What Is Aperture or F Stop?
Understanding aperture or f stop is extremely important to shooting on manual mode. We touched on aperture in the How to Shoot on Manual Mode post but let’s explore it a little more. According to Wikipedia, aperture is a hole or an opening through which light travels.
Shooting “Wide Open”
Another thing to keep in mind about when people talk about aperture or f stops is they say they their aperture is “wide open” or a “narrow” or “smaller aperture”. When people say they are wide open or to “open up your aperture” they mean to lower your number. For example, if you are shooting at f3.5 and you open up your aperture you would change it to maybe f2.8 and if you want to shoot wide open you would change it to the lowest number possible depending on your lens.
How Your Lens Opens
Basically, the wider your aperture is the more light that will come in. This diagram helps you understand how the smaller number brings in more light and why people call it “wide open”. This shows you how open your lens is at each setting.
Creating Blurry Backgrounds
The thing I love most about setting my aperture is creating those blurry backgrounds that look so professional :O) Plus, if you are shooting in your house and have your aperture wide open it helps to hide the mess that may be in the background :O) That is one of my favorite tricks :O) Here are a few examples of what a picture will look like using different aperture settings. Notice how in the ones where my aperture was wider there is some great bokeh and as my aperture was more closed up you can see all the details in the background.
Here is another example for you (you know how much I love picture examples :O)
Did you notice in the first one there is a huge tree that is coming out of her head?? Nope! Thank you aperture!!
As if you didn’t have enough examples of the blurry backgrounds, I wanted to show you another example but with flowers :O)
Thanks to my friend, Trisha, for being such a great model :O)
Courtney Slazinik
@clickitupanotch
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At Click it Up a Notch you will find tips and tricks to improve your photos one click at a time. 
Twitter: Mitchell Cok
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Great examples! I’ve been telling lots of my friends about your blog…it is SO helpful! Thanks for starting it.
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks! I appreciate you spreading the word :O)
OK this helps a lot! I didn’t understand about the “wide open” thing.
And the tree-head is hilarious.
Twitter: littlekauaigirl
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LOVE these pics of Trisha! She looks like a model. I wish I had an adult to practice my photography on. haha.
Wow, there is another Amber!!!
I think changing the day and the theme is a great idea. I had no idea there were so many photo challenges out there, but I have learned there is far less participation on Friday’s. My Journey of Faith would probably be better if I would change the days.
did you get my email?
Stop, Janell, stop. You are always way cuter than me.
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this was extremely helpful! your blog has really helped me change the way i take pictures. thank you!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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That is wonderful to hear!!
Hi!! Just dropping a note to tell you I LOVE your blog, and I totally appreciate all the tips and tricks! I’m new at this, and I linked to you in my most recent post about shooting in Manual! Hope you check it out!!
Cheers.
http://gracelouisephotography.blogspot.com/2011/05/manual.html
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Will go check it out :O)
I love the different examples…I am a visual person, like most of us and this is very useful!
Thanks again
This was so awesome. I need help shooting inside I totally struggle with getting it right.. I’m shooting in aperture mode with a speed light but I just can’t get it. Help????
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Leann,
I wish I could help you but I have never shot in aperture mode or used a speed light. What lens are you using? Are you shooting with your lens wide open (lowest number). Low lighting inside is a challenge but the speed light should help you with your exposure. I would suggest setting your aperture as wide as it can go. Good luck! Sorry I’m not much help on this one!
Twitter: DavidaCarta
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Hi! I’m an Italian blogger and photographer. This is one of the best blog about photography that I found! It’s clear and well explained!
DcSutherland recently posted..Summer.
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Welcome! Thanks so much! Glad you found this post useful!
Thanks for the post. Has me wanting to learn to shoot in manual.You explain it so simple that I may be able to do some of this.
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks! I hope you do decide to shoot in manual mode! I promise you will love it!
Courtney recently posted..Photography Locations: Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places
Love you blog, i have been so addictive to all of your posts, keep up cheers to a wonderful work. And thanks for sharing with us all of your knowledge!!!!!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks so much!!
I have been practicing with wide open apertures (f/1.8, f/2.2) on a canon 50mm 1.8 lens but noticed that the subject in the pictures always seems “soft” when I use them. The model is in focus in comparison to the blurred background, but I have to bump up the clarity in post processing to make it look sharp. Am I missing something in terms of shutter speed or ISO that would help this problem?
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Mmm…are you choosing your focal point?? http://clickitupanotch.com/2010/09/changing-your-focal-point/ Is anything in your photo sharp? Just wondering if maybe the focal point is falling on something other than your subject. Is your shutter speed fast enough to get a sharp image? Around 1/125 or higher?? Feel free to send me a picture with the settings and I can look at it for you
Great post–the examples are so helpful. Thanks!!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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That is fantastic to hear
Thanks!