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What is Aperture?
Aperture is the opening in your lens that controls how much light enters your camera. It works like the pupil of your eye—when it’s wide open, more light comes in; when it’s small, less light comes in.
Aperture is measured in f-stops (written as f/1.8, f/4, f/11, etc.).
- Lower f-number (e.g., f/1.8, f/2.8) = Wide Aperture = More Light
- Higher f-number (e.g., f/8, f/16) = Narrow Aperture = Less Light
How Aperture Affects Your Photos
1.Low Light Photography 🌙
- A wide aperture (low f-number, like f/1.8) lets in more light, helping you shoot in dark conditions without using a flash.
- Example: Night photography, indoor shots, or concerts—use a wide aperture to brighten the image.
2 .Depth of Field (DOF) – What’s in Focus 🎯
- Shallow Depth of Field (Blurry Background):
- A wide aperture (f/1.8, f/2.8) gives you that beautiful blurry background (bokeh), making your subject stand out.
- Used for portraits, food, or product photography.
- Deep Depth of Field (Everything in Focus):
- A narrow aperture (f/8, f/11, f/16) keeps more of the scene in focus.
- Used for landscapes, group photos, architecture.
Quick Cheat Sheet
📸 Portraits? → Use f/1.8 – f/2.8 for a blurry background.
🏞 Landscapes? → Use f/8 – f/16 for sharp details everywhere.
🌙 Low Light? → Use a wide aperture (f/1.8, f/2.8) to let in more light.
Practical Exercises to See Aperture in Action
Exercise 1: Depth of Field (Blurry vs. Sharp Backgrounds)
What You Need: A camera with manual mode (or portrait mode on a phone) and a subject (a friend, a plant, or a cup).
1️⃣ Set your camera to Aperture Priority mode (A or Av mode).
2️⃣ Use a wide aperture (f/1.8 – f/2.8).
- Place your subject a few feet away from the background.
- Focus on your subject and take a photo.
- Notice how the background becomes blurry? That’s a shallow depth of field!
3️⃣ Now, use a narrow aperture (f/8 – f/16).
- Take the same photo again.
- See how the background is now sharper? That’s deep depth of field!
💡 Tip: If you’re using a phone, try portrait mode for the wide aperture effect and regular mode for a deeper depth of field.
Exercise 2: Low Light Photography
What You Need: A dimly lit room or evening outdoor setting.
1️⃣ Take a photo at f/1.8 or f/2.8 (if your lens allows it).
The image should look bright because the aperture lets in more light.
2️⃣ Now, switch to f/8 or f/11.
- The image will be much darker unless you adjust the ISO or shutter speed.
💡 Tip: Try the same test with your phone in low light—notice how portrait mode (which mimics a wide aperture) makes the image brighter?
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Aperture low light and DOP explained
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Hi I'm Monique
Personal and business brand image expert. Photographer and educator who is super passionate about empowering business women and men to have a positive self perception, with the right tools and guidance so they can share their gifts with the world.
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Aperture low light and DOP explained
Download PDF version here
Aperture low light and DOP explained
Download
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