Selective Focus in Photography: 3 Steps to Using the Technique

Selective focus is a photography technique in which the subject of an image is in focus while the rest of the image is a blur. Understanding “depth of field”—the range of distance that appears in focus—is key to creating selective focus effects. A selective focus image has a shallow depth of field that directs the viewer’s attention to its subject and creates an illusion of depth in the image.

A photographer might use selective focus for one or several reasons, including:

1. 1. To capture the viewer’s attention: Selective focus isolates the primary subject of the image and renders it in sharp focus to draw in the viewer’s eye. It’s ideal for certain types of photographs, especially portraits and still lifes. Selective focus requires the viewer to focus on the subject rather than a distracting background.
2. 2. To quiet the background: Selective focus can suppress a busy background by creating a blurred background that directs the viewer’s attention to the subject. The technique can also enhance the background in an image—for example, by producing bokeh, a term that describes the quality of the background blur and how it adds to the visual appeal of the whole image.
3. 3. To enhance the quality: The use of selective focus can make photographs appear more professional. Choosing to focus the viewer’s eye on a single subject lends an element of artistic intent and experience to an image.

While perfecting the selective focus photography technique can require time and practice, there are three steps you can learn to produce the effect:

1. 1. Choose a focal point. The element of your photograph that you want to catch the viewer’s eye will be your focal point. It should be compelling since it’s the only element of the image that will remain in focus. The point of focus for portraits is often the subject’s eyes, while the focal point in landscape photography or travel photography is usually a small element or detail that would vanish or be difficult to distinguish if the image was entirely in focus. Note that anything in the image that is the same distance from your camera as the subject will also be in focus.
2. 2. Select an aperture. The aperture is the opening in a lens through which light passes in order to create the photograph. A wide aperture will provide the shallow depth of field that is important for selective focus. Adjust your digital DSLR camera settings to a low f-stop number—between f/1.4 and f/2.8—or set your camera on a tripod and cycle through different apertures to see the change in background blur. But don’t use the maximum aperture on the lens. This is a mistake many beginners make, which always results in a poorly focused image.
3. 3. Choose your distance and lens. Subject distance and focal length also impact background blur. Placing your camera close to your subject reduces the depth of field, as will a longer lens and a wide-angle lens. A 35mm or 50mm lens focused on an object twenty-five feet from the camera creates an image with a large depth of field. A 200mm lens focused at fifteen feet will create an image with a depth of field that’s less than one foot.

The best kind of lens to use for selective focus is a telephoto lens with a wide focal range. Most kit lenses that come with cameras can’t achieve the focus distance required for selective focus. A 50mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 is relatively inexpensive and can take quality photos. You can also try extension tubes, which are common in macro photography. They mount between your camera and lens and shorten the focal distance, allowing you to get closer to your subject. However, they also block light, so you will have to adjust shutter speeds or use a higher ISO (a camera setting that determines your camera’s sensitivity to light).

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