What does selective focus involve in a shot?

Selective focus involves a technique where only specific elements within a frame are kept in sharp focus while the rest of the scene appears blurred or out of focus. This choice allows filmmakers to guide the viewer's eye to the most important aspects of the shot, enhancing the narrative by emphasizing particular details or subjects. By doing this, the audience's attention is drawn to what the filmmaker intends, effectively communicating focus and significance within the composition. This technique is commonly used in various genres to create a sense of intimacy or to isolate a character from their surroundings, thereby enriching the storytelling through visual means.

Other choices do not accurately reflect the principles of selective focus. For instance, having everything in the frame clear and in focus does not align with the concept of selective focus, which inherently involves varying degrees of clarity across the shot. Similarly, a scenario with no focus applied would lack the visual distinction necessary to communicate specific elements, rendering the technique ineffective. Eliminating all depth would contradict the fundamental aspect of selective focus, which relies on depth variations to create a dynamic viewing experience.