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If you’re just starting out learning photography, then you’ve probably noticed that photographers have a language all their own. Camera aperture, for instance, is one of those terms that gets thrown around quite a bit without any sort of real explanation.  No need to worry though, as this article will give you a great and clear guide to understanding aperture.  Here is a breakdown on what aperture is, how it works, and why you want to use it:

What is Camera Aperture?

In simple terms, camera aperture is the opening in your lens that lets light come into contact with your film (or digital sensors). 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 F value increases in number, the amount of light allowed into the camera decreases. 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 Aperture Do?

Your camera aperture can make a significant impact on the quality of your photograph. A closed aperture will let in very little light into the camera, which will give you the chance to expose the film (or digital sensor) 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. In contrast, when shooting in a low-light environment, opening up the aperture to a very low F value will provide you with greater flexibility in capturing your image and may even save you from requiring a flash.

When is a Good Time to Change the Aperture?

Although you can change the aperture any time, it’s not something that you have to change.  Most SLRs do it automatically to great success, and sometimes it’s easier to not fret over all the tiny details. 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 when and how to adjust your aperture is a powerful tool in any photographer’s bag of tricks. 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 a great way to expand your creativity with the simple change of a setting.

If you’re just starting out learning photography, then you’ve probably noticed that photographers have a language all their own. Camera aperture, for instance, is one of those terms that gets thrown around quite a bit without any sort of real explanation.  No need to worry though, as this article will give you a great and clear guide to understanding aperture.  Here is a breakdown on what aperture is, how it works, and why you want to use it:

What is Camera Aperture?

In simple terms, camera aperture is the opening in your lens that lets light come into contact with your film (or digital sensors). 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 F value increases in number, the amount of light allowed into the camera decreases. 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 Aperture Do?

Your camera aperture can make a significant impact on the quality of your photograph. A closed aperture will let in very little light into the camera, which will give you the chance to expose the film (or digital sensor) 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. In contrast, when shooting in a low-light environment, opening up the aperture to a very low F value will provide you with greater flexibility in capturing your image and may even save you from requiring a flash.

When is a Good Time to Change the Aperture?

Although you can change the aperture any time, it’s not something that you have to change.  Most SLRs do it automatically to great success, and sometimes it’s easier to not fret over all the tiny details. 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 when and how to adjust your aperture is a powerful tool in any photographer’s bag of tricks. 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 a great way to expand your creativity with the simple change of a setting.