Why are photographers obsessed with shallow depth of field? And why I think it can ruin your photography as it almost did with mine. Read on about how it started to affect my photography and what I did about it. 

 

I hear the judge’s voice “How do you plead, Vojkan…” 
“It is pronounced Voy-Khan, your honor.” I mumble to myself.
“…on account of excessive use of shallow depth of field?”
“Guilty your honor.”
“I sentence you to 15 years of using lenses with aperture of f/4 or smaller. Your only lens will be a zoom. 28-200mm variable aperture. f/4.5-f/6.1!”

I wake up in a cold sweat and this thought keeps coming back to my mind — why are we (at least most photographers I know) so obsessed with shallow DOF? I am not talking about bokeh, but shallow depth of field in general. At one time I was pretty obsessed with it.

The Beginning 

My journey in photography started way back when in 2007/08. I bought my first “serious” camera, a Fuji FD6500. It was a toss-up between it and a Canon PowerShot (some pocketable model with power zoom). The Canon 350D was well out of reach and film cameras were out of the picture as well. Even back then I thought a bigger lens equals more professional results, which as we all know is defined by shallow DOF. And the Fuji had a bigger lens compared to the Canon.

Well, I was wrong. Both about the Fuji’s shallow depth of field (wonderful camera, but everything is in focus as you’d expect from a small sensor camera) and that pro photography is all about shallow depth of field.

And, there I am, shooting with my little Fuji, everything in focus. But I desperately want my images to look good. So, I start experimenting: editing, composition, reading books on photography, emulating (copying) old masters, searching for light, contrasty scenes…

Until I bought my first “real” DSLR. Canon 5D Mark I. 2009. Used. I bought one lens, the 50mm. To test the cameras I was looking at. And to have at least one lens. I was blown away. First by the image quality and second by the shallow DOF. Yes, finally! Pro photographer results!

The next lens I bought was a 35mm f/2. Not enough shallow DOF! I got myself a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 soon after. Next lens: 85mm f/1.8. Holy cow! The magic is happening at apertures below f/2. Back then, I didn’t care about zooms at f/2.8. Unless they are 70-200mm and above, then yes as it gives me a shallow depth of field; It blurs out everything into oblivion. 

After some time I settled with this combination 35/50/85. I got everything I needed in those three lenses: Light, affordable, and fast.

The Effect

After a few years, I noticed that all of the things that made me a decent photographer were slowly dying in front of my eyes. I stopped looking for light because, you know, shallow DOF will take care of everything. I stopped looking for nice scenes. I stopped looking for composition. I just stopped caring about other elements of photography, because shallow DOF will take care of everything. 

It affected my photography in the most horrible way. Something that I am struggling with to this day. Poor compositions, poor lighting, poor scene selection.

The Solution

But, I am working on it. Mindfully closing down apertures to f/2.8, f/4, etc… Slowing down the pace. Pushing myself to think about other elements constantly. I even started using a zoom lens. Something unthinkable because, you know, primes equal shallow DOF.

All of this has a very positive effect on me and my photography. First, I noticed that clients don’t really care about things I care about. Not one client ever said “Wow. I love how blurry the background is.” Second, I noticed a nice bump in good composition and using good light to my advantage. I’m not always satisfied, but it has been a gratifying process.

The Question 

And I started wondering, why am I and other people so obsessed with it? I know immensely gifted photographers who are always salivating at f/1.2 lenses. Because f/1.4, and god forbid f/1.8, are so lame. And they are pretty open about it. “It will give me more blur” or “I want the background to be completely blurry.”

So, what is it? Why?

My opinion is that we are obsessed with it because we can buy it. It is one photographic element that you can actually purchase. I mean, it has its uses, but shooting everything at f/1.4 just because you can is just lazy.

Other photography elements like composition, reading light, picking out a good scene for a shoot, or being able to see a part of of scene and use it to your advantage… it takes time, effort, failure, and grit to master those. Shallow DOF just needs a trip to your local camera dealer and buy a new lens.

What are your thoughts about it? Are you obsessed with it as I once was?