The aperture is measured in f/stop which controls the amount of light that is let through the camera by changing the size of the lens. For example a low aperture, like f/2 would let a lot of light into the lens and give a shallow depth of field. Where as a high f/stop, like f/22 would let very little light into the camera and have a very deep depth of field.

What is Depth of Field ?

Depth of field, in its most basic definition, refers to the extent of an image that remains in focus. More technically, it can be described as the range within a photograph where objects are perceived as being “satisfactorily in focus” or exhibit a degree of “acceptable sharpness.” Depth of field can also be controlled by aperture.

Some of my photos:

Photo taken at f/2.8

At this aperture the subject (the plane) is completely in focus, whereas everything else is out of focus, this is good for portraits as it draws the views eye to the subject.

Photo taken at f/8

At this aperture the subject (the plane) is still completely in focus, however the background and foreground is mostly out of focus but not all of it which draws the views eye less to the plane and more so to other sections of the photo. This aperture provides a friendly depth of field, which helps photographers capture subjects with acceptable sharpness both closer to the camera and farther away.

Photo taken at f/22

At this aperture there isn’t a specific subject as the entire photo is in focus, this is good for wide shots of groups of people or large landscapes as it captures all the detail and doesn’t leave anything out.

Auto Vs Manual Focus

Autofocus is great for everyday photography, while manual focus is better for capturing close-ups and intricate details. However you have to use the focus ring at the end of the lens and make adjustments for each shot.

Focal Length

The focal length of a lens is the distance (typically measured in millimetres) from the centre of the lens to its focus point. This distance plays a key role in what you observe when taking pictures with a camera.

Ralph Eugene Meatyard

Meatyard was born in Normal, Illinois, and grew up in the adjacent town of Bloomington. Upon reaching the age of 18 during World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy; however, he did not see service abroad before the conclusion of the war. Following his military service, he enrolled at Williams College through the GI Bill, where he initially pursued pre-dentistry studies before ultimately training to become an optician.

Although Lexington was not a prominent hub for photography, Meatyard did not identify himself as a “Southern” or regional photographer. At the time of his passing, his work was gaining national recognition, being exhibited and collected by several esteemed museums and featured in various magazines. He showcased his work alongside notable photographers such as Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Minor White, Aaron Siskind, Harry Callahan, Robert Frank, and Eikoh Hosoe. By the late 1970s, his photographs were primarily displayed in exhibitions focused on ‘southern’ art, but they have since garnered renewed interest. His most recognized photography often depicted dolls and masks, as well as family, friends, and neighbors captured in deserted buildings or typical suburban backyards.

Meatyard used a large aperture with a very small depth of field in all of his photos. The photo below is an example of this.

Meatyards “Zen Twigs” photo.

Saul Leiter

Leiter was primarily a painter who ventured into the world of colour photography, uncovering its unique potential. Starting in the 1940s, he built an impressive collection of work that delves into colour harmonies. He often played with unconventional framing techniques like shop signs, umbrellas, curtains, car doors, and foggy windows to craft abstract scenes of everyday urban life. He loved using long lenses, which allowed him to stay unnoticed while also compressing space, creating interesting juxtapositions of objects and people. Many of his photos feature negative space, with large blurred areas that draw attention to specific details or vibrant pops of colour.

Photo by Saul Leiter

My photos

Selection process

My best photos

I used aperture in these photos to show a shallow and deep depth of field.

Photo taken at f/2.4

This photo is inspired by Meatyard.

Photo taken at f/5.6

This photo is inspired by Leiter.

Photo taken at f/12

This photo is inspired by Leiter.

Experimentations

Using various tools in Photoshop I created an abstract version, this editing helped me to understand developing much better and how to properly edit a photo.

Overall thoughts and evaluation

Personally I think this photoshoot went really well and I really liked the outcome of my final photos. Furthermore I really like the abstract version of my clock photo, not only is it an interesting photo, but it gave me a much greater understanding of photoshop.

Aperture – Control the amount of blur or sharpness around your subject.

In this image there is a wide Depth of Field giving a smaller lens opening. This means that the area of focus will be wider.

Settings

Shutter speed: 1/3

Aperture: 22

ISO setting: 400

In this image there is a narrow depth of field which will isolate your subject from the background.

Settings

Shutter speed: 1/180

Aperture: 2.8

ISO setting: 400

In this image the depth of field is short or narrow. Notice how the subject is sharper than the background.

Settings

Shutter speed: 1/30

Aperture: 6.7

ISO setting: 400

Focal length is the distance measured in millimetres between the point of convergence of your lens and the sensor or film recording the image.

depth of field is how much of your image is in focus. A wide depth of field would have the whole shot clear in camera however a shallow depth of field would focus in on one point and blur the background.

These photos where taken at Mont Orgueil Castle

controls the amount of light that enters through iris in the lens and is measured in f/stop , you can adjust this by changing said f/stops.

Depth of field is defined as what is in focus in front and behind the subject , shallow depth in field has limited things in focus often with a blurred background this requires f/stop of f/2 or f/4. Depth of field is defined by aperture the higher the number the more in focus an example of this would be f/16 or f/22.

