Photo Assignment 5: Mastering depth-of-field

Bronze longhorn cattle sculptures appear to stampede through Pioneer Plaza, a downtown park that commemorates 19th-century cattle drives, on Sept. 28, 2025. (©2025 Rubyanne Moley/SMU)

Bronze longhorn cattle appears to stoop down on a rocky path through Pioneer Plaza, a downtown park that commemorates 19th-century cattle drives, on Oct. 5, 2025. (©2025 Rubyanne Moley/SMU)

My image for Assignment 5 captures one of Downtown Dallas’s most iconic landmarks, a monument that reflects the city’s rich history. I came across the park during a peaceful Sunday walk through the area, and the scene immediately caught my attention. The photo highlights the bronze sculptures of longhorn steers parading through Pioneer Plaza. To get the perfect shot, I crouched down and experimented with different camera angles until the composition felt just right.

What I did right: This photo is very well composed. I chose a low shooting angle (basically on the ground), which immediately makes the sculptures feel larger and more real. This perspective gives a sense of being a part of the herd, taking the viewer along with the herd as they “move” through the plaza. The depth is nice, with a sharp subject of one steer while all others are blurred around. The front steer is a little less blurred than the back steer. Rule of thirds is followed well with the steers, the texture on the sculptures stand out, and the background is simple. There are no harsh shadows, with nice, diffused lighting. 

What I did wrong: I don’t love how bright the sky turned out in this photo. I wish I could’ve taken it earlier in the morning or during golden hour, when the lighting is softer and less harsh. Adjusting my exposure settings a bit more probably would have helped balance it out too. I also think the composition could be stronger if I had moved closer to the right steer to make the left subject stand out more. To capture depth, I experimented by constantly shifting my position until I found an angle that felt dynamic and layered.

Here’s how I fixed it: I used a medium-sized aperture along with fast shutter speeds, if I remember correctly. I also tried to make sure any visitors in the park were either far in the background or completely out of the frame to keep the focus on the sculptures. While taking the photo, I kept switching up my angles to find the best depth of field and create a stronger sense of movement within the scene. Looking back, I think experimenting even more with my aperture settings could have added an extra layer of sharpness and background blur, making the main subjects stand out even more.

I really enjoyed exploring Downtown for this assignment. This week, I tried to make a leap with a more compelling and dynamic environment.. Having extra time allowed me to slow down, make mistakes, and take more risks with my shots, which honestly made the process feel more rewarding. I felt less rushed, so I could experiment with different angles, lighting, and compositions until I captured something that felt intentional.