What does shallow depth of field focus on?

A shallow depth of field primarily focuses on a specific subject within the frame while blurring out the surrounding areas, including both the background and any other out-of-focus elements. This technique draws the viewer’s attention directly to the subject by creating a visual separation from its surroundings.

When using shallow depth of field, a narrow plane of focus is established, meaning only a limited portion of the scene is sharp and clear, while the rest becomes increasingly indistinct. This artistic choice is commonly employed in cinematography and photography to emphasize particular subjects, thereby enhancing the emotional or narrative impact of the image.

In contrast, the other choices entail broader focus areas or equal clarity between foreground and background elements, which diverge from the effect achieved by shallow depth of field.