Photography 101 – What Does Aperture Mean in Photography?

Welcome to Photography 101! Today, we’re diving into one of the most essential concepts in photography: aperture. Ever wondered how photographers achieve those stunning blurry backgrounds or ensure everything in the frame is crystal clear? It all comes down to aperture. In this video, we’ll break down what aperture is, how it affects your photos, and how to use it to create the shots you’ve always dreamed of. Let’s get started!

These videos are from our Digital Photography 101 Course.

Part 1

This two-part tutorial comprehensively explains aperture and depth of field in photography. Part 1 defines aperture as the adjustable opening in the lens, controlled by the f-stop number: a smaller f-stop number (e.g., f/1.8) means a wider aperture, resulting in a shallow depth of field (blurred background). A larger f-stop number (e.g., f/22) means a smaller aperture, resulting in a deep depth of field (everything in focus).

Part 2

Part 2 demonstrates this principle through practical exercises. Using a Batman figure, the host shows how a shot at f/25 keeps the background sharp, while a shot at f/4.8 creates noticeable background blur (“bokeh”). To achieve an even stronger effect, a prime lens (e.g., 50mm f/1.8) is introduced, which allows for an extremely wide aperture, creating a “butter smooth” background. Finally, the concept of a premium zoom lens (like a 70-200mm f/2.8) is explained as a versatile but expensive tool that combines zoom capability with a wide aperture for professional background blur.

Time Stamps

Part 1: Theory

• 0:57 – Defines aperture as the adjustable hole inside the camera lens.
• 2:33 – Explains the inverse relationship: a smaller f-stop number (e.g., f/1.8) means a larger (wider) aperture opening.
• 5:08 – Introduces the goal: achieving a professional look by blurring the background.
• 6:45 – Uses a drawing to illustrate how aperture controls the “area in focus.”
• 7:31 – Establishes the core rule: Small f-stop = Small area in focus (blurred background). Large f-stop = Large area in focus (everything sharp).
• 9:41 – Introduces the correct term: Depth of Field (Shallow vs. Deep).

Part 2: Practical Demonstration

• 0:43 – First exercise: Takes a shot at f/25 (large f-stop), showing a sharp background (deep depth of field).
• 2:19 – Second exercise: Takes a shot at the lens’s minimum aperture (f/4.8), demonstrating a noticeably blurred background.
• 4:46 – Introduces the term “Bokeh” for the quality of the blurred background.
• 5:23 – Introduces the prime lens (e.g., 50mm f/1.8), explaining its key advantage: a much wider minimum aperture.
• 7:56 – Third exercise: Uses a prime lens at f/1.8 to create an extremely smooth, blurred background, showcasing the dramatic difference.
• 9:34 – Discusses premium zoom lenses (e.g., 70-200mm f/2.8), which offer both zoom flexibility and a wide aperture for blur, but at a high cost.