Depth of Field Explained: Ultimate Guide to Camera Focus [Shot List Ep. 4]

Summary

This episode of 'The Shot List' delves into the art of camera focus, exploring six distinct types: deep, shallow, soft, rack, split diopter, and tilt-shift. Each technique is explained with examples from films, illustrating how they can enhance narrative, direct viewer attention, or create unique visual effects. The episode guides viewers on utilizing these focuses effectively, with resources like StudioBinder for shot list creation.

Takeaways

• 🎥 Films are composed of sequences, scenes, and shots, which are the building blocks of visual storytelling.
• 🌌 Depth of field is a critical aspect of cinematography that refers to the area of a shot that is in focus, and it can be adjusted to serve the narrative.
• 🔍 Deep focus is used when both the subject and background are to be shown in detail, offering more visual information to the viewer.
• 👀 Shallow focus is employed to draw attention to a specific part of the frame, with the rest of the image appearing soft or out of focus.
• 💡 Soft focus is a technique where no part of the frame is fully sharp, often used for dream sequences or to create a specific atmosphere.
• 🔄 Rack focus is the act of shifting the focus from one point to another within a shot, directing the viewer's attention with precision.
• 📐 Split diopter shots allow for two separate focal points to be in sharp focus at the same time, with the area between them blurred.
• 🤖 Tilt-shift lenses create a unique effect where a narrow portion of the frame is in focus, often giving life-sized subjects the appearance of miniatures.
• 🎨 Different types of focus can be used to convey different moods and meanings, such as romantic, dreamy, or surreal.
• 📝 StudioBinder provides tools to help filmmakers create shot lists and storyboards, which are essential for planning and organizing shots.
• 🚀 The next episode of 'The Shot List' will explore camera rigs and mechanisms that can further enhance shot sizes, framing angles, and focus.

Q & A

What is the basic structure of a film according to the script?

The script indicates that a film is structured into sequences, which are made up of scenes, and scenes are composed of shots.

What is the term used to describe the area of a shot that is in focus?

The term used to describe the area of a shot that is in focus is 'depth of field'.

What are some types of depth of field mentioned in the script?

The script mentions deep focus, shallow focus, soft focus, rack focus, split diopter shot, and a shot with a tilt-shift lens as types of depth of field.

How does deep focus contribute to a film's narrative?

Deep focus contributes to a film's narrative by showing both the subject and background in crisp detail, offering more visual information to the viewer and allowing dynamic action to play out on multiple planes.

What is shallow focus and when might it be used?

Shallow focus is a technique that renders a portion of the frame in sharp detail while leaving the rest of the image soft. It might be used for a romantic effect, to imbue an element with meaning, or to isolate the subject.

What is the 'plane of focus' in the context of shallow focus?

The 'plane of focus' in shallow focus refers to the area of the frame that is in sharp detail, while the rest of the image is out of focus.

What is the purpose of using soft focus in a film?

Soft focus is used to create a dreamlike or surreal atmosphere, and it can be used in dream sequences, flashbacks, or even throughout an entire film to lend a specific visual style.

What is the difference between rack focus and other types of focus?

Unlike other types of focus that describe an adjective, rack focus is a verb that describes the action of transitioning a shallow depth of field between different points of focus within a shot.

How does a split diopter shot differ from other types of focus?

A split diopter shot captures two separate focal points in sharp focus while leaving the area in between them out of focus, achieved through specialized lenses that can focus on two different points independently.

What effect does a tilt-shift lens create and when might it be used?

A tilt-shift lens bends light to create an effect where a narrow portion of the frame is in sharp focus and the rest is blurred, sometimes giving life-size subjects the appearance of being miniatures. It might be used to shift perspectives or create striking visuals.

What tool is mentioned in the script for creating a shot list?

The script mentions StudioBinder as a tool for creating and filling out a shot list.

What is the purpose of using different types of focus in filmmaking?

