Understanding Aperture in Photography

Aperture is one of the foundational pillars of photography, yet it remains an often misunderstood concept. Simply defined, aperture refers to the size of the opening in your camera’s lens that allows light into the camera. The aperture setting controls the area over which light can enter, which in turn has a direct impact on two crucial photographic elements – exposure and depth of field. Mastering aperture control is essential for capturing well-exposed, visually stunning photographs with optimal sharpness and background blur.

This in-depth guide demystifies aperture, providing everything you need to leverage this central photographic tool for more creative control over your images. We’ll cover aperture basics, how it impacts exposure and depth of field, choosing optimal aperture settings, working within your lens’ aperture range, and much more.

What is Aperture?

At its core, aperture simply refers to the size of the opening that allows light into your camera. This adjustable opening is created via metal or polygonal blades inside the lens which form a circular iris diaphragm. By changing the size of this internal aperture opening, you control the area or diameter over which light can travel into your camera.

Aperture size is measured in f-stops, which represents a ratio of the focal length of the lens to the diameter of the aperture opening itself. Standard f-stop numbers include f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22 and beyond, with each full f-stop letting in half as much light as the previous one.

The lower the f-stop number, the larger the aperture opening, and thus the more light that is let into the camera. Higher f-stop numbers indicate a smaller aperture opening that allows less light in. For example, f/1.4 is considered a very wide aperture, while f/22 is a very narrow aperture.

The ability to adjust aperture to control light intake is extremely useful for managing exposure. Additionally, the size of the aperture opening not only determines quantity of light, but also impacts depth of field – the extent of sharp focus within an image. Learning these two major effects of aperture gives you creative control over your photographs.

Key Facts About Aperture:

Measured in f-stops (f/1.4, f/2.8, etc)
Wider aperture = lower f-stop number
Narrower aperture = higher f-stop number
Wider aperture opening = more light allowed in
Adjusting aperture affects exposure and depth of field

How Aperture Affects Exposure

Exposure refers to the overall brightness or darkness of a photograph. When capturing a scene, there are three camera settings that determine exposure – aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. Aperture in particular has a very direct impact on exposure.

Wider apertures (lower f-stop numbers) create a larger opening that lets in more light. This makes the photograph brighter and more properly exposed. For example, using an aperture of f/1.4 will result in a brighter image than using f/11 on the same scene.

Narrower apertures (higher f-stop numbers) produce a smaller opening that restricts light intake, leading to a darker, underexposed photograph. If you change the aperture from f/5.6 to f/16, your photo will look significantly darker at that higher f-stop.

This relationship allows you to control the exposure and achieve your desired bright or dark effect by intentionally selecting a wide or narrow aperture as needed. For very dim settings like candle lit scenes, using the widest aperture brings out more light and color that would otherwise look dull. For extremely bright settings like snowy landscapes, stopping down the aperture prevents overexposure.

Each full f-stop lets in half as much light as the previous one, so the exposure effect is very predictable. Going from f/5.6 to f/8 cuts light by half, while opening up from f/8 to f/5.6 doubles the light. Use this knowledge to calculate relative exposure when adjusting aperture up or down.

Aperture’s Effect on Exposure:

Wider aperture (lower f-stop) → larger opening → more light let in → brighter image
Narrower aperture (higher f-stop) → smaller opening → less light let in → darker image
Doubling/Halving light for each full f-stop change in aperture
Creative control over exposure by intentionally setting wide or narrow aperture as needed

How Aperture Affects Depth of Field

The aperture setting not only controls exposure, but also greatly impacts depth of field – the extent of sharp focus within an image from foreground to background. Depth of field is affected by three key factors: aperture, focal length of the lens, and the camera-to-subject distance.

Wider apertures (lower f-stops) produce a shallower depth of field, keeping only your desired focus area sharp while blurring the surrounding portions of the scene. For example, a portrait shot at f/1.4 would result in a soft, dreamy background around your subject. This draws attention to your subject and creates an artistically blurred effect.

Narrower apertures (higher f-stops) create a large depth of field, bringing both near and far objects into tack-sharp focus. Landscape photographers rely on narrow apertures around f/11 or f/16 to get the entire sweeping scene crisp from front to back. Buildings both close and distant will look clearly defined.

Having control over depth of field allows you to decide where you want your viewer’s attention focused. Blur the distracting background with shallow depth from a wide aperture, or showcase the entire environment in sharp detail with deep depth from a narrow aperture. This creative choice depends on your photographic goals and vision.

Aperture’s Impact on Depth of Field:

Wider aperture (lower f-stop) → shallower depth of field → subject sharp, background blurred
Narrower aperture (higher f-stop) → deeper depth of field → entire scene sharp foreground to background
Creative control over background blur and focus through aperture adjustment

What are F-Stops and F-Numbers?

The standardized f-stop numbers you see on lenses (f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, etc) are ratios derived from the focal length of the lens divided by the diameter of the aperture opening itself at a given setting. These f-ratios indicate the size of the aperture relative to the lens focal length, not the actual measurement. Doubling or halving f-stops is a consistent way to double or halve light.

For example, f/4 and f/8 represent the same aperture diameter on different lenses – one with twice the focal length. While the opening size stays the same, the longer lens requires a higher f-stop to maintain the same light intensity.

