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What is Aperture: An In-Depth Explanation
by Keenan Hursh
In today’s article, we’re taking a look at the exposure triangle again. It really can’t be overstated just how important it is to have a thorough understanding of how to control your camera’s exposure to light. Being able to manually control how light enters your lens and camera sensor will expand your understanding of photography and open up many creative possibilities.
The exposure triangle consists of three methods to manually control how light enters your camera and each one alters this process in a slightly different way. The three pillars of this triangle are shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, and understanding how they all work with one another is a crucial step in any photographer’s journey.
In a previous article, we explored shutter speed and took a deep dive into what exactly it is, how it works, and how it alters the look and feel of your images. In today’s article we’re going to do the exact same thing, but this time we’re focusing on aperture. Whether you're a beginner photographer or someone looking to enhance your understanding, this in-depth explanation will provide you with the knowledge you need to capture stunning images.
So, what exactly is aperture, how does it alter the photograph you’re capturing, and when should you use specific aperture values depending on what you’re shooting? Keep reading to find out! Let’s take a deep dive into the world of aperture!
The exposure triangle consists of three methods to manually control how light enters your camera and each one alters this process in a slightly different way. The three pillars of this triangle are shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, and understanding how they all work with one another is a crucial step in any photographer’s journey.
In a previous article, we explored shutter speed and took a deep dive into what exactly it is, how it works, and how it alters the look and feel of your images. In today’s article we’re going to do the exact same thing, but this time we’re focusing on aperture. Whether you're a beginner photographer or someone looking to enhance your understanding, this in-depth explanation will provide you with the knowledge you need to capture stunning images.
So, what exactly is aperture, how does it alter the photograph you’re capturing, and when should you use specific aperture values depending on what you’re shooting? Keep reading to find out! Let’s take a deep dive into the world of aperture!
What is Aperture?
Aperture refers to the circular opening in a camera lens that allows light to pass through to the image sensor. The aperture controls not only the amount of light entering your lens but also, very importantly, the depth of field. Aperture is represented by an f-number or f-stop value, such as f/2.8, f/4, f/8, and so on. The f-number indicates the size of the aperture opening, with smaller values representing larger openings and vice versa. f/1.2 will be very wide open and produce a very shallow depth of field whereas f/22 will be a tiny, pinpoint opening, and your image will have a very deep depth of field.
Aperture works hand in hand with other elements like the shutter speed and ISO to control the exposure of an image. By adjusting the aperture, you can control the amount of light entering the camera, thus impacting the overall exposure and depth of field in your photographs. When you set a wider aperture (smaller f-number), more light is allowed to pass through the lens, resulting in a brighter image. Conversely, a narrower aperture (larger f-number) restricts the amount of light, resulting in a darker image.
So how does this all work from a mechanical perspective? Well, the aperture opening itself consists of several blades that interlock with one another in a spiral shape. As you adjust the aperture these blades simultaneously move with one another either moving inwards (towards the center of your lens) to create a smaller opening or outwards (away from the center of your lens) to create a larger opening. Because the aperture opening is made up of blades that are curved triangles the opening isn’t actually a perfect circle but rather a polygon with slightly curved sides. This is a very delicate and intricate mechanism that does an exceptional job of controlling the amount of light entering a lens.
A great way to visualize aperture is to look at the human eye and more specifically the pupil. When it’s really bright outside and there’s lots of environmental light our pupils get much smaller to reduce the amount of light entering our eyes. And when it’s dark, such as at night or on an overcast day, our pupils expand to be much larger, therefore, allowing more light to enter our eyes so that we can see better in dark environments. Many nocturnal animals have massive eyeballs compared to their bodies and this is to maximize the amount of light they can absorb improving their night vision far beyond humans. The aperture in a camera lens works in the same way.
It's important to note that changing the aperture not only affects the amount of light entering the lens but also the depth of field. We’ll dive into this more in the next section.
Aperture refers to the circular opening in a camera lens that allows light to pass through to the image sensor. The aperture controls not only the amount of light entering your lens but also, very importantly, the depth of field. Aperture is represented by an f-number or f-stop value, such as f/2.8, f/4, f/8, and so on. The f-number indicates the size of the aperture opening, with smaller values representing larger openings and vice versa. f/1.2 will be very wide open and produce a very shallow depth of field whereas f/22 will be a tiny, pinpoint opening, and your image will have a very deep depth of field.