Different types of focus are used in filmmaking to guide the audience's attention, convey emotional states, create connections between elements in a shot, and to serve the narrative by providing visual information and enhancing the storytelling.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Exploring Depth of Field in Filmmaking

This paragraph introduces the concept of focal length and depth of field in filmmaking, explaining how these elements can be fine-tuned to serve the narrative. It discusses various types of focus areas, including deep focus, shallow focus, soft focus, rack focus, split diopter shots, and tilt-shift lenses. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding depth of field to guide the viewer's attention and create dynamic visual storytelling. Examples from films like 'Gravity' and 'Moonlight' illustrate the practical application of these techniques.

05:02

🌟 Techniques of Focus: From Deep to Soft

This section delves into the specifics of different focus techniques. It starts with deep focus, which keeps everything in sharp detail, and is ideal for scenes with action on multiple planes or when equal clarity of all elements is desired. Shallow focus is then discussed, which isolates a subject or imbues an element with meaning by keeping only a portion of the frame in sharp detail. Soft focus is introduced as a technique that creates a dreamlike or atmospheric effect, often used in dream sequences or to lend a surreal quality to a film, as seen in 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence'. The paragraph also touches on the use of P.O.V. framing and shadow focus to convey emotional manipulation, as demonstrated in a scene from 'Moonlight'.

10:05

🔍 Advanced Focus Techniques: Rack Focus and Split Diopter

This paragraph explores advanced focus techniques such as rack focus and split diopter. Rack focus involves transitioning between different points of focus within a single shot, directing the audience's attention with precision and allowing for complex sequences to unfold without cutting. The paragraph provides an example from 'The Host' to illustrate this technique. Split diopter, on the other hand, captures two separate focal points in sharp focus while blurring the area in between, used when important information exists in both the foreground and background. The unnatural effect of split diopter is noted, with examples from 'The Hateful Eight' and the importance of careful use to avoid disorienting the audience.

🌈 Creative Focus Techniques: Tilt-Shift and Shot List Inspiration

The final paragraph discusses the tilt-shift lens, which bends light to create a narrow focus area with the rest of the frame blurred, often used to create a miniature effect or alter perspectives. Examples from 'The Social Network' and 'A Serious Man' demonstrate the unique visual impact of tilt-shift. The paragraph concludes by encouraging filmmakers to experiment with different focus techniques in conjunction with shot sizes, frames, and camera angles. It also mentions the availability of a shot list and storyboard for inspiration, and hints at the next episode's focus on camera rigs and mechanisms for enhancing shot creativity.

Keywords

💡Focal Length

Focal length refers to the distance from the center of a lens to the point where light rays converge to form a sharp image. In the context of the video, focal length is essential in determining the field of view and perspective of a shot, which can greatly affect the storytelling and visual impact of a film.

💡Depth of Field

Depth of field is the area of a photo or video that appears in sharp focus. It is a critical concept in cinematography, as it helps filmmakers control the viewer's attention by emphasizing certain elements in the scene. The video discusses various types of depth of field, such as deep and shallow focus, to illustrate how they can be used to serve the narrative.

💡Deep Focus

Deep focus is a technique where both the foreground and background of a shot are in sharp focus. This allows for more visual information to be presented to the viewer, as seen in the opening sequence of 'Gravity,' where the depth of field extends from the astronauts to Earth's atmosphere, keeping all elements in clear view.

💡Shallow Focus

Shallow focus, also known as narrow depth of field, renders a portion of the frame in sharp detail while the rest of the image is soft. This technique is used to isolate the subject or to imbue an element with meaning, as demonstrated in the script when discussing the romantic effect or the emotional state of a character.

💡Bokeh

Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, often resulting from shallow focus. It is characterized by blurred points of light that can create a pleasing background effect, drawing the viewer's attention to the subject in focus.

💡Soft Focus

Soft focus is a technique where no part of the frame is 100% sharp, often used to create a dreamy or surreal atmosphere. The video mentions its historical use in enhancing the beauty of female stars and its modern application in dream sequences or flashbacks, such as in 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence.'

