Advanced Photography Students Master Shallow Depth of Field

Students in Huntington High School art teacher Pamela Piffard’s Advanced Photography class recently completed a stunning series of images exploring shallow depth of field, a technique that allows photographers to isolate their subject by blurring the background and foreground. The results were nothing short of impressive.

Mrs. Piffard shared her excitement about the project. “I love the results my students obtained,” the veteran educator said. “Using shallow depth of field really helps the photographer focus on the primary point of interest in the image.”

The lesson was a component in the exploring focus and detail unit. “Throughout the assignment, students experimented with large aperture settings and composition to draw attention to specific details, whether it was a single flower petal, a portrait subject’s eyes, or a meaningful object placed in soft light,” Mrs. Piffard said. “By mastering this technical concept, students not only demonstrated strong camera control but also learned how focus and blur can communicate emotion, depth, and storytelling in photography.

The project highlights the class’s growing ability to blend technical skill with artistic vision, showcasing how thoughtful use of focus can transform an ordinary scene into an image that feels intentional and alive.

Send a message to Mrs. Piffard (ppiffard@hufsd.edu) for more information about the high school’s photography program.