What is the effect of selective depth of field in a shot?

Selective depth of field is a technique used in cinematography and photography to draw attention to specific subjects within a frame by keeping them in sharp focus while blurring other elements in the scene. This effect allows the viewer to easily identify the focal point of the shot and emphasizes the subject, creating a visual hierarchy. By blurring the background or foreground, the technique helps to isolate the subject from its surroundings, enhancing emotional engagement and clarity in storytelling.

This method is often employed to guide the audience's eyes directly to the most important parts of the image, making it a powerful tool for creating a specific mood or emphasizing particular details that might otherwise be obscured in a busy scene. The other choices do not accurately describe this effect, as they either suggest uniform sharpness throughout the scene or pertain to unrelated aspects of depth of field mechanics.