{"id":91307,"date":"2016-08-13T17:02:15","date_gmt":"2016-08-13T16:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amateurphotographer.co.uk\/?p=91307"},"modified":"2016-08-09T17:03:09","modified_gmt":"2016-08-09T16:03:09","slug":"shallow-depth-field-portraiture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/","title":{"rendered":"Shallow depth of field portraiture"},"content":{"rendered":"<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-91314\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\" alt=\"Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=562,375 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\n<p>Portrait photography is, perhaps, a deceptively simple-looking genre. A cursory glance at, say, a head-and-shoulders shot fails to take into account the finer details that go into the process. You are, after all, attempting to represent the character of a sitter, to bring out their best qualities and, in a sense, to communicate a narrative of a life.<\/p>\n<p>One photographer who is particularly adept at creating engaging and inspiring portraits is London-based commercial and portrait photographer Phil Sharp, who creates truly distinctive and, at times, minimalist contemporary portraits. His website portfolio is a real masterclass in how to use the simplest methods to create lasting portraits, whether it\u2019s through lighting or, of particular interest in this special issue, shallow depth of field.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I don\u2019t think a shallow depth of focus is necessarily important for head shots,\u2019 says Phil. \u2018However, I think it\u2019s a method that works because the viewer is forced to connect with the subject\u2019s eyes. Human eyes can only focus on a narrow plain when something is close to us; images with a narrow depth of focus in some way feel more real. Also, using f\/2 or wider is an aperture that allows the photographer to shoot with natural light. This can help with head shots.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Creating a portrait with a shallow depth of field carries with it a variety of considerations \u2013 the heaviest to weigh on the mind of the photographer is surely the most appropriate lens for the task. For Phil, the choice comes down to aperture capability.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_91309&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 620px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-91309\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Cate-Le-Bon-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\" alt=\"Musician Beth Orton\" width=\"600\" height=\"473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Cate-Le-Bon-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Cate-Le-Bon-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Cate-Le-Bon-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=507,400 507w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Cate-Le-Bon-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=562,443 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Musician Beth Orton<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>\u2018If you\u2019re using a 35mm camera system, you need a lens capable of f\/2 or quicker,\u2019 says Phil. \u2018I tend to shoot a lot of portraits at f\/1.6 to f\/2. One of the main tricks is to use live view mode, and zoom in and focus manually rather than relying on autofocus. I look to get the eyes sharp, or whichever eye is nearest to the camera. With enough practice, I\u2019ve found I can manually focus faster and more accurately than most systems can autofocus. I\u2019ve recently started using Sony cameras (such as the Alpha 7R II) and one of the reasons for that is I can use live view while still looking through the viewfinder \u2013 something that is not possible with DSLR cameras.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not to say Phil is restricted. In fact, he uses a variety of lenses. For portraiture he uses the Zeiss Otus 85mm and 55mm. Phil says the 85mm is perfect for head and shoulders, while the 55mm is a good bit wider without too much distortion.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The Zeiss Otus lenses are the best I\u2019ve used,\u2019 says Phil, \u2018although many of my best portraits were taken with other, much cheaper lenses. I started shooting head shots with the Canon 85mm f\/1.8 and they\u2019re still some of my best images.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_91313&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 620px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-91313\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/CAN-WE-RUN-FULL-BLEED-Bobby-Rainsbury-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\" alt=\"Phil\u2019s portrait of actor Bobby Rainsbury\" width=\"600\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/CAN-WE-RUN-FULL-BLEED-Bobby-Rainsbury-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/CAN-WE-RUN-FULL-BLEED-Bobby-Rainsbury-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=300,375 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/CAN-WE-RUN-FULL-BLEED-Bobby-Rainsbury-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/CAN-WE-RUN-FULL-BLEED-Bobby-Rainsbury-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=562,703 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Phil\u2019s portrait of actor Bobby Rainsbury<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>The elements<\/h2>\n<p>Of course, a good portrait is not simply about shallow depth of field and lens choice. What would a portrait be without a proficient approach and understanding of the very thing that allows the portrait to be seen?<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Most of my actors\u2019 portraits are taken with natural light,\u2019 says Phil. \u2018Many are taken with the light right behind me, my back right up against a window, and even on a gloomy day it\u2019s normally possible to get decent exposure at something like 1\/200sec at f\/2 and ISO 400.<\/p>\n<p>I use flags (black poly board) on either side of the subject to control the light on the side of the subject\u2019s face. I also sometimes use mirrors behind the subject (out of shot) to bounce a bit of light back on the side of the face.