The Beginner Photography Podcast

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005: Learn the Exposure Triangle: Pt1 Aperture

EP: 005 Exposure Triangle pt1 : Aperture

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This is the first part of 4 episodes where we discuss the exposure triangle. Specifically in this episode the concept of aperture which is a hole in the lens through which light travels. They compare the concept to the human eye, explaining how the pupil expands and contracts based on the amount of light available.

The Big Ideas with Time stamps

  • 00:04:41 Control light with aperture.

  • 00:07:01 Limit light to control depth.

  • 00:13:01 Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO.

  • 00:20:06 No perfect exposure, use subjectivity.

  • 00:27:50 Experiment to learn aperture.

  • 00:34:07 Learn by experimenting.

  • 00:39:26 Practice to improve photography.

In todays episode you'll learn:

  • What Aperture means

  • How your lenses aperture can dramatically changes your photos

  • Where you can find your cameras aperture

  • How to best control the aperture

  • What the difference between aperture and f-stop

  • How the aperture relates to your eyes

  • The boring mathematical equation to figuring out your aperture

  • When you want to use a smaller aperture

  • The benefits of using a larger aperture

  • How to visualize how your len's aperture works

  • The 3 aspects of the exposure triangle

  • How Aperture affects your exposure

  • What a PERFECT exposure is

  • Why there is no right or wrong answer

  • You can't find your style in a book

  • The best way to learn how to use your aperture

  • How you can practice getting use to your cameras settings 

  • How the "Nifty Fifty" can grow your understanding immediately for just $100

We encourage you to put your camera put your camera into aperture priority mode (A for Nikon and AV for Canon) set you lens the the smallest aperture number your camera will allow you to. Shoot everything you can for an hour. Shoot things up close, shoot things far away, shoot everything in the middle. Once you're done, change your aperture to F8 and take all the same photos at the new aperture so when you put them on your computer you can see directly the differences in the photos.

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Control light with aperture.

The exposure triangle is an essential concept in photography, as it is the basis of controlling the light in a photograph. Aperture is one of the three components of the exposure triangle, and it is a critical element in determining the amount of light that is captured. Aperture is a hole in the lens that light passes through, and it is modeled after the human eye. The aperture is controlled by the iris, which expands and contracts to allow more or less light into the lens.

When the iris is contracted, the aperture is smaller, allowing less light to pass through. This is useful in bright conditions, such as when shooting outdoors in the middle of the day. When the iris is expanded, the aperture is larger, allowing more light to pass through. This is useful in low-light conditions, such as when shooting indoors or at night.

Aperture also affects the depth of field in a photograph. When the aperture is set to a smaller size, the depth of field is shallow, meaning that only the subject is in focus and the background is blurred. This is useful for creating a more dramatic effect in a photograph. When the aperture is set to a larger size, the depth of field is deep, meaning that both the subject and the background are in focus. This is useful for creating a more natural look in a photograph.

Aperture is a powerful tool for controlling the light in a photograph. It is important to understand how aperture works and how it affects the light in a photograph. By understanding the basics of aperture, photographers can create stunning photographs that capture the perfect amount of light.

Limit light to control depth.

Aperture is measured in “f-stops”, which are expressed as numbers like f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4, etc. The lower the f-stop number, the larger the aperture and the more light that is allowed to pass through the lens. Conversely, the higher the f-stop number, the smaller the aperture and the less light that is allowed to pass through the lens.

One of the most important uses of aperture is to control the depth of field in a photograph. Depth of field is the area of a photograph that is in focus. A shallow depth of field means that only a small area of the photograph is in focus, while a deep depth of field means that most of the photograph is in focus. Aperture can be used to control the depth of field in a photograph. A large aperture (low f-stop number) will create a shallow depth of field, while a small aperture (high f-stop number) will create a deep depth of field.

Using aperture to control the depth of field in a photograph is an important technique for photographers. By understanding how aperture works and how to use it to control the light in a photograph, photographers can create stunning photographs that capture the perfect amount of light. By limiting the light with aperture, photographers can control the depth of field in their photographs and create beautiful images.

Aperture, shutter speed, ISO.

Shutter speed is another important technique for photographers to understand. Shutter speed is the amount of time that the camera's shutter is open, allowing light to enter the camera. By controlling the shutter speed, photographers can create different effects in their photographs. Faster shutter speeds allow for sharper images and can be used to capture fast-moving subjects, while slower shutter speeds can create a sense of motion in a photograph.