💡Rack Focus

Rack focus is the process of shifting the focus from one plane to another within a single shot. It is used to direct the viewer's attention with precision and can be dramatic or subtle. An example from 'The Host' illustrates how rack focus can reveal elements or create connections without cutting.

💡Split Diopter

A split diopter shot captures two separate focal points in sharp focus while leaving the area between them out of focus. This specialized lens technique is used when important information is present in both the foreground and background, as seen in 'The Hateful Eight,' where it conveys a sense of depth and geometry.

💡Tilt-Shift

Tilt-shift, also known as swing shift, is a lens effect that bends light to create a narrow portion of sharp focus with the rest of the frame blurred. It can give life-size subjects the appearance of miniatures, as demonstrated in 'The Social Network,' or visualize altered mental states, as in the bar mitzvah scene of 'A Serious Man.'

💡Camera Rigs

Camera rigs are the mechanical supports and frameworks used to hold and manipulate cameras to achieve various shot sizes, framing angles, and focus. The video promises to explore different camera rigs in a future episode, indicating their importance in elevating the visual storytelling of a film.

💡Shot List

A shot list is a detailed plan that outlines all the camera shots needed for a film or video production. It is a crucial tool for filmmakers to organize their vision and ensure that all necessary shots are captured. The video encourages viewers to create a shot list using StudioBinder, which is mentioned as a resource for inspiration.

Highlights

Films are composed of sequences, scenes, and shots, with various shot sizes, framing options, and camera angles available to filmmakers.

Depth of field is a spectrum that can be fine-tuned for narrative purposes, including deep focus, shallow focus, soft focus, rack focus, split diopter shot, and tilt-shift lens.

Deep focus allows both the subject and background to be in crisp detail, providing more visual information for the viewer.

The opening sequence of 'Gravity' exemplifies extreme deep focus, stretching from astronauts to Earth's atmosphere in a single take.

Shallow focus emphasizes a specific area of the frame in sharp detail while leaving the rest soft, useful for romantic effects or isolating subjects.

The film 'Moonlight' uses extreme shadow focus with P.O.V. framing to represent a complicated relationship and emotional manipulation.

Soft focus is used to create a dreamlike or atmospheric effect, as seen in 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence'.

Rack focus transitions shallow depth of field between different points within a shot, directing the audience's attention.

In 'The Host', rack focus is used to follow characters and create tension during a fast-paced escape scene.

Split diopter shots capture two separate focal points in sharp focus while blurring the area in between, used for conveying depth and geometry.

The use of split diopter in 'The Hateful Eight' shows the protagonists at their most vulnerable, enhancing the sense of panic.

Tilt-shift lenses create a narrow sharp focus area with the rest blurred, sometimes giving life-size subjects the appearance of miniatures.

In 'A Serious Man', tilt-shift is used to visualize a character's altered mental state during a bar mitzvah scene.

StudioBinder provides a free shot list template for filmmakers to plan their shots, incorporating different types of focus.

The video encourages mixing and matching different focus types with shot sizes, frames, and camera angles for creative storytelling.

Upcoming episodes of 'The Shot List' will explore camera rigs and mechanisms to enhance shot size, framing angles, and focus.

Transcripts

"- Roll camera."

Films are made up of sequences.

Sequences are made of scenes.

And scenes are made up of shots.

In the previous episodes of the shot list,

we broke down the various shot sizes,

framing options

and camera angles at a filmmaker's disposal.

Now we turn our attention to the matter of focal length.

♪ ♪

This is episode 4 of "The Shot List."

Depth of field.

♪ ♪

Good filmmakers understand

that depth of field is a spectrum

that can be fine-tuned

to best serve the narrative.

When we say depth of field,

we're referring to an area of the shot that's in focus.

Whether it's deep focus.

Shallow focus.

