After we’ve covered why you should learn to shoot in Manual mode as well as how to use a Light Meter let’s look closer at the first element of the exposure triangle. The Aperture setting is crucial to understanding and using properly if your goal is to take good photos.
What is Aperture in Photography?
The aperture is the opening of the lens that allows light to enter the camera. The aperture is crucial in controlling how much light reaches the sensor of the camera or the film. It also influences the depth of field, as well as the sharpness of an image.
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- You will want to open your aperture as wide as possible in low-light situations.
- When you are in conditions of extreme brightness you can close your aperture to reduce light entering.
What is an F-STOP and how does it relate to aperture?
The aperture size is expressed in f-stops. This ratio represents the focal distance and the diameter of aperture opening. The f-stop is a measure of how wide or narrow the aperture opening is.
It’s not clear how F-stops relate to aperture size.
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- The smaller the F-stop, the bigger the aperture, which allows more light into the camera.
- The smaller the aperture, the larger the F-stop. This allows less light into the camera.