What is depth of field?

Depth of field refers to the area in an image that appears sharp and in focus. This concept is crucial in photography and videography because it influences the aesthetic quality of an image and how subjects and backgrounds interact visually. A shallow depth of field means that only a small area is in focus, making the background appear blurred, which is often used to isolate a subject and emphasize it. Conversely, a deep depth of field keeps more of the scene in focus, which is useful for landscapes or photography where multiple subjects at different distances need to be sharp.

Understanding depth of field involves recognizing factors such as aperture settings, focal length, and the distance from the camera to the subject, which all contribute to how much of the image is in focus. The other options, while related to camera parameters, do not capture the essence of what depth of field specifically describes.