Aperture works hand in hand with other elements like the shutter speed and ISO to control the exposure of an image. By adjusting the aperture, you can control the amount of light entering the camera, thus impacting the overall exposure and depth of field in your photographs. When you set a wider aperture (smaller f-number), more light is allowed to pass through the lens, resulting in a brighter image. Conversely, a narrower aperture (larger f-number) restricts the amount of light, resulting in a darker image.
So how does this all work from a mechanical perspective? Well, the aperture opening itself consists of several blades that interlock with one another in a spiral shape. As you adjust the aperture these blades simultaneously move with one another either moving inwards (towards the center of your lens) to create a smaller opening or outwards (away from the center of your lens) to create a larger opening. Because the aperture opening is made up of blades that are curved triangles the opening isn’t actually a perfect circle but rather a polygon with slightly curved sides. This is a very delicate and intricate mechanism that does an exceptional job of controlling the amount of light entering a lens.
A great way to visualize aperture is to look at the human eye and more specifically the pupil. When it’s really bright outside and there’s lots of environmental light our pupils get much smaller to reduce the amount of light entering our eyes. And when it’s dark, such as at night or on an overcast day, our pupils expand to be much larger, therefore, allowing more light to enter our eyes so that we can see better in dark environments. Many nocturnal animals have massive eyeballs compared to their bodies and this is to maximize the amount of light they can absorb improving their night vision far beyond humans. The aperture in a camera lens works in the same way.
It's important to note that changing the aperture not only affects the amount of light entering the lens but also the depth of field. We’ll dive into this more in the next section.
How Does Aperture Affect an Image?
So, aperture is a part of the exposure triangle and alters the overall exposure of an image or the amount of light being let it. But that’s not all. One of the significant effects of aperture on your images is depth of field. Depth of field refers to the area in the image that appears sharp and in focus. A wide or large aperture (small f-number) like f/1.8 will result in a shallow depth of field, where only the subject is in focus while the background and foreground become beautifully blurred. This can create an aesthetic known as "bokeh" where lights or other objects that are out of focus turn into beautiful abstract shapes. This effect is commonly used in wildlife or portrait photography, as it helps isolate the subject from the surroundings and creates a pleasing separation.
On the other hand, a narrow or small aperture (large f-number) like f/16 will result in a deep depth of field, where both the subject, the foreground, and the background are all in focus. This is ideal for landscape photography or situations where you want everything to be sharp.. By utilizing a smaller aperture, you can capture intricate details from the foreground to the background, allowing the viewer to appreciate the entire scene. You can also create some cool lighting effects with a small aperture such as sun stars or starbursts where the rays of the sun are accentuated and form a stunning radial burst of light.
The best way to understand this is to get out there and experiment with your camera. Capture images of the same subject at a wide range of apertures and then review those images to see how the size of the aperture opening alters them. You can practice isolating your subjects with a wide aperture or experiment with shooting a wide-angle landscape shot at a small/narrow aperture. After all, practice makes perfect.
So, aperture is a part of the exposure triangle and alters the overall exposure of an image or the amount of light being let it. But that’s not all. One of the significant effects of aperture on your images is depth of field. Depth of field refers to the area in the image that appears sharp and in focus. A wide or large aperture (small f-number) like f/1.8 will result in a shallow depth of field, where only the subject is in focus while the background and foreground become beautifully blurred. This can create an aesthetic known as "bokeh" where lights or other objects that are out of focus turn into beautiful abstract shapes. This effect is commonly used in wildlife or portrait photography, as it helps isolate the subject from the surroundings and creates a pleasing separation.
On the other hand, a narrow or small aperture (large f-number) like f/16 will result in a deep depth of field, where both the subject, the foreground, and the background are all in focus. This is ideal for landscape photography or situations where you want everything to be sharp.. By utilizing a smaller aperture, you can capture intricate details from the foreground to the background, allowing the viewer to appreciate the entire scene. You can also create some cool lighting effects with a small aperture such as sun stars or starbursts where the rays of the sun are accentuated and form a stunning radial burst of light.
The best way to understand this is to get out there and experiment with your camera. Capture images of the same subject at a wide range of apertures and then review those images to see how the size of the aperture opening alters them. You can practice isolating your subjects with a wide aperture or experiment with shooting a wide-angle landscape shot at a small/narrow aperture. After all, practice makes perfect.
What Aperture Should I Use for a Specific Style of Photography?
