Shoot with Widest Aperture setting on your digital camera

-
Statistics indicate that Aperture Priority Mode is one of the most frequently used creative modes among photography enthusiasts, and rightfully so. However, an interesting question arises: How often do you really use your cameras widest aperture setting ?

A touch of pink
It is a well known fact Aperture Priority Mode (marked as Av on some cameras or A on others) is one of the most frequently used creative modes among digital photography enthusiasts, since it provides a direct control over depth of field (DOF), which is one of the most important compositional elements to consider when making a photo. Also the aperture directly controls the amount of light reaching the camera sensor (in conjunction with shutter speed and sensitivity). Consequently, lens capable of using wider aperture settings (lower f-stop number) such as f/1.4, f/2, and f/2.8 are considered higher quality lens, and more oriented towards a professional photography market, making them much more expensive than the smaller aperture ones (such as f/4, f/5.6 etc).

However, when doing some research for one of my photography articles, I have asked some of my friends and acquaintances which aperture setting do they use the most. Interestingly enough, neither one of them mentioned f/1.4, f/2, or f/2.8. That is a shame, especially since the lens are not being used to the maximum of their potential. If you consider from creativity perspective, when it comes to using wide apertures such as f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, less becomes more. Your creative choices do not revolve around what to include in the photo, but what to decide to take away. Due to the shallow DOF, wide aperture setting forces you to make creative choices and focus on the minimalism. You will have to get used to the fact that usually only your subject will be sharp, while everything else will be blurred. In the long run, you will be surprised by how this approach boost simplicity in photos. So our tip of the week is:

Shoot with wide aperture setting for the full week.

Let us know how it went. And feel free to publish your photos in our flickr group. Happy shooting

Comments

Anonymous said…
I confess that I am one of those who uses the Aperture Priority Mode of my camera quite often, and always sets the aperture somewhere between f/16 and f/32, depending on the lens I'm using.
The main reason I do this is because I shoot lots of macro and I like to have as much of the subject in focus as it is possible.
Your article has brought up an interesting perspective and I'm definitely going to try using the widest aperture of the lens I'm using.
I will add photos to the Flickr group pool.
April 12, 2010 at 4:07 PM

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

-
Image
If you are looking for a book that will be your introduction to digital photography, look no further. Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson has photography exposure explained in a simple, easy understandable way that will help you get familiar with digital photography basics in no time. I have recently borrowed from a colleague a book titled Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera , and although I have read some good reviews of it, I had my reservations. I thought to myself, here is yet another photography book with loads of information that will only overwhelm a potential photography beginner. I am happy to say I was completely wrong. Understanding Exposure is a book written specifically to suit beginner photography level , and to explain the mechanics of photo taking process (exposure), in a simple, non-threatening way. Digital Photography at this day and age is very much technical, and given the amount of books, websites and other tu...
Read more

Pentax K-5 Leaked

-
Image
New Pentax K-5 photo and specs leaked by the guys at Lenstip Check out their website: http://www.lenstip.com/ K-5 details : • $1699 US Body Only • $1999 AU Body Only • Magnesium body with plastic and rubber exterior, 80 weather seals. • Tempered glass top and rear LCD • 16.2mp Sony EXEMOR Sensor • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor • Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm • Weight 770g Focusing • Complete new AF system superior algorithms. • 18-point wide autofocus system (SAFOX IX+) • AF-Single • AF-Continuous • 4 Custom AF-C modes, auto, action, portrait, night • Manual focus Sensitivity • ISO standard : 200-12800 • Expanded ISO : 50 – 25,600 Movie mode • AVi (Motion JPEG) • 1920 x 1080 25p, 30p • 1280×720 25p, 30p • 640 x 480, 25p, 30p • Av, Sv, Tv and M modes for video. • External stereo mic jack. • Movie processing including Custom Image, Cross Process and selected Digital Filters Viewfinder • penta-prism • Hybrid VF utilizing translucent LCD to display focus po...
Read more