As seen here the high aperture is f/2.8 meaning the depth of field in lower keeping less in focus

Aperture is the amount of light let into the camera using the hole at the back of the lens and making it wider or smaller.

We use the f[stops] to measure it. The higher the aperture equals the more in focus and the smaller the hole. Depth of field is what’s in focus in front and behind the subject. the lower the depth of field the higher the aperture and less s in focus. The higher the depth of field the smaller the aperture and more is in focus .

Shutter Speed: 1/180

Aperture: 2.8

IOS Setting: 800

Shutter speed 1/125

Aperture: 4.5

IOS Settings: 400

Shutter speed: 1/125

Aperture: 11

ISO setting: 400

Depth of field

Depth Of Field is the distance between the foreground object and background furthest object or infinity (eg: the horizon) which are “acceptably sharp”. Since our cameras cant fully focus on two objects at once we use “acceptable sharpness” however this measurement varies as it depends on an individuals eyesight as well as how large the screen or print the photo is displayed on is. Sensor size of the camera also effects depth of field and therefore what is considered “acceptably sharp”. Typically cameras with a larger depths of field have smaller sensors.

To create a shallower depth of field you can move closer to the subject or open up aperture by lowering f stop number and therefore letting more light in. The opposite is used to create a greater depth of field so you can either move away from your subject or close down the aperture by using a higher f stop number and allowing less light in.

Aperture – Aperture is how wide the hole in the back of the lens is, and it controls how much light is let in. It is measured in f-stops and the lower the number, the more light is let in.

Depth of Field – DOF is what’s in focus in front of or behind the main subject of the photo. Lower aperture (f2.8-f4) gives a shallow DOF (minimal focus) , higher aperture (f16-f22) gives a greater DOF (broader focus).

Focal Length – The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light; it is the inverse of the system’s optical power. A positive focal length indicates that a system converges light, while a negative focal length indicates that the system diverges light.

Canon Camera Simulator

Shutter Speed – 1/10 Aperture – f6.7 ISO – 100

The slower shutter speed shows the propellers fast movement, the mid aperture blurs the background and keeps the main subject in greater focus, the lower ISO lowers the photos exposure.

Shutter Speed – 1/60 Aperture – f4 ISO – 400

The slower shutter speed shows the propellers movement, the low-mid aperture blurs the background and keeps the foreground in greater focus, the slightly higher ISO makes the photos brighter.

Uta Barth

Uta Barth employs depth of field and focus in her work by using a wide aperture and capture nothing of her photos in focus. Her work is about vision and perception and to make people really think about what their looking at, by ensuring nothing is in focus.

This photo (Fields #23) is part of a series called ‘Fields’ , a sequel to the series ‘Ground’ , both of which portraying blurred and empty foregrounds. These works also portray motion as the movement of the photos shows motion and movement

Aperture is how much light is let in the camera. It is in the lens, it is measured in the f/stops

depth of field iswhat’s in focus, The smaller the aperture the smaller the depth of view, the larger the aperture the greater the depth of view, depth of field is what is in focus behind and in front of the main subjects

a narrow depth of field is f1.4-f 5.6 if i want everything in my shot i want to use f 22

shutter speed:1/3

aperture:22

ISO setting: 400

What are they?

The primary function of Aperture is to control the amount of light which is utilised by the camera by enlarging or minimising the size of the hole in the back of the lens via F/stops ( numbers which dictate the size of the hole or commonly known as the focal length of the lens). This typically ranges from f/1.8 -f/22.

Depth of field links in directly with aperture, it is recognised by the ability to manage things in focus. Usually a larger f/stop means there will be more things in focus because there is a smaller hole in the lens ( this is called a deep depth of field as the background/focal point and foreground are both in focus) , whereas typically a smaller f/stop setting and a larger hole in the lens ties in directly with a shallow depth of field meaning only a narrow area of the photograph will be in focus( the first thing the camera takes notice off, the foreground or the main focal point). creating an image with a blurred background where only the main object is in focus.

Small aperture / Larger f/stop = Deep depth of field + smaller focal length ( smaller hole) > More things in focus.

Large aperture / Smaller f/stop = Shallow depth of field = Larger focal length ( larger hole) > Less things in focus

Experimenting With Aperture

Here I am using the lowest aperture possible, which in return creates a image with a clear focal point ( the plane) and a blurred background.

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The image is fully unreadable when using a high aperture without changing the shutter speed, as they work interlinked and always rely on each over to create a aesthetically pleasing image.

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In order to fix this issue, I balanced out the shutter speed setting to match the aperture being high, they work in correlation to each over, when f/stop is increased, the shutter speed must slow down in order to create a clear image. Here the image has everything in focus, which represents how aperture works.

Experimenting With Aperture.

In order to achieve the effect of blurring the subject, I had to use a smaller aperture and higher f stop to be able to focus in on the background with a deep depth of field.

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In order to achieve a blurred background I had to use a high aperture and low f stop setting in order for the camera to utilise a shallow depth of field , to create this portrait like affect where the background is blurred and the subject is in focus.

Photographers who utilised aperture depth of field.

is a prominent contemporary photographer known for her explorations of perception and the act of seeing, particularly through her manipulation of aperture and depth of field. Her work often blurs the lines between representation and abstraction, inviting viewers to engage with