How to Use Lens Aperture to Demonstrate Importance and Tell Stories


lens aperture stories

“like lovers do” captured by David Hobcote

You may wonder why the size of the aperture matters to you as a photographer, but be assured that it does. The size of your lens aperture determines the depth of field in your photographs.

And… it is the depth of field that will determine:

  1. where your viewer’s eye is drawn in your photograph, and
  2. whether or not your photograph is telling a story.


Aperture Size

Aperture is determined by the f-number on your camera, and there is an inverse relationship between the f-number and the size of your aperture. A small f-number (let’s say f/1.4) means that you are using a large, wide open aperture. A large f-number (let’s say f/22) means that your aperture is small and has a narrow diameter. So I will use the term “large aperture” to mean wide open, indicative of a small f-number and “small aperture” to mean narrow, not-so-wide open, indicative of a large f-number.


Depth of Field

So what is depth of field? The best way for me to explain is to try and get you to picture in your mind a row of parked cars in a parking lot. Walk to the end of the row of cars, kneel down and then look straight down the row. Imagine taking a photograph of this row capturing the rear end of the first to the very last car. The depth of field is the distance that everything is in focus both in front of and behind the focal point. Every photograph has some level of “depth” thanks to the third dimension in our world. Notice I said depth and not depth of field.

The amount of “depth” in your photograph depends on your camera angle. If you take a picture of a sunset while standing, there won’t be much depth in the image. If you take the same photograph lying down, the photograph will have much more depth with the presence of the pebbles and stones in the immediate foreground and the sun being distant over the horizon. Remember this distinction between depth and depth of field.

So how can you use depth of field to draw the viewer’s attention to a specific point in your photograph?


depth of field lenses

“my red hair” captured by Antonia Velichkova

There are many ways large apertures can be used creatively. In fact, Canon even makes f/1.4 prime lenses in their wide angle range because they know that professional photographers love large apertures. In wedding photography, professionals use 24mm and 35mm f/1.4 lenses with flash to blur out the beautiful background lighting and fill the dancing newlywed couple in the foreground. Large apertures work very well in candle-lit scenes. They are much loved by professional photographers.

How can depth of field tell a story in a picture?

This concept applies to landscape scenes where everything from front-to-back ought to be in sharp focus—there is no blurring going on. When everything is in sharp focus in the entire image, regardless of depth, the scene tells you a story about itself.


aperture for importance

“Munich” captured by Viktoria Eiböck


About the Author:
By Cee Dhinjan (dhinjan dot com). The author is a photography enthusiast and enjoys educating others.

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