6 Aperture

Mastering Aperture: Creating Shallow and Deep Depth of Field

Aperture Priority mode (often denoted as “A” or “Av” on your DSLR’s mode dial) allows you to control the aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve a correct exposure. This mode is particularly useful when you want to control depth of field, which is the range of distance that appears acceptably sharp in an image. Let’s explore how to use aperture to create a shallow depth of field, achieve the bokeh effect, and create a deep depth of field. Bokeh is a word not often used outside of photography so let’s take a moment to define what it is:

The bokeh effect in photography refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, characterized by soft, pleasing circles of light. Achieved by using a wide aperture (low f-stop number) Bokeh enhances the visual appeal of a photograph by blurring the background while keeping the subject in sharp focus. This effect is particularly popular in portrait and nature photography, where it isolates the subject and creates a dreamy, artistic backdrop. The term “bokeh” comes from the Japanese word “boke,” meaning “blur” or “haze,” and is used to describe the beautiful, diffused spots of light that appear when background points of light are rendered out of focus.

Creating Shallow Depth of Field

A shallow depth of field is when only a small portion of the image is in focus, and the rest is blurred. This technique is excellent for isolating your subject from the background, making it perfect for portraiture or close-up shots like flowers.

Steps to Create Shallow Depth of Field:

1. Set Your Camera to Aperture Priority Mode: Turn the mode dial to “A” or “Av”.
2. Choose a Wide Aperture: Use a low f-stop number (e.g., f/2.8, f/1.8, or even f/1.4). A wide aperture allows more light to enter the lens, resulting in a shallower depth of field.
3. Focus on Your Subject: Use the autofocus point to focus on your subject, such as the flower. Ensure that the subject is the sharpest part of your image.
4. Compose Your Shot: Frame your subject with enough background to achieve the desired blur effect. The closer you are to the subject, the more pronounced the shallow depth of field will be.
5. Check Your Exposure: The camera will automatically adjust the shutter speed to balance the exposure. If the lighting conditions change, you might need to adjust the ISO to maintain a proper exposure.

Creating the Bokeh Effect

As defined above, Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image characterized by soft, pleasing circles of light. Some good examples of where to use it would be in photographing city lights or holiday decorations like Christmas lights. The bokeh effect can create a great backdrop for something like portraits and it can have all sorts of fun and creative uses in your imagemaking.

Steps to Create Bokeh Effect:

1. Set Your Camera to Aperture Priority Mode: Turn the mode dial to “A” or “Av”.
2. Choose a Wide Aperture: Select a low f-stop number (e.g., f/1.4, f/1.8, or f/2.8) to create a very shallow depth of field.
3. Focus on Your Subject: Focus on a nearby subject, ensuring that the background lights are out of focus. This could be a person, a decorative element, or even the lights themselves if you want abstract bokeh.
4. Compose Your Shot: Include distant light sources in the background. The further away the lights are, the more pronounced the bokeh effect will be.
5. Check Your Exposure: As with shallow depth of field, the camera will adjust the shutter speed to balance the exposure. Adjust ISO if necessary to maintain a proper exposure.

Practical Exercise: Shallow Depth of Field and Bokeh

To practice creating a shallow depth of field and achieving the bokeh effect, follow this exercise. This exercise is designed to be done both outdoors with natural light.

Objective: Capture a sharp image of a subject (it can be a person, lantern, clock) with a blurry background (shallow depth of field) and create a bokeh effect with lights in the background.

Equipment Needed:

• DSLR camera
• A fast lens with a wide aperture (e.g., 50mm f/1.8) works best but simply using the lowest f stop on your lens should result in some level of Bokeh.
• A tripod (optional for stability)
• A subject like a person or a prop
• City lights or Christmas lights for the bokeh effect

Steps:

1. Find Your Location: Choose an outdoor area with your subject or prop for the shallow depth of field exercise and an indoor or outdoor location with decorative lights for the bokeh effect.
2. Set Up Your Camera:
   • Switch to Aperture Priority mode (A or Av).
   • Set the aperture to f/1.8 or wider.
3. Bokeh Effect Exercise:
   • Focus on a the subject.
   • Get close to the subject to maximize the depth of field effect.
   • Compose your shot to include some background but keep the focus on the subject.
   • Take the shot and review the image to ensure the background is suitably blurred.