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Preparation too is key. As Phil says, the main element of preparation is getting inspired. He is a photographer constantly seeking images he likes online, or referring to his library of photo books.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Before every shot, it\u2019s important to think that this could be the best photo you\u2019ve ever taken,\u2019 says Phil. \u2018Taking photos for a living is a privilege, so I try to approach every job as a chance to make something great. From a technical point of view it\u2019s important to check that all your kit is working, batteries are charged and memory cards are clear. I normally go into a shoot with a pretty good idea of what I\u2019m looking for, although I\u2019m always happy to take on an alternative idea if something pops into my head.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018My portraits are collaborative,\u2019 Phil continues. \u2018All my subjects are aware that their portrait is being taken. Essentially, I can only shoot what my subject is prepared to give me. With some portraits I might be collaborating with an art director or stylist. As I said, even though I might have a plan, it\u2019s important to consider what the sitter might have in mind, too.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Something important to consider \u2013 and perhaps even something that photographers new to the genre can forget \u2013 is that your foremost responsibility is to make the sitter feel comfortable. This is their shoot, and in many cases the photographer is there to best represent the person being photographed.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I think sitters like to feel confident that you know what you\u2019re doing,\u2019 says Phil. \u2018As I get older and more experienced, I think that confidence rubs off onto my subjects. It\u2019s also worth noting that virtually every subject can take a while to relax, no matter how confident they are as people. I try not to overbook, so I never feel rushed. I like to take my time and chat. Being a decent conversationalist is a useful skill for photographers.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_91310&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 620px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-91310\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Frank-Carter-\u00a9Phil-sharp.jpg\" alt=\"Musician Frank Carter\" width=\"600\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Frank-Carter-\u00a9Phil-sharp.jpg 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Frank-Carter-\u00a9Phil-sharp.jpg?resize=300,375 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Frank-Carter-\u00a9Phil-sharp.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Frank-Carter-\u00a9Phil-sharp.jpg?resize=562,703 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Musician Frank Carter<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>The aim<\/h2>\n<p>The question, then, is what should a good portrait aim to do? The answer is perhaps something that can be applied to all genres of photography \u2013 it\u2019s about connection.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Essentially, as with all art, you want the viewer to feel something,\u2019 says Phil. \u2018You want the viewer to feel a spark of connection of some sort. Each subject is an individual with his or her own story and inner life. In a way, a good portrait can cut away the photographer and connect the subject with the viewer.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The fact is people are interesting. We\u2019re complex, confusing and contradictory. We communicate via facial expressions and body language far more than we think we do. Portrait photography is a way of learning more about other humans and myself. I love looking at portraits from the 19th century, so I kind of hope someone might look at my mine in the 22nd century.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_91312&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 620px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-91312\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/John-McCrea-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\" alt=\"Actor John McCrea\" width=\"600\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/John-McCrea-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/John-McCrea-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=300,375 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/John-McCrea-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/John-McCrea-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg?resize=562,703 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Actor John McCrea<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>About Phil Sharp<\/h2>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-91311\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-Lisa-Goldapple.jpg\" alt=\"Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-=-Lisa-Goldapple\" width=\"297\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-Lisa-Goldapple.jpg 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-Lisa-Goldapple.jpg?resize=135,100 135w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-Lisa-Goldapple.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-Lisa-Goldapple.jpg?resize=533,400 533w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Headshot-of-Phil-CREDIT-Lisa-Goldapple.jpg?resize=562,422 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/>\n<p>Phil is a London-based freelance portrait and commercial photographer. To see more of his work, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.philsharp-photo.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.philsharp-photo.