APERTURES - F/STOPS 
The amount of light let into the camera ...
  • The aperture is a hole in the lens formed by a series of metal blades. These close down when the shutter release is tripped.
  • The size of the hole is known as an f/number or f/stop
                                                BRIGHT SCENE      ...           Use a small aperture
                                                DARK SCENE          ...           Use a large aperture

  • The aperture helps to determine how much of the picture comes out sharply focused and how much does not.
  • The zone of sharp focus is called the 'depth of field' and it is important to know how to control this.
  • The higher the f/stop, the greater the depth of field - eg:  the higher the f/stop the smaller the hole.


 For greater depth of field - close-up and background in focus ... landscapes
 Use a small aperture - i.e. f/16
 Much more of the scene will come out sharp
 f/22 = small aperture = great depth of field


 f/5.6 = medium aperture = focus on subject with small depth of field
​

 For shallow depth of field - close-up and background blurred ... portraits
 Use a large aperture - i.e. f/2
 The background will be out of focus
 f/1.8 = large aperture = subject focused