Soft focus.

A rack focus.

A split diopter shot.

Or a shot with a tilt-shift lens.

In this video,

we'll be examining six different types of camera focus.

As we progress,

we'll be filling out a shot list using StudioBinder

that you can download and reference.

Now it's time to focus.

We'll start with deep focus.

When both the subject and background are shown in crisp detail.

This is known as deep focus.

♪ ♪

When you have a group shot with subjects

of varying distances from the lens

or if there are important details

to be gleaned from the background.

Shots with deep focus can offer more visual information to the viewer.

This allows the viewer's eyes to explore at their own pace.

And allows dynamic action to play out on multiple planes.

"- Am I a go to assist Dr. Stone in removing the panel?

- Assistance appreciated. - Permission granted."

The stunning opening sequence of "Gravity" utilizes extreme deep focus.

The depth of field stretches all the way from the astronauts

to Earth's atmosphere.

This is a single 17-minute take.

Gorgeous though this shot is

there's another reason why deep focus works so well here.

"- Explorer, this is Houston.

- Go ahead, Houston.

- Mission abort. Repeat, mission abort."

As chaos erupts

our deep depth of field allows the actions to stay in full view.

"- Man down! Man down!"

With everything in focus,

it is our own eyes would do the editing.

Deep focus is a great way to ensure

that each element of your frame is equally clear.

Or when you want to create layered images

with action in the foreground,

middle ground and background.

But what if you want the audience to pay attention to something in particular,

use a shallow focus.

Shallow focus renders a portion of the frame in sharp detail.

While leaving the rest of the image soft.

This is called — the plane of focus.

The soft out of focus portions of the shot

can be the background.

The foreground.

Or both.

There are many uses for shallow depth of field.

For a romantic effect.

Imbue an element with meaning.

Or to isolate to subject.

Shallow depth of field can also be used to create the bokeh effect

where out of focus points of light

blur like this.

Most shots use some degree of shallow focus.

And it is useful for guiding the audience's attention.

Or to suggest a character's emotional state.

♪ ♪

Consider this scene from "Moonlight".

Chiron is confronted by his mother.

"- Sharon!

- Hey!

- Hey, baby. - Hey, mom.

- Where'd you go last night? - What?

- Well, I'm yo' mama, ain't I?"

Their relationship is complicated,

to say the least.

"- Don't look at me!"

"- He had me worried about you."

Paula's addiction makes her emotionally manipulative.

The extreme shadow focus

paired with P.O.V. framing

is a clear presentation of her influence over him.

"- Mama locked herself out the door, yeah?

Can you come let her in?

Come on, baby.

Let me in, baby.

Baby, come on."

Use shallow depth of field when you want to emphasize something.

But don't overdo it.

Save it for when it really matters.

While deep focus keeps everything in focus.

And shallow focus keeps something in focus.

Our next technique keeps nothing in focus.

"- Gandalf."

Soft focus.

Soft focus refers to a shot

where no portion of the frame is 100% sharp.

♪ ♪

Soft focus is achieved by either imperfections built into the lens.

Or with diffusion filters.

In some cases, stretching a silk stocking across the lens

or smearing the lens with vaseline will do the trick.

In the past,

soft focus was often used to heighten the beauty of female stars.

Like Ingrid here.

"- Is looking at you, kid."

♪ ♪

While that particular usage is rare these days,

soft focus is still sometimes used

to lend atmosphere to dream sequences.

Flashbacks.

Or sometimes an entire film.

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence"

makes use of soft focus

from start to finish.

"- You were designed and built specific like the rest of us.

They made us too smart, too quick, and too many."

A.I. blends science fiction

and dreamy storybook elements.

The soft focus and heavy bloom

are integral elements of the film's visual style.

Suggesting a surreal dreamlike landscape.

When done with purpose soft focus can be a bold stylistic choice.

Moving on.

A technique that changes its focus

within the shot.

The rack focus.