ISO is the third aspect of the exposure triangle and is the measure of the camera's sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the camera will be to light. By adjusting the ISO, photographers can control the amount of light that is captured in their images. Higher ISO settings can be used in low-light situations, while lower ISO settings can be used to create a more natural looking image.

The exposure triangle is an essential concept for photographers to understand. By controlling the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, photographers can create stunning images that capture the perfect amount of light. Understanding how to use these three aspects of the exposure triangle will give photographers the ability to control the depth of field, motion, and light in their photographs.

No perfect exposure; subjective preference.

However, it is important to remember that there is no perfect exposure. While the exposure triangle provides photographers with the tools to create beautiful images, the final result is subjective. Each photographer will have their own preference for how they want their photos to look. For example, some photographers may prefer their photos to be darker and moodier, while others may prefer them to be brighter and more vibrant.

The same is true for fashion photography. Fashion photographers may choose to overexpose their images to draw attention to the subject, or they may choose to underexpose their images to create a more dramatic effect. Both of these techniques are technically wrong, but they may be more appealing to the eye.

Ultimately, the goal of photography is to create images that make you happy. As photographers, we should use the exposure triangle as a guide, but not be afraid to experiment and try new techniques. We should be willing to push the boundaries and create images that are unique and reflect our own personal style. No two photographers will ever have the same vision, and that is what makes photography so special. There is no perfect exposure, only subjective preference.

Experiment with aperture settings.

One of the most important elements of the exposure triangle is aperture. Aperture is the size of the hole in the lens that allows light to pass through to the camera’s sensor. Aperture settings will affect the amount of light that passes through the lens, as well as the depth of field. The depth of field is how much of the image is in focus. A larger aperture will result in a shallower depth of field, while a smaller aperture will result in a deeper depth of field.

Experimenting with aperture settings can be a great way to learn about the exposure triangle and how it affects the images you create. Start by setting your camera to aperture priority mode, and then set the aperture to the widest setting possible. If you have a 50mm lens, this will likely be 3.5 or 1.8. Now take pictures of everything! Take pictures of your coffee, your dog, your kids, utensils in your sink, and even a house down the street. Spend 10 minutes taking pictures at the widest aperture, then stop it down to f8 and take pictures of the same subjects. When you look at the photos on your computer, you will be able to see the difference that the aperture settings make.

The next step is to experiment with how close you can get to a subject and still get it in focus. With a 50mm lens, the closest you can get to a subject and still be confidently in focus is typically around 1.5 feet. If you get any closer than that, the background will start to blur out. With a 35mm lens, the closest you can get is usually around 1 foot. Experimenting with the focus distance will help you understand how the aperture settings affect the depth of field.

Experimenting with aperture settings can be a great way to learn about the exposure triangle and create unique images. Start by setting your camera to aperture priority mode and taking pictures of everything at the widest aperture. Then, take pictures of the same subjects at a smaller aperture. Finally, experiment with the focus distance to see how the aperture settings affect the depth of field. With practice, you will be able to create images that reflect your own personal style.

Explore, experiment, learn.

Exploring the world with a camera is a great way to learn about photography and yourself. Go out and take pictures of whatever interests you, whether it be landscapes, portraits, or street photography. Don't be afraid to take risks and try different techniques. You never know what kind of image you will capture. Exploring and experimenting with different camera settings will help you to become more confident in your photography.

Learning photography is a process, and it takes time, effort, and dedication. Don't be discouraged if you don't get the results you want right away. Keep practicing and experimenting, and you will eventually develop your own style. Learning photography is a journey, and it can be both rewarding and challenging. There is no right or wrong way to take a picture, so don't be afraid to explore and experiment. With practice, you will be able to create beautiful images that you will be proud of.

Practice to improve photography.

To get started, it is important to have the right equipment and settings. A good starting point is to download the free picture perfect camera settings cheat sheet from perfectcamera settings.com. This cheat sheet is full of personal and professional images from 10 plus types of photography, along with the camera settings used to capture the images. This can give you a good foundation for when you start taking photos.

After you have the right equipment, the next step is to practice. Take lots of photos and experiment with different settings to see what works best. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes - this is part of the learning process. It can be helpful to look at the work of other photographers to get inspiration and ideas. You can also try to recreate their images using your own settings. This will help you understand how different settings can affect the outcome of a photo.

Lastly, remember that practice makes perfect. The more you shoot today, the better of a photographer you will be tomorrow. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the results you want right away. Keep practicing and experimenting, and you will eventually develop your own style. With practice, you will be able to create beautiful images that you will be proud of.