Aperture priority is a great way to take those newly acquired photography skills to the next level without the pressure of any ‘technical’ settings…
I get it, as a budding photographer chomping at the lens cap, you’re looking to capture that striking and, dare I say it, ‘perfect image’. Well, one of the best ways of achieving that great shot is by jumping out of ‘Auto’ and making good use of Aperture Priority mode on whatever camera you happen to find yourself behind.
What Is Aperture?
It’s a good question and to appreciate what the benefits are by using Aperture Priority, it’s pretty important to understand what aperture is. In simple terms, aperture is much like your eye, or in photography, the lens that’s on the camera. It controls the amount of light that enters the sensor within the camera and is measured by what’s often called ‘f-stops’. Now, here’s where some newbies (and even more established shooters) often look confused… lower f-stops such as f/1.4 and f/2.8 are wider openings which allow more light into the camera; much like your eye wide open. Higher numbers such as f/16 and f/22 allow less light due to a smaller opening.
Depth Of Field
One of the main pros of shooting in Aperture Priority is the ease of use with which you can gain depth of field, which refers to the the distance between the nearest and the farthest elements that are in acceptably sharp focus.
A low f-stop (wide aperture), such as f/2.8 will sharpen the subject and create a shallow depth of field. This is the ‘creamy’ blurring or ‘bokeh’ that’s often used in portrait photography to make the subject pop or standout against a smooth blurred backdrop. It can be used in many creative ways and brings a professional look to the image.
The opposite can be said of a high f-stop (f/16) which gives a much greater depth of field and therefore retains a sharpness throughout the image captured. Landscape photographers will generally utilise higher f-stops to gain detail when capturing nature shots.
Using Aperture Priority
Firstly, you’ll need to get into Aperture Priority mode by turning your PSAM or mode dial (below) to ‘A’ (or ‘Av’ on Canon cameras). With some Leica and Fuji cameras that don’t have a PSAM dial, you can do this by turning the Shutter Speed dial to ‘Auto’.
By using Aperture Priority it’s much easier to get that much sought after depth of field when conditions change and lighting is varied. Simply adjust the aperture to what you wish to achieve and the camera will do the rest, adjusting your shutter speed to ensure exposure isn’t ‘over or under’ (too dark or too bright).
Street photographers often use this as conditions and light change regularly, meaning as the ‘shooter’, you can focus on important things such as composition (how the visual elements are arranged), rather than ‘twiddling and fiddling’. The end product should mean [after some careful scrutiny], you end up with some shots you’re entirely happy with.
Push The Boundaries
One of the main advantages of using Aperture Priority is that you can push the boundaries and experiment without the fear of complete failure. That said, we all capture those ‘what the hell’ shots!
Experiment and practice are your key to opening the ‘perfect shots door’. Crank the aperture wide and you’ll see how allowing too much light into your camera sensor can make or break a shot… much like your eyes wide open into bright sunlight. Have fun using a narrow aperture (f/12 f/16) and how this can bring your landscape photography to life.
In A Nutshell
While Aperture Priority is a fabulous way to gain control over depth of field, it’s important to practice and master your camera and understand its settings. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a complete novice, making use of Aperture Priority will, without doubt, enhance your photography skills.
Bonus tip: Tell a story with your shots!
Behind the Lens