Tips for Success:

• Experiment with Distance: The closer you are to the subject and the further the background, the more pronounced the shallow depth of field and bokeh effect will be.
• Use Manual Focus: If autofocus struggles in low light, switch to manual focus to ensure the subject is sharp.
• Stabilize Your Camera: Use a tripod if necessary to keep the camera steady, especially in low light conditions.

By practicing these exercises, you’ll gain a better understanding of how to use aperture to control depth of field and create stunning bokeh effects. This skill will enhance your creative control and help you produce visually appealing images.

Mastering Aperture: Creating Deep Depth of Field

As with the last exercise, you will be using Aperture Priority mode (often denoted as “A” or “Av” on your DSLR’s mode dial), which allows you to control the aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve a correct exposure. This is ideal for creating a deep depth of field, such as in landscape photography, where you want the entire scene to be sharp and detailed.

Creating Deep Depth of Field

A deep depth of field is achieved by using a small aperture opening (high f-stop number), which increases the range of distance that appears sharp in the image. This technique is essential for landscape photography, architectural shots, and any situation where you want both the foreground and background to be in focus. Photo by Eric Demattos CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution Non Commercial ShareAlike)

Steps to Create Deep Depth of Field:

1. Set Your Camera to Aperture Priority Mode: Turn the mode dial to “A” or “Av”.
2. Choose a Narrow Aperture: Use a high f-stop number (e.g., f/11, f/16, or even f/22). A small aperture opening reduces the amount of light entering the lens, which increases the depth of field.
3. Compose Your Shot: Frame your scene to include interesting elements in both the foreground and background. Use the rule of thirds to create a balanced composition.
4. Focus: Focus about one-third into the scene to maximize depth of field. This technique, known as the hyperfocal distance, ensures that both near and far elements are sharp.
5. Check Your Exposure: The camera will automatically adjust the shutter speed to balance the exposure. If the lighting conditions change, you might need to adjust the ISO to maintain a proper exposure without causing camera shake.

Practical Exercise: Deep Depth of Field

To practice creating a deep depth of field, follow this exercise. This exercise is designed to be done outdoors in a scenic location, such as a park, beach, or mountain trail.

Objective: Capture a landscape image where both the foreground and background are in focus, showcasing the entire scene in sharp detail.

Equipment Needed:

• DSLR camera
• A lens with a variable aperture (e.g., 18-55mm kit lens or a wide-angle lens) works best but try this with any lens available to you
• A tripod (optional but recommended for stability)

Steps:

1. Find Your Location: Choose a scenic location with interesting elements in the foreground, middle ground, and background. Examples include a beach with rocks leading out to the sea, a park with a pathway and trees, or a mountain trail with varied terrain.
2. Set Up Your Camera:
   • Switch to Aperture Priority mode (A or Av).
   • Set the aperture to f/11 or higher (e.g., f/16, f/22).
3. Compose Your Shot:
   • Use the rule of thirds to place key elements within the frame.
   • Include foreground interest, such as rocks, flowers, or a leading path.
   • Ensure the background, such as mountains, trees, or the horizon, is also included.
4. Focus and Shoot:
   • Focus about one-third into the scene to achieve maximum depth of field.
   • Use live view if available to ensure critical focus throughout the scene.
   • Take the shot and review the image on your camera’s LCD screen.
5. Adjust if Necessary:
   • If parts of the scene are out of focus, try refocusing at different points or increasing the aperture to a higher f-stop number.
   • Ensure that the shutter speed is not too slow to avoid camera shake. Use a tripod if necessary.

Tips for Success:

• Use a Tripod: To avoid camera shake, especially in lower light conditions, use a tripod for stability.
• Check Your Histogram: Ensure a balanced exposure by checking your histogram. Adjust the exposure compensation if necessary.
• Shoot in Good Light: Early morning or late afternoon light (golden hour) often provides the best lighting conditions for landscape photography.

By practicing this exercise, you’ll learn how to use aperture to control depth of field and create stunning landscape images with sharp details from foreground to background. This skill is essential for capturing the beauty of expansive scenes and ensuring your images are crisp and clear.