| Have you ever wondered why the shot that looked | | | | have your camera set on "P" or "Tv" thereby having |
| so good through the viewfinder just doesn't look | | | | it choose the aperture), that aperture may well be |
| right when you view it later? Odds are it is because | | | | set at f 8. As soon as you press the shutter |
| you are not in control of your camera, specifically | | | | button the lens "stops down" to f.8, (which you don't |
| your aperture. The aperture is one of the two | | | | see because the mirror has flipped up) and the |
| options for controlling the exposure. Aperture and | | | | picture is taken. |
| depth of field will be the focus of this piece about | | | | When you looked through the lens it is likely that |
| beginner photography tips. | | | | your subject matter was sharp and the background |
| Aperture refers to the size of the opening through | | | | pleasantly out of focus. But at F 8 that background |
| which the light can reach the film or sensor. The | | | | comes more into focus and your picture might not |
| wider the opening, diaphragm or hole, the more the | | | | look nearly as nice. |
| light and therefore the faster the shutter speed you | | | | If your camera has a depth of field preview button |
| can use. But, the aperture has a very important | | | | you can press that and preview the depth of field |
| creative aspect to it. The aperture also plays a | | | | before you shoot. The drawback is that the scene |
| huge role in the depth of field, the portion of your | | | | through the smaller aperture will be correspondingly |
| image that is in focus, or sharp. | | | | darker. If you don't have that option, you can at |
| The larger the hole (the lower the number of the | | | | least be aware of depth of field issues and check |
| aperture), the more shallow your depth of field will | | | | your LCD to see if you captured the look you |
| be. The smaller the hole, (the higher the number of | | | | wanted. |
| the aperture) the greater your depth of field is. | | | | Check your F-stop and see what you are actually |
| There are other factors that influence the depth of | | | | shooting at, and how that compares to what you are |
| field, including the focal length of your lens (wider | | | | seeing. It may be that you might actually want |
| lenses have a greater depth of field) and the zone of | | | | more depth of field. Then you would set you f |
| focus (the closer to infinity you have your focus the | | | | stop to as high a number (as small a hole) as possible |
| greater your depth of field will be). | | | | while maintaining a shutter speed you can effectively |
| When you look through your DSLR you are looking | | | | work with. |
| through what is known as a wide-open lens. That is, | | | | Key to getting images that consistently have the |
| you are seeing through the lens when it is at its | | | | look you want and expect is to understand your |
| largest hole, or aperture, so that the viewfinder will | | | | camera, how it functions and to be in control of the |
| be bright. If you have a 2.8 lens you will be looking | | | | camera rather than letting the camera be in control |
| through the lens at f2.8. | | | | of you. |
| If you are not in control of your aperture (if you | | | | |