So, can you use a shallow depth of field with a big subject? That’s a really good question because it comes down to defining, “What’s the subject” which for many is hard to say. Yet this is the essential question we must ask every time we go click! Once we can define in our own mind what the subject is, we can define it in the viewfinder and from there determine what is the best f/stop, depth of field we want. And at that moment decide if we can go shallow with big.
Here are two examples from this past weekend at Neighbors Day at Felts Field, Spokane where I thought going shallow with big was the only right answer. I wanted the Laird to POP from that background so I shot at f1.4 (shooting with the 105f1.4). The DC-3, with all that type, shooting wide open was easy because the mind can still read all of the type but it first focuses on the American Flag where I focused the lens. So ya, once you know the subject, you can define it and easy show it going shallow if it’s big!