I can understand how aperture affects depth of field.
Aperture Review...
Aperture is the hole through enters the camera. The size of the hole can be changed to control how much light is let into the camera. Smaller aperture= less light, larger aperture = more light!
Think of it like your pupil. When its dark out, your pupils open very wide to let more light in to help you see better. When you are outside in the bright sun, your pupils gets smaller, to block some of the light out!
The size of the aperture is referred to as an "f-stop." Larger f-stop number (like f/22) designate a smaller aperture. Smaller f-stop numbers (like f/2.8) designate a wider aperture.
Your f-stop control:
-Exposure (how much light is let into your camera)
-Depth of Field (the area of your photo that is in focus)
Think of it like your pupil. When its dark out, your pupils open very wide to let more light in to help you see better. When you are outside in the bright sun, your pupils gets smaller, to block some of the light out!
The size of the aperture is referred to as an "f-stop." Larger f-stop number (like f/22) designate a smaller aperture. Smaller f-stop numbers (like f/2.8) designate a wider aperture.
Your f-stop control:
-Exposure (how much light is let into your camera)
-Depth of Field (the area of your photo that is in focus)
What is Depth of Field?
Depth of field refers to the range or distance in a photo that appears sharp and in focus.
3 Ways to Affect Depth of Field:
To Create Shallow Depth of Field:
TO Create Large Depth of Field:
- Large aperture (small f-stop number)
- Longer focal length (zoom-in)
- Camera closer to subject, subject farther from background.
TO Create Large Depth of Field:
- Small aperture (large f-stop number)
- Shorter focal length (zoom-out)
- Camera farther away from subject, subject closer to background.
What Exposure Mode Should I Use?
When Depth of Field is most important to you, and you want to select your aperture (and let your camera do the rest), you should use Aperture Priority Exposure Mode. This is represented on your mode dial by "A" or "AV."
While you are in Av Mode, you can rotate your main dail (next to the shutter button) to quickly adjust your f-stop. You will see your f-stop value at the bottom of your viewfinder.
Remember, the lower the f-stop number (2.8) the LARGER your aperture and the SHALLOWER your depth of field.
The higher your f-stop number (22) the smaller your aperture and the wider your depth of field.
While you are in Av Mode, you can rotate your main dail (next to the shutter button) to quickly adjust your f-stop. You will see your f-stop value at the bottom of your viewfinder.
Remember, the lower the f-stop number (2.8) the LARGER your aperture and the SHALLOWER your depth of field.
The higher your f-stop number (22) the smaller your aperture and the wider your depth of field.
Depth of Field Assignment 1:
Set up a shot so that you have a subject in the foreground (close to you) and in the background (farther back). It can be two objects, to people or even one object or person that has a part of them/ it closer to the camera and part farther back in space (for example, a person holding their hands out towards the camera to frame their face). Just make sure that you can see both the foreground and background subjects at the same time.
You will take 3 photographs of your subjects.
You will take 3 photographs of your subjects.
- Shot 1: Use a small aperture (large f-stop #) to create a large depth of field. BOTH of your subjects should be in focus.
- Shot 2: Use a large aperture (small f-stop#) to create a shallow depth of field. ONLY the subject in the FOREGROUND is in focus. The background subject should be blurry.
- Shot 3: Use a large aperture (small f-stop #) to create a shallow depth of field. ONLY the subject in the BACKGROUND is in focus. The foreground subject should be blurry.