DOF is NOT a technique!

[Jim Poor]

This has been sticking in my craw for a few days now with the current threads about DOF and Bokeh.

DOF is not a thing (aside from the definition of a noun as a person, place, thing or idea) and it is certainly NOT a photography technique.

You can't say (though many are saying it) "I did DOF . . ."
You can't fake DOF, though you can manipulate it.

EVERY image has Depth of Field. That depth of field can be shallow, deep, or somewhere in the middle. You don't take a photograph and give it DOF, you control the DEPTH of the depth of field. Shallow emphasizes subject, deep emphasizes environment, etc.

Semantics perhaps, but if you are going to discuss a fundamental element of photography, discuss it with the appropriate vocabulary.

[candidrachel]

I agree! I always say things like "Oh I really like your shallow DOF" or "How did you manage to get such a wide DO?" words like that.

[Photography]

I am going to suggest in my own thoughts in my mind about DOF.

People who are photography a DOF and they have a right to say anything about this. They have a good reason and a right to understand to say in their own opinion about the DOF.

Here is the quote:

No one is perfect.

So I am saying that just leave them alone and just let them have a right to say about DOF on the forums or others reason.

If you seen any topic about DOF and Bokeh as you just want to make and see less topic about that as think about that as it is not a nice way to insult others on here as i am saying they have right to put on the topic and remind that the quote " No one is perfect ".

Last one to say:

Leave them alone and let them to learn a lot about DOF! This forums is like a school and learning about everyday. Again they have a good reason to suggest it.

[Jim Poor]

Sorry, but I'll disagree with you on this one.

Your own statement that this forum is like a school is exactly why. What school do you know of that will allow students to discuss techniques using the wrong terminology?

Not any good ones, that's for sure.

[candidrachel]

Jim, sometimes I use the wrong terminology. It's cold here and so typing keeps my fingers warm

[Photography]

Jim Poor- Who people make topic about DOF and they did make it as they know what they are talking about the Lens DOF technique as not others DOF technique as in camera. I am saying it is the Lens technique itself. So you already know yourself about DOF is a Lens technique itself.

[scootermcq]

Yeah!! So there!

[Elmo]

Jim in todays world we have Photography and then we have Photoshop (Garbage in garbage out).

As I heard once' those that can photograph, those that can't photoshop.

[alwyncooper]

I agree it is really important to have a DOF in your photo.
I have noticed that DOFs are really important on Flickr too ;-)

Sometimes when my DOF is too shallow it becomes like a sheet of really thin paper and may turn sideways and disappear as in this photo:


Then I'm stuck with no DOF. I have to actually focus my lens. OMG, LOL.

[gturner]

Is it permissable to discuss the technique involved in achieving certain DOF results?