♪ ♪

Unlike the previous types of focus,

rack focus is not an adjective,

it's a verb.

Racking focus is the art of transitioning a shallow depth of field

between different points of focus within a shot.

Some rack focuses are big and eye-catching.

While others are far more subtle

and fly under the radar.

Racking focus directs the audience's attention with pinpoint precision.

It also allows the entire sequence to play out in a single shot

without the need for extra coverage.

Complex tracking shots require constant precise focus racking

which is executed by a focus puller

using a follow focus.

Bong Joon Ho's monster movie "The Host"

contains a number of impressively coordinated rack focuses.

Let's look at this scene.

Watch as the shallow focus first follows Gang-Doo.

Before drifting back to his siblings.

The nurse spots them and calls out.

"- Hey there!

Man with yellow hair stop!"

And we rack focus one last time

back to Gang-Doo in a close-up.

The speed of this fast rack focus

also magnifies the shock and panic.

As our protagonists attempt to sneak out of a hospital.

When you want to reveal elements in a shot

or create a connection between them

without cutting

remember the rack focus.

To dive deeper into how to guide the eye,

make sure to watch our videos on Spielberg's use of the eye trace.

And how the rack focus was used in "Casino Royale."

Links are in the description.

But what if you want two planes of action in shallow focus

at the same time?

For that, we move on to our next subject.

Split diopter.

A split diopter shot captures two separate focal points in sharp focus

while the area in between them is left out of focus.

This is achieved through specialized lenses

capable of independently focusing on two different focal points.

Use a split diopter shot

when you have important information

in both the foreground and background.

But don't want to use deep focus.

Or when you have two characters speaking at different focal distances.

And want them both to appear crisp

without racking focus.

"- What? - Yeah, do that again."

These shots are used rarely

and you can see why.

The effect is unnatural.

The human eye can see with deep or shallow focus.

But it can't do both at the same time.

Quentin Tarantino has made use of the split diopter lens

many times.

"- Let's slow it down.

Let's slow it way down."

In "The Hateful Eight",

the split diopter is used to convey

a sense of depth and geometry

within Minnie's haberdashery.

"- You still alive white boy?"

Manix, our only hope,

is passed out

while Major Warren is helpless in the background.

This split diopter shot

is used to show our two protagonists

at their most vulnerable.

With Daisy making her move

the panic sets in.

"- I ain't dead yet, you black bastard."

A split diopter shot can pull double duty in your shot list.

But remember that they also create an impossible perspective

that can pull the audience out,

if you're not careful.

The same can be also said about our next subject.

The tilt-shift.

Tilt-shift, also known as a swing shift

is another specialized lens

that produces striking visuals.

A regular lens directs light

straight into the sensor

while a tilt shift

bends the light

creating various distortions.

In which an extremely narrow portion of the frame is in sharp focus

while the rest of the frame is left a blur.

Filming a life-size subject through a tilt-shift lens

at times can give it the odd appearance of being a miniature.

Like in this scene from "The Social Network".

♪ ♪

One striking example comes from the Koen Brothers

in the bar mitzvah scene of "A Serious Man".

The skewed focus visualizes Dany's mental state

which has been altered.

With the help of little Mary Jane.

The opportunities to use tilt-shift shots might be few.

But when the time comes to shift perspectives

accept no substitute.

And so these are the six different types of camera focus

that you can employ when planning your shots.

When you're ready to create a shot list for your next project

be sure to check the description for a link to StudioBinder.

It's free to get started.

I have fun mixing and matching different types of focus

with different shot sizes,

frames,

or camera angles.

You'll also find a link to this full shot list and storyboard.

Use it as an inspiration for your next shoot.

In the next episode of the shot list,

we'll take a look at all of the different camera rigs and mechanisms

you can use to take shot size,

framing angles,

and focus

to yet another level.

Now stay focused

and get shot listing.

To stay in the loop of the series

subscribe and enable notifications.

♪ ♪