Certainly fast lenses can result in a very thin DoF. But many times, that effect is used to blur out the background only, since the subject is shot with little or no foreground. The shot on the left is an example of that - there's a foreground element (the water pump) with some blur because it's outside the DoF, but there's also a lateral separation between subject and foreground object. Changing the composition to include a close foreground which 'covers' part of the subject, and shooting with a thin DoF, can result in a very different effect, like the shot on the right.



[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/12/7041.Marigold-Run.jpg[/img]
EOS 7D, EF 85mm f/1.2<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L II USM, 1/1250 s, f/1.6, ISO 100 EOS 7D, EF 85mm f/1.2<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L II USM, 1/640 s, f/1.2, ISO 100


If I were so inclined (I'm not...), I could 'enhance' the effect in post by applying some Gaussian blur to the marigolds that are in the same focal plane as my daughter.


Quote Originally Posted by HDNitehawk
Maybe post a link to an image you are talking about so we could be sure what your talking about.

Yep - that would help!