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photographer Phil Sharp explains how shallow depth of field can add an extra dimension to your portrait photography. He talks to Oliver Atwell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":335,"featured_media":91314,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[211],"tags":[],"product-category":[],"class_list":["post-91307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-portrait_photography"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.8 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Shallow depth of field portraiture - Amateur Photographer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shallow depth of field portraiture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Photographer Phil Sharp explains how shallow depth of field can add an extra dimension to your portrait photography. He talks to Oliver Atwell\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Amateur Photographer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Amateur.photographer.magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-08-13T16:02:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Chiz Dakin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AP_Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AP_Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Chiz Dakin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Chiz Dakin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d\"},\"headline\":\"Shallow depth of field portraiture\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-08-13T16:02:15+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\"},\"wordCount\":1171,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Portrait photography\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\",\"name\":\"Shallow depth of field portraiture - Amateur Photographer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-08-13T16:02:15+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":400},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Technique\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Portrait photography\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Shallow depth of field portraiture\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/\",\"name\":\"Amateur Photographer\",\"description\":\"The world&#039;s number 1 weekly photo magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d\",\"name\":\"Chiz Dakin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Chiz Dakin\"},\"description\":\"Chiz Dakin had to discover her mountain feet after she left home, having been banned from hillwalking (in the form of DofE expeditions) by overly cautious parents. She\u2019s since had a few adventures in wild and remote parts of the world, including snow-shoeing and wild camping on the Patagonian Ice Cap and sea-kayaking on the Abel Tasman Trail in New Zealand. You\u2019re most likely to find her in her nearest playground (the Peak District) or on other UK hills and coasts.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/author\/chizdakin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shallow depth of field portraiture - Amateur Photographer","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shallow depth of field portraiture","og_description":"Photographer Phil Sharp explains how shallow depth of field can add an extra dimension to your portrait photography. He talks to Oliver Atwell","og_url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/","og_site_name":"Amateur Photographer","article_publisher":"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Amateur.photographer.magazine","article_published_time":"2016-08-13T16:02:15+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Chiz Dakin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@AP_Magazine","twitter_site":"@AP_Magazine","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Chiz Dakin","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/"},"author":{"name":"Chiz Dakin","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d"},"headline":"Shallow depth of field portraiture","datePublished":"2016-08-13T16:02:15+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/"},"wordCount":1171,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg","articleSection":["Portrait photography"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/","name":"Shallow depth of field portraiture - Amateur Photographer","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg","datePublished":"2016-08-13T16:02:15+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg","width":600,"height":400},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/shallow-depth-field-portraiture\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Technique","item":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Portrait photography","item":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/portrait_photography\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Shallow depth of field portraiture"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/","name":"Amateur Photographer","description":"The world&#039;s number 1 weekly photo magazine","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d","name":"Chiz Dakin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Chiz Dakin"},"description":"Chiz Dakin had to discover her mountain feet after she left home, having been banned from hillwalking (in the form of DofE expeditions) by overly cautious parents. She\u2019s since had a few adventures in wild and remote parts of the world, including snow-shoeing and wild camping on the Patagonian Ice Cap and sea-kayaking on the Abel Tasman Trail in New Zealand. You\u2019re most likely to find her in her nearest playground (the Peak District) or on other UK hills and coasts.","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/author\/chizdakin\/"}]}},"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2016\/08\/Only-Real-\u00a9Phil-Sharp.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-06 21:06:51","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/335"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91307"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91307\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91321,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91307\/revisions\/91321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91307"},{"taxonomy":"product-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-category?post=91307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}