This means adjusting aperture up or down by full f-stops gives a mathematically predictable change in exposure. Moving down one full f-stop from f/8 to f/5.6 will double the amount of light. Stepping up from f/5.6 to f/8 halves the light.

Understanding this relationship allows you to easily calculate relative changes in exposure when adjusting aperture. If you need your shot to be twice as bright, go down one full f-stop. If it’s becoming overexposed, knock the aperture up a full f-stop to halve the light.

F-Stops and F-Numbers:

Represent ratio of focal length to aperture diameter
Moving up/down one f-stop doubles/halves light
Allows predicting exposure changes from aperture adjustments

Large vs. Small Aperture

When should you use a large aperture versus a small one? Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of each approach:

Large Aperture Benefits

Brighter photos in low light conditions
Shallow depth of field for background blur
Artistic, soft effect for portraits
Greater light transmission through the glass

Small Aperture Benefits

Large depth of field for sharp foreground to background
Ability to get the full scene in focus
Starburst effects when shooting light sources
Avoid diffraction softening from smallest openings

Choosing Wisely:

Wider for portraits, narrower for landscapes
Wider for low light, narrower for bright light
Consider depth of field needed and exposure impact

Neither extreme is ideal in all cases. Very wide apertures often exhibit lens defects, while very narrow apertures lose sharpness. Shoot within the optimal aperture range for your lens where sharpness peaks, typically around f/4 to f/11. Also consider the depth of field and exposure suitability for your desired shot.

How to Pick the Right Aperture

Choosing the optimal aperture setting requires balancing depth of field needs, exposure goals, and other practical factors. Here are some common scenarios with suggested apertures:

Portraits: f/1.4 – f/2.8

Use the widest aperture available for aesthetically blurred, dreamy backgrounds that make your subject pop. Watch for focus at wide apertures.

Landscapes: f/8 – f/16

Narrow down to get the full sweeping vista crisp and sharp from foreground to background.

Low Light/Night: f/1.4 – f/2.8

Open up to the widest aperture that your lens allows so you can shoot handheld in dim lighting.

Sunny Day: f/16 – f/22

Narrow the aperture significantly to avoid overexposure in bright sunlight.

Macro: f/8 – f/16

Smaller apertures provide greater depth of field which is useful for keeping the entire subject in focus when shooting up close.

Architecture: f/8 – f/16

Shoot narrow to keep all elements of buildings looking crisp, especially when tilting up.

Get to know how different apertures affect your own photographic style through regular practice. With experience, choosing an aperture that matches your creative goals for a shot will become intuitive.

Setting Aperture on Your Camera

Today’s digital cameras provide aperture control via two main shooting modes – Aperture Priority and Manual Mode. Here are some tips for adjusting aperture in different scenarios:

Aperture Priority Mode:

Set your desired aperture value using a control dial or menu.
The camera automatically selects a suitable shutter speed.
Check the live view or shoot a test image to confirm the settings look right. Adjust aperture up or down until the exposure suits your vision.

Manual Mode:

Manually select both aperture and shutter speed.
Gives full control over all exposure settings based on your creative intent.
Use a light meter or check live view to help set optimal aperture and shutter speed.

Minimum/Maximum Aperture:

Be aware of the minimum and maximum aperture (f-stop range) that your lens is capable of. Avoid going beyond these optical limits.
Zoom lenses often have variable max apertures through the zoom range.

Getting comfortable with making real-time aperture adjustments while seeing the results on your camera’s LCD screen will help you learn each lens’ capabilities.

Lens Aperture Limits

The maximum and minimum apertures (f-stop range) a lens can achieve depends on the optical design, glass elements used, and physical aperture opening. Wider maximum apertures require large, precisely shaped glass lenses. Here are some factors that affect aperture range:

Glass Elements

Larger, higher quality glass elements allow for physically wider apertures up to f/1.2 or f/1.4 in fast lenses.

Aperture Blades

More aperture blades (9+ blades) give smooth bokeh from rounded openings versus 5-6 blades.

Widest Opening

Wider maximum apertures are harder to engineer, especially on zooms. f/2.8 is a common limit.

Narrowest Opening

Optical quality begins degrading around f/16-f/22 as diffraction increases.

Zoom Range

Zoom lenses often have variable max apertures such as f/2.8 at 24mm but f/4 at 70mm.

Quality lenses yield the best results when stopped down somewhat from the widest aperture where defects are more pronounced. Test your lens’ sweet spot – often around f/5.6 to f/11.

Real World Aperture Examples

Here are some example photographs demonstrating creative aperture selection for different situations and subjects:

Portrait f/1.8 Aperture

The super wide f/1.8 aperture throws the distracting background completely out of focus, isolating the subject beautifully.

Landscape f/16 Aperture

Stopping down to f/16 ensures sharp focus from the foreground flowers to the distant mountains.

Low Light f/2.8 Aperture

Shooting at the lens’ wide f/2.8 aperture allows hand holding this nighttime cityscape by letting in ample light.

Observe how the aperture setting complements the creative purpose in each scenario. Testing how different apertures affect your own photos lets you learn how to control focus and exposure intentionally.

Conclusion

Aperture is one of the fundamental pillars of photography. Adjusting its opening size creatively controls exposure and depth of field in your images. With practice, you will learn how to leverage aperture for properly exposed, aesthetically pleasing photographs with beautiful background blur or expansive sharpness as desired. Use this guide as a starting point to boost your aperture skills.