What is "deep focus"?

Deep focus is a cinematographic technique that allows multiple planes of the image to remain sharp and in focus, from the foreground to the background. This technique enhances the viewer's perception of depth within the scene and often allows them to engage with the entire composition of the shot. By keeping both the foreground and background in equal focus, deep focus creates a more immersive experience, enabling the audience to discern actions and details occurring at different distances.

This method can be particularly effective in storytelling, as it encourages viewers to explore the entirety of the visual field, often revealing relationships between characters and their environments. It contrasts sharply with techniques that focus on isolating the main subject, as seen in shallow depth of field or blurry backgrounds, which can emphasize certain aspects of the image but may limit the audience’s engagement with the broader context of the scene.

Understanding deep focus is essential for appreciating how filmmakers compose scenes to convey complexity and depth within a narrative, making it a foundational concept in the study of motion picture history.