Presenting images with personality
Contact Joan (518) 346-4485
Contact Joan (518) 346-4485

A Bit About Aperture

Albany, NY wedding and event photographer     The aperture is the physical opening within your lens that allows light through to the sensor. The size of the opening  is measured In f stops. The largest opening has the smallest number and is 1.8. The smallest opening is f22 and that has the biggest number. It is very confusing!!

When choosing to purchase a lens, try to get the largest opening fstop such as 1.8 or 2.8. This is the better lens,  and it is always more expensive than a medium priced lens that has an fstop of f3.5 – f5.6.

Changing the aperture, the amount of light coming through, does change the way a photograph will look. With a wide opening of your lens such as 2.8, less area is in focus. With a small lens opening such as f16, you have more of the photo in focus. That is called focal length or depth of field. If you want the forefront and background out of focus, use f2.8. If you want the forefront and background to be more in focus, use f8, f11 or f16.

For landscapes, you want to have most everything in focus. Use f11, f16 or on a sunny day, use f22.

A rule of thumb is f8. A great average lens opening (aperture) to use for most photography such as portraits, weddings, and events if f8. That is the middle ground for lenses. This photo was taken at f8.

Joan’s studio is located in upstate NY, and she travels anywhere in the world to be a part of your world… Contact Joan Heffler Photography at joan@joanheffler.com or call (518) 346 – 4485 to speak with this professional for more information on portrait photography, corporate photography, branding photography, event photography, and wedding photography in Albany, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Troy, Saranac Lake, Lake George, Bolton Landing, Lake Placid, Syracuse, Upstate NY, Capital Region and/or Capital District, Tri-County Area, Upper Hudson Valley, Hudson Valley, Adirondacks, Berkshires, Western Massachusetts, Vermont, Northeastern New York and New York State.