Aperture refers to the opening in a lens through which light passes to enter the camera. It is one of the 'triangles' of photography settings (there's only main 3 settings), along with shutter speed and ISO, that control the exposure of an image.
The size of the aperture is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, etc.), which are typically represented as "f/number."
For example:
Different lenses have different ranges in f-stops, depending on their specific use, more about that later...
Here are some key points about aperture:
Control of Light: The aperture size affects the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor. A larger aperture (smaller f-number) allows more light to enter, which is useful in low-light conditions. Conversely, a smaller aperture (larger f-number) allows less light in.
Depth of Field: Aperture also influences the depth of field, which is the range of distance within a photo that appears acceptably sharp. A larger aperture (e.g., f/2.8) results in a shallow depth of field, making the background blurry and isolating the subject. A smaller aperture (e.g., f/16) increases the depth of field, bringing more of the scene into focus.
Sharpness and Diffraction: While smaller apertures can increase depth of field, they can also introduce diffraction, which may reduce the overall sharpness of the image.
Creative Control: Photographers use aperture to creatively control the look and feel of an image. For example, portrait photographers often use a large aperture to achieve a blurred background, emphasizing the subject.
In summary, aperture is a critical setting in photography that affects exposure, depth of field, and the overall aesthetic of an image. It is a bit confusing as a 'large' aperture setting is the smallest f-stop number, and a 'small' aperture is the higher f-stop number.
Think if it like screwing the gas bottle onto the BBQ - it works the opposite way you think it should!
Now, you've probably heard the term "depth of field" but that does it mean?
Depth of field (DOF) in photography refers to the range of distance within a photo that appears acceptably sharp. It is the zone of sharpness in an image, extending in front of and behind the subject in focus. DOF is influenced by several factors, including aperture size, focal length of the lens, and the distance between the camera and the subject.
Key Points about Depth of Field
Aperture Size:
Wide Aperture (e.g., f/2.8): Creates a shallow depth of field, where only a small part of the image is in focus, and the background is blurred. This is often used in portrait photography to isolate the subject from the background.
Narrow Aperture (e.g., f/16): Results in a deep depth of field, where a larger portion of the image from foreground to background is in focus. This is commonly used in landscape photography to ensure everything is sharp.
Focal Length:
Longer Focal Length (e.g., 100mm): Tends to produce a shallower depth of field.
Shorter Focal Length (e.g., 24mm): Tends to produce a deeper depth of field.
Distance to Subject:
Closer Distance: Results in a shallower depth of field.
Farther Distance: Results in a deeper depth of field.
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Visual Representation
Here's 2 photos to show you the difference aperture makes to the depth of field of a photo:
On the left we have a photo taken at f/4.0 and the on the right it's f/22.
Note the background and how at f/4.0, we have lovely soft leaves and much less detail, and at f/22 we have much sharper palm fronds and a lot more detail.
When we use a larger f/stop - the lower number like f/4.0 - it takes away the detail in the background and places the focus on our lovely bird.
Similarly, when shooting a big view, we want the opposite and to get all of the details sharp, so that's when we'd change to a smaller/higher numbered f/stop such as f/16 - f/22.
In landscape photography, we can also use the smaller f/stop (higher number) to slow our shutter speed by limiting the amount of light into our lens, a technique used to get that misty soft water look achieved using a 'long exposure'. Look for an upcoming post about that - DM me if you'd like to see this one soon!
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