Beginner's Guide to Aperture in Photography: Master the Art of Depth and Light

If you're a photography enthusiast looking to enhance your skills, or a beginner that’s a little confused by the technical aspect of photography, this guide is for you, understanding aperture is an essential part of photography. Aperture is one of the three pillars of photography (along with shutter speed and ISO we will look at these in more detail in future blog articles) that controls exposure and depth of field, ultimately shaping how your images look.

In this guide, we’ll break down aperture in simple terms, show you how it works, and explain why mastering it can take your photography to the next level. Whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even a smartphone with manual controls, learning aperture is key to creating visually stunning photos, it’s not as complicated as it sounds and adjusting apertures will become second nature before you know it.

What is Aperture?

Aperture refers to the opening in your camera’s lens through which light enters. It works much like the pupil of an eye: the larger the aperture, the more light gets in; the smaller the aperture, the less light gets through. 

Aperture is measured in f-numbers, also known as “f-stops” (like f/1.8, f/2.8, f/4, etc.). Here's a general rule to remember.

Smaller f-number (e.g., f/1.8) = Larger aperture (more light, shallow depth of field)

Larger f-number (e.g., f/16) = Smaller aperture (less light, deeper depth of field)

How Aperture Affects Your Photos

There are two major ways that aperture influences your photography, mastering these and you will see a massive improvement in your final images.

Depth of field

Depth of field refers to how much of your image is in sharp focus. A wide aperture (small f-number) like f/1.8 or f/2.8 creates a “shallow depth of field”, meaning the subject will be in focus while the background is beautifully blurred, you’ve seen these milky, smooth background in photographs, I’m sure. This is perfect for portrait photography where you want the subject to stand out against a soft, dreamy background.

On the other hand, a narrow aperture (large f-number) like f/11 or f/16 will keep both your subject and background in focus, ideal for landscape photography where you want every detail sharp and clear, landscape photographers will often use apertures of around f11 to ensure that the whole image is sharp.

Exposure

Aperture plays a significant role in determining how bright or dark your image is. A larger aperture (small f-number) lets in more light, which can brighten a scene—perfect for low-light conditions. A smaller aperture (large f-number) reduces the amount of light, which is great for shooting in bright sunlight.

How to Choose the Right Aperture for Your Photos

The aperture you choose depends on what you're trying to achieve with your shot. Here's a simple breakdown:

Portrait Photography: Use a wide aperture (f/1.8 to f/2.8) for a blurred background that highlights your subject.

Landscape Photography: Use a narrow aperture (f/8 to f/16) to keep everything in sharp focus, from foreground to background.

Low Light Photography: Use a wide aperture to let in more light without increasing the ISO, which can cause noise or graininess.

Aperture and Lens Choice

Your lens will dictate how wide or narrow your aperture can go. Prime lenses (fixed focal length) typically offer wider maximum apertures (e.g., f/1.4, f/1.8), which are excellent for low-light and portrait photography. Zoom lenses often have variable apertures (e.g., f/3.5 to f/5.6), meaning the maximum aperture changes depending on your zoom level.

Kit lenses (lenses that come with your camera) do not generally offer larger apertures and they often offer apertures around f/3.5-5.6, these can still give excellent images but as you progress in photography you will want to look at upgrading to a lens with apertures of around f/1.8 or f/2.8.

When investing in these lenses, it's helpful to consider what kind of photography you'll be doing most. A "fast" lens with a wide aperture (like f/1.8 or f/2.8) is more versatile in different lighting situations, it will also be more versatile when using it for other forms of photography.

Tips for Mastering Aperture

The best way to get comfortable with aperture is to shoot in Aperture Priority Mode (A or Av on your camera). This mode allows you to control the aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the other settings to maintain proper exposure, this is a great starting point that many new photographers use, you will quickly understand how different apertures change an image.

Check the Background: When using a shallow depth of field, be mindful of what’s in the background. A blurred but distracting background can still take attention away from your subject.

Balance with ISO and Shutter Speed: Aperture, ISO, and shutter speed work together. If you change one setting, you may need to adjust the others to get the right exposure.

Practice with Different Lighting: Try shooting in different lighting conditions (indoor, outdoor, golden hour) to see how aperture impacts exposure and depth of field.

Recommended Gear for Beginners

If you're new to photography and looking to invest in gear, consider the following equipment to help you explore aperture effectively:

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is an affordable prime lens which offers a wide aperture, making it ideal for portraits and low-light photography.

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens is a sharp prime lens with a wide aperture, perfect for capturing beautiful bokeh in your images.

The Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS For mirrorless users, this lens provides excellent aperture control with built-in optical image stabilization.

A sturdy Tripod is essential when shooting with a narrow aperture and low light, a tripod will help keep your shots sharp without increasing the ISO.

Mastering aperture is a crucial step in your photography journey. By understanding how it controls depth of field and exposure, you can create more dynamic, visually appealing photos. Experiment with different settings, practice in various lighting conditions, and soon, you’ll be using aperture to take your photography to the next level.

By learning the basics of aperture, you’re well on your way to mastering manual photography. Happy shooting!

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