Depth of field or DOF in photography is usually done for artistic purposes. It also serves a useful function, in the sense that it highlights the object which the photographer wishes to bring attention to by blurring out all other details within the pic.
The basic element to achieve natural DOF is the distance between the subject of focus from the background, or from the objects assumed to be too close to the camera outside the focus area. However, it takes a professional camera, and even expensive lenses to fully take advantage of DOF. Most of us can only afford those “birthday party” cameras, or the electronic equivalent of an Instamatic.
