ISO
Pamela Goodyer’s Photography Travel
Photo Credit Above Panoramic Daisy Picture - "Blumen im Sommer" by Maximilian Schönherr - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blumen_im_Sommer.jpg#/media/File:Blumen_im_Sommer.jpg
Aperture – Photography for the Beginner
Understanding Aperture and Depth of Field
In photography, the f-number (also called the f-stop) plays a crucial role in controlling the depth of field (DOF). Depth of field refers to how much of the image is in focus, from the subject in the foreground to the background. Mastering this concept is key to taking photos without relying on auto mode.
At its core, aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens when you take a photo. The size of this opening determines how much light enters the camera and how much of the scene stays in focus.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- F2.8 represents a wide opening, allowing more light in and creating a shallow depth of field, where the subject is sharp and the background is blurred.
- F22 is a small opening, allowing less light in but keeping more of the scene in focus, from front to back.
- Mid-range settings like F8 or F11 offer a balance, letting in a moderate amount of light while providing a deeper focus across the frame.
This version keeps the same concepts but without overloading the text with repeated terms. Let me know if you need any other adjustments!
Shooting in Aperture Priority Mode
Aperture Priority Mode is a semi-automatic mode on your camera. It is A mode or AV mode (aperture value mode). Typical ranges of apertures used in photography are about f/2.8–f/22. Some cameras will have the A or AV on the wheel on top of the camera settings. For newer cameras, you can change the setting in the digital menu, sometimes on the top of the camera. This info will be at the beginning of your manual if you need to refer to it.
To take a photo with the correct exposure, one must understand how to use the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings together.
If you use the “aperture priority” mode, you will determine what aperture setting you desire, as that is your top priority; after which, the camera will select an appropriate shutter speed for correct exposure. When in shutter priority, you choose the shutter speed; it is your priority, and the camera picks the aperture.
These are the two main settings to shoot in. Manual mode is generally used when the lighting is controlled and constant, like in a studio or at night.
Understanding depth of field (DOF) is essential for mastering photography basics. DOF refers to how much of the background area behind the subject is in focus. A large aperture, like f2.8, brings the subject into sharp focus but blurs everything else. To keep it straight, remember that wide open means a smaller number–it might seem counterintuitive, but once you get used to it, everything will make sense.
General Aperture Rule to Memorize
f 2.8 means 2.8 feet will be in focus. F22 means 22 feet will be in focus. This is not entirely accurate. It’s just a trick to remember which way blurs and which way focuses. f2.8 blurs and f22 focuses.
If you set the aperture to a high number (f22), most of the image will be in focus, including the background and foreground.
If you are taking a class picture, you will want to use an aperture of at least f8 to ensure all student rows stay focused, but the background blurs some. This is a perfect example of increasing depth of field. If you used f2.8 instead, only one row of kids would remain sharp while everything behind them would become blurry, including the other students. In these circumstances, having a higher f-stop number is critical to getting more depth of field, hence everyone is in focus.
For this concept to make sense quickly, do your homework. Understanding reading material requires repetition and lessons, which helps it sink into muscle memory. I usually spend around an hour teaching and practicing this concept in my classes so that it sticks.
It is important to remember these concepts when taking photographs, when not in auto mode, which is behind you now. Challenge yourself by not going back to auto mode.
Aperture Priority Blurs the Background
The photo was taken at f2.8 to create a completely blurred background. The subject is in focus, and the background blurs the most using the lowest number.
When shooting in Aperture Priority, our priority is controlling the depth of field. The camera will then pick the shutter speed to ensure the exposure is correct.
Aperture Priority Learning
Aperture Priority Homework
Put your camera in A or A/V for the aperture priority setting. Use ISO 1600. Do your homework outside with a lot of light. This will make things easier. Set your white balance to match your surroundings, sun, clouds, etc. Take the same shot at 2.8, then 3.5, 4.0, and 5.6 up to f22. Download your images into your editing software and look at the metadata to see what you shot and the photo differences.
Lightroom is a great editing tool for seeing metadata. We do not believe in anything with monthly subscriptions since we will be doing photography until we die and will live to be 102 or more. That would mean at twenty dollars a month = 240 per year x 50 years = $12,000. We use what is available for download. We like Photo Impact Pro and use it for almost everything. You can try to find a used Lightroom Classic CD, download it on your computer, and avoid the lifetime monthly fees for as long as Lightroom Classic still works on newer computers.