Landscape Photography:
Landscape photography is a diverse style that aims to capture the beauty of natural or man-made landscapes. In this style, it’s common to try and bring the entire scene into focus so a smaller aperture like f/8, f/11, or higher is commonly used to achieve a deep depth of field. By utilizing a narrower aperture, you can ensure that both the foreground and background elements are in sharp focus. This is particularly advantageous when photographing sweeping vistas or scenes where you want to capture intricate details from the closest foreground to the distant background. The smaller aperture helps maintain clarity and sharpness throughout the image, ensuring that every element of the landscape is captured with detail.
Wildlife Photography:
Wildlife photography is often the exact opposite. Because you are focusing on a specific wildlife subject it is very common to want to isolate that subject from both the foreground and background so that the eye is naturally drawn to it. Using much smaller/narrower apertures such as f/2.8 or f/4 is very common in wildlife photography. It’s also worth noting that many wildlife photographers are using telephoto and super telephoto lenses that significantly zoom in on a subject allowing them to fill up more of your image. Because these lenses are longer and you’ll likely be shooting at a fast shutter speed it’s important to let in as much light as possible so a small aperture makes sense in this regard as well.
Macro Photography:
Macro photography delves into capturing the intricate details of small subjects, such as insects, flowers, or other tiny objects. Similar to wildlife photography, achieving a very shallow depth of field is often desired in this style to isolate the subject and emphasize specific details. Therefore, photographers typically choose wide apertures like f/2.8 or even wider to achieve a shallow depth of field. This technique brings attention to the subject while blurring distracting elements in the background. You’ll also want to capitalize on the available light you have so opening the aperture up nice and wide is often a good idea.
Sports and Action Photography:
Sports and action photography require freezing fast-moving subjects and capturing dynamic moments. To achieve this, a wide aperture is often used to allow for faster shutter speeds. This is very similar to wildlife photography and many of the same principles apply. Depending on the lighting conditions, photographers may select apertures like f/2.8 or wider. The wider aperture allows more light to enter the camera, enabling the use of faster shutter speeds and freezing the action, resulting in sharp, impactful images.
Portrait Photography:
Portrait photography focuses on capturing the personality and essence of individuals. The focus is on the person and often times you want to reduce the background or any other elements from distracting the viewer. A wide aperture like f/1.8 or even wider is often used to create a shallow depth of field. This allows the subject to stand out sharply while blurring the background, drawing attention to the person, and creating a pleasing separation. The bokeh effect produced by wider apertures can also add a touch of artistry and visual appeal to portraits.
Remember these are just general guidelines or a good starting place for each respective style of photography. Many wildlife or portrait photographers might not want to isolate subjects from their environments and many landscape photographers might want a shallower depth of field to draw attention to a specific part of the landscape. At the end of the day, every image and situation is different and you’ll have to choose which aperture to use to control the final result.
Landscape Photography:
Landscape photography is a diverse style that aims to capture the beauty of natural or man-made landscapes. In this style, it’s common to try and bring the entire scene into focus so a smaller aperture like f/8, f/11, or higher is commonly used to achieve a deep depth of field. By utilizing a narrower aperture, you can ensure that both the foreground and background elements are in sharp focus. This is particularly advantageous when photographing sweeping vistas or scenes where you want to capture intricate details from the closest foreground to the distant background. The smaller aperture helps maintain clarity and sharpness throughout the image, ensuring that every element of the landscape is captured with detail.
Wildlife Photography:
Wildlife photography is often the exact opposite. Because you are focusing on a specific wildlife subject it is very common to want to isolate that subject from both the foreground and background so that the eye is naturally drawn to it. Using much smaller/narrower apertures such as f/2.8 or f/4 is very common in wildlife photography. It’s also worth noting that many wildlife photographers are using telephoto and super telephoto lenses that significantly zoom in on a subject allowing them to fill up more of your image. Because these lenses are longer and you’ll likely be shooting at a fast shutter speed it’s important to let in as much light as possible so a small aperture makes sense in this regard as well.
Macro Photography:
Macro photography delves into capturing the intricate details of small subjects, such as insects, flowers, or other tiny objects. Similar to wildlife photography, achieving a very shallow depth of field is often desired in this style to isolate the subject and emphasize specific details. Therefore, photographers typically choose wide apertures like f/2.8 or even wider to achieve a shallow depth of field. This technique brings attention to the subject while blurring distracting elements in the background. You’ll also want to capitalize on the available light you have so opening the aperture up nice and wide is often a good idea.
