Which term describes an image where some areas are in focus while others are not?

The term that accurately describes an image where some areas are in focus while others are not is shallow focus. This technique involves using a wide aperture to create a narrow depth of field, meaning that only a select portion of the image appears sharp while the background or areas outside the focal point appear blurred. Shallow focus is often used in cinematography to draw attention to a specific subject or element within a scene, emphasizing its importance in relation to the surrounding context.

Deep focus, on the other hand, refers to an image where almost all elements from the foreground to the background are in sharp focus, allowing viewers to see details in every part of the frame. Overexposure pertains to images that allow too much light to reach the camera sensor, resulting in washed-out highlights and loss of detail, which does not relate to focus depth. Soft focus involves a slight blur applied to the entire image, often used for aesthetic purposes or to soften features, but it does not highlight specific areas while keeping others distinctly out of focus as shallow focus does.