Camera Aperture – What You Need To Know

If you’re new to the world of photography, you’ve probably noticed that shooters have a language all their own. Camera aperture is just one of those common photography terms that gets used a lot without much explanation.  Not to worry though, for we’ve compiled a handy beginner’s guide to aperture that should help shed a little light on the subject.  Here is a breakdown on what aperture is, how it works, and why you want to use it:

What is Camera Aperture?

Put simply, camera aperture is an opening in your lens that allows light to come into contact with your film. This opening can be adjusted by using your camera’s F-Stop, or if you have a digital camera by tinkering with some of the manual settings.  Many digitals have a fixed-aperture mode in which you can choose the aperture and the camera will figure the rest out.

Aperture is measured in “F” numbers and is usually represented on your camera in abbreviations such as F8, F/8 or some variation in between. As the value of the F goes up, the amount of light allowed into the camera goes down. For instance, an F value of 1/4 would be considered wide-open, while 1/22 would be pretty much as closed as possible.

What Does the Aperture Really Do

Your camera aperture can make a significant impact on the quality of your photograph. A closed aperture will allow very little light into the camera, which will in turn give you the opportunity to expose the film for a longer period of time. Adjusting the F value is a great way to use slow shutter speeds and long exposures without overexposing your film into oblivion.

Aperture also gives you the opportunity to react quickly to changes in lighting.  If you’re photographing in a bright environment, a high F stop (very closed aperture) will give you the chance to use slower shutter speeds. On the flip side, when photographing in low light environments, opening up the aperture with a very low F value will give you more flexibility in shooting the image and will often prevent the use of a flash.

When is a Good Time to Change the Aperture?

You don’t have to manipulate your camera aperture.  Many SLRs adjust the aperture automatically to great success making it easy not to worry about it. However, manually adjusting the aperture of a camera allows you to directly influence the depth of field of an image. An open aperture (low f stop) will give you very little depth of field (subjects close to the camera will be clear while the background is blurry) and a closed aperture will make everything in your photograph seem more detailed.

Knowing how to adjust your aperture and when to best use it is a powerful tool to have in your photographer’s toolbox. One great way to see how it affects your images is to shoot every photograph twice – once with a low F value and once with a high one. Aperture is an amazing way to expand your creativity with the turn of a dial.