Sports and Action Photography:
Sports and action photography require freezing fast-moving subjects and capturing dynamic moments. To achieve this, a wide aperture is often used to allow for faster shutter speeds. This is very similar to wildlife photography and many of the same principles apply. Depending on the lighting conditions, photographers may select apertures like f/2.8 or wider. The wider aperture allows more light to enter the camera, enabling the use of faster shutter speeds and freezing the action, resulting in sharp, impactful images.
Portrait Photography:
Portrait photography focuses on capturing the personality and essence of individuals. The focus is on the person and often times you want to reduce the background or any other elements from distracting the viewer. A wide aperture like f/1.8 or even wider is often used to create a shallow depth of field. This allows the subject to stand out sharply while blurring the background, drawing attention to the person, and creating a pleasing separation. The bokeh effect produced by wider apertures can also add a touch of artistry and visual appeal to portraits.
Remember these are just general guidelines or a good starting place for each respective style of photography. Many wildlife or portrait photographers might not want to isolate subjects from their environments and many landscape photographers might want a shallower depth of field to draw attention to a specific part of the landscape. At the end of the day, every image and situation is different and you’ll have to choose which aperture to use to control the final result.
Conclusion
Aperture is a vital aspect of photography that goes beyond simply controlling exposure. Not only are you altering the amount of light entering your lens, but aperture has a significant effect on depth of field allowing for even more creative control. By understanding how different apertures impact your images, you can make creative decisions that enhance your photographs. Whether you want to capture stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh, showcase expansive landscapes with a deep depth of field, or freeze a fast-moving wildlife subject, aperture plays a crucial role in the overall look and feel of any photograph you take. Experimenting with different apertures in various styles of photography will enable you to develop your own artistic vision and create captivating images. So, next time you pick up your camera, remember to consider the aperture and explore the endless possibilities it presents.
As always, I sincerely hope this article was informative and helpful. I encourage everyone to experiment with all of the settings within the exposure triangle and wish you all the best of luck on your next shoot. Until Next time!
Aperture is a vital aspect of photography that goes beyond simply controlling exposure. Not only are you altering the amount of light entering your lens, but aperture has a significant effect on depth of field allowing for even more creative control. By understanding how different apertures impact your images, you can make creative decisions that enhance your photographs. Whether you want to capture stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh, showcase expansive landscapes with a deep depth of field, or freeze a fast-moving wildlife subject, aperture plays a crucial role in the overall look and feel of any photograph you take. Experimenting with different apertures in various styles of photography will enable you to develop your own artistic vision and create captivating images. So, next time you pick up your camera, remember to consider the aperture and explore the endless possibilities it presents.
As always, I sincerely hope this article was informative and helpful. I encourage everyone to experiment with all of the settings within the exposure triangle and wish you all the best of luck on your next shoot. Until Next time!
To learn more about the exposure triangle and aperture, be sure to check out these additional articles:
Understanding the Exposure Triangle - Kenton Krueger
understanding Aperture - Chris Gheen
Aperture Priority for Wildlife Photography - Matt Meisenheimer
Understanding the Exposure Triangle - Kenton Krueger
understanding Aperture - Chris Gheen
Aperture Priority for Wildlife Photography - Matt Meisenheimer
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AUTHOR
Keenan is an avid photographer, digital creator, and lover of the outdoors currently based out of Bozeman, Montana. He is originally from Boulder, Colorado where he developed a deep passion for getting outside and pursuing outdoor activities including skiing, cycling, hiking, rafting, backpacking and more. Recently he has developed new passions for paragliding as well as designing and sewing outdoor adventure gear for cyclists and hikers.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images. He pursues a wide range of photography styles primarily shooting landscapes, wildlife, adventure photography, and enjoys shooting analog on 35mm film every now and then.
Since graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in Emergent Digital Practices, Keenan has pursued a professional career in digital marketing, graphic design, and content creation. He has benefitted a wide range of companies and organizations from small start-ups to well known agencies and brands.
You can view Keenan’s photography and graphic design work on his website at www.keenanhurshmedia.com
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images. He pursues a wide range of photography styles primarily shooting landscapes, wildlife, adventure photography, and enjoys shooting analog on 35mm film every now and then.
Since graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in Emergent Digital Practices, Keenan has pursued a professional career in digital marketing, graphic design, and content creation. He has benefitted a wide range of companies and organizations from small start-ups to well known agencies and brands.
You can view Keenan’s photography and graphic design work on his website at www.keenanhurshmedia.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations include Yosemite, Alaska, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Hawaii, Utah as well as Botswana & Costa Rica."
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