Depth of Field

Depth of Field is a term used in photography that describes how near and far objects are in focus in a shot. The metaphor allows us to think about where we are applying our focus when we hear stories and attune to our world

Depth of Field is a project of The PEXE Lab. It is a resource for using stories to help students slow down, notice deeply, and see themselves as part of the world they are learning about. Instead of using media to deliver facts, Depth of Field lessons invite students to:

  • Linger with a moment long enough for new details to emerge

  • See the relationships between people, places, and more-than-human beings

  • Recognize place as a co-creator of the story, not just its setting

  • Connect small, sensory moments to larger ecological, cultural, or historical contexts

  • Reflect on what the story asks of them in return

  • Share what they’ve come to know in ways that engage their senses, emotions, and intellect