| g with a camera and adjusting the settings manually | | | | directly affects the amount of time a frame is |
| can be an intimidating task to the new photographer. | | | | exposed. And, the more time the film has to absorb |
| Most veteran photographers will no doubt remember | | | | light, the more clarity and depth will come through the |
| the first roll of film they ruined by reading the light | | | | final image. |
| wrong or the photos they missed by having a closed | | | | For example, if you were to take a picture of a line of |
| lens cap. A photographer's job is to be the conductor | | | | dominoes from one end using a low F Stop number |
| of a symphony of moving parts, influencing each | | | | (an open aperture) you would likely see one or two |
| element to make sure the end result is more than just | | | | dominoes clearly and the other dominoes as blurry. |
| the sum of the parts. | | | | Open apertures create a very shallow depth of field. If |
| Without understanding the elements of photography | | | | you were to take the same photo with a high F Stop |
| individually, it is impossible to understand how they | | | | (a closed aperture), you would see a lot more |
| relate to the whole. So let’s begin our trip into | | | | dominoes down the line. |
| the inner-workings of photographs with one of the | | | | Fun Experiments with Aperture |
| most unfamiliar topics: Aperture. | | | | Once you know how it works, playing with your |
| What is Aperture? | | | | camera's aperture can be a lot of fun. Here’s a |
| Aperture is simply what controls the amount of light | | | | couple of ideas to try the next time you’re out |
| exposed on the film or your digital camera's sensor. It | | | | shooting and you want to test it out: |
| can be opened and closed using the F-Stop on your | | | | * Take every photograph twice — once at a |
| camera, which is usually a ring located around the lens | | | | high F-Stop, and once at a low F-Stop. |
| in between the focus ring and the body of the camera. | | | | * Challenge yourself to shoot an entire roll at one |
| If you've ever looked into someone's eye as light was | | | | F-Stop, then switch it up. |
| shone into it and watched the pupil get smaller, this is | | | | * Put your camera on full manual and adjust the |
| how the aperture works too. | | | | F-Stop on the fly to adjust for light |
| Most cameras have an f stop range of 1.7/2.0 to 22 | | | | Don’t forget to adjust the shutter speed of your |
| with the range of values usually increasing with the | | | | camera to allow for more or less light (faster speeds |
| quality and cost of the camera. You can see your | | | | for more light, slower speeds for less), or you may end |
| camera’s range by checking the numbers | | | | up with overexposed or underexposed images. Many |
| around your lens. Lower F-Stops are more open and | | | | digital cameras have a fantastic option called "aperture |
| expose the film to more light, while high F-Stops close | | | | priority mode" which lets you choose an F Stop and |
| the aperture and shut the light out. | | | | will then adjust the shutter speed automatically. It's |
| How Aperture Can Impact Images | | | | worth noting that the best types of lighting for |
| Using your F-Stop to purposefully manipulate the | | | | experimenting with aperture are cloudy or overcast |
| camera's aperture will allow you to change the depth | | | | days. When faced with low or bright light, your options |
| of field in your photographs. If you're unfamiliar with the | | | | for F Stop values will become limited. |
| term "depth of field" it describes how much of your | | | | Of course, the very best way to improve your |
| picture is sharp and how much is blurry. Aperture | | | | photography is to never stop shooting. |