth of field.

▲ Take photos at will, and the depth of field makes all areas of the photos clear. Asus Zenfone 3 zoom shooting.

So, if you want to create a shallow depth of field, what are the elements? There are three elements: a larger aperture, a shorter focusing distance, and a larger photosensitive element.

The inherent limitation of the mobile phone we just mentioned is that the size of the photosensitive element is relatively small, so even if the mobile phone usually has a relatively large aperture, it is still impossible to easily create a shallow depth of field effect.

▲ The deep shooting of the scene can be very clear from near to far. Asus Zenfone 3 zoom shooting.

However, mobile phones still have advantages. Its close range is relatively close, so we can shoot as close as possible to the subject, which is not only visually concentrated, but also easier to create the difference between the subject and the rear.

This kind of close-up shooting is used to depict details, such as veins and bulb filaments. It is good to highlight the details of the main body with shallow depth of field.

▲ Close-up is the way we often use mobile phones to create shallow depth of field. Xiaomi MIX2 shooting.

▲ Close-up can not only highlight the subject with the lens, but also depict the details. Xiaomi MIX2 shooting.

Generally speaking, the aperture of most mobile phones can't be changed (only a few can, like Samsung S9), so if you want to create the depth of field effect with different apertures, it will be easier to achieve it with a camera.

We use the following two effects to illustrate the difference in depth of field caused by the aperture size.

▲ The depth of field effect of aperture F0.95, the aperture is relatively large and shallow.

▲ The depth of field effect of aperture F4.5 is relatively small and deep.

Generally, this kind of close-up shooting with large aperture will be widely used in our daily life, especially in dining tables and cafes. This kind of shooting can make food get better visual attention and become more obvious.

In addition, because the depth of field of the mobile phone itself is deeper than that of the camera, it can achieve a better balance between shooting and clear subject, and there will be no state that the clear subject is too small and the subject is completely unknown.

Therefore, in addition to highlighting the food in close-ups, we can also take advantage of this feature of the mobile phone, so that we can have a panoramic view of the food on the whole table and make every food on the table clearly visible.

▲ We often use close-ups to create shallow depth of field, naturally on the dining table. Asus Zenfone 3 zoom shooting.

▲ The depth of the scene makes it easier for us to highlight the deliciousness of food. HTC U 1 1 shooting.

▲ Using the difference before and after decoration and the effect of shallow depth of field is also a way to shoot food. Xiaomi MIX2 shooting.

▲ This kind of photo with a clear picture of the whole table is also a popular shooting method recently. Asus Zenfone 3 zoom shooting.

However, when we use mobile phones to shoot shallow depth of field, most of them are concentrated in the condition of "close-up", so if we want to shoot portraits, subjects with a little distance, or close-up but fuzzy photos.

Is there any other way?

Thanks to technology, dual-lens technology has been introduced into mobile phones. There are quite a few kinds of dual-lens technologies, two of which have the same angle of view and two of which can be switched with different angles of view. In any case, because they have multiple lenses, they can get more distance information and simulate the shallow depth of field effect similar to monocular.

With the development of technology, the effect is more and more natural. Not only the rear lens, but now even the front lens has such a simulation effect of depth of field!

▲ For a dual-lens mobile phone, if the two lenses have different angles of view, you may also choose a lens with a narrower angle of view (usually 2 times zoom), which will make it easier to create a shallow depth of field.

▲ At present, the technology of dual-lens simulation of depth of field is quite mature. If the theme is chosen properly, it can also have quite ideal effects.

▲ Shooting at a distance of about one meter like this, in the past, it was impossible to shoot such an obvious sense of distance before and after with a mobile phone. Through the simulation of depth of field, it can also produce an effect similar to that of a monocular camera.

The use of close-ups and depth of field actually requires experience to try and understand the effect of the creation of depth of field on photos.

Dreamy shallow depth of field is everyone's favorite, and naturally it is also the beauty brought by depth of field. However, mobile phones are limited by innate conditions, and it is not easy to create a relatively shallow depth of field, which is indeed the sorrow faced by many people.

Depth of field not only brings fantastic shooting effect, but also highlights the degree of interaction and blurring between subjects, which also affects the visual effect of photos.

For the mobile phone, the main axis of our photography class, the effect of shallow depth of field can now be simulated and gradually natural. Depth of field shooting is the strength of mobile phones.

If properly used interchangeably, photos can also add more different impressions. Then, see you in the next palmtop photography class!

▲ The clear raindrop range like this, coupled with the dreamy scene, can really be said to be the perfect presentation of mobile phone photography in depth of field control. Asus Zenfone3 zoom shooting.

▲ The shallow depth of field and special close-up angle close to the creation are also my favorite shooting subjects. Xiaomi MIX2 shooting.

▲ The staggered use of depth of field can also bring us rich visual effects in photos. HTC U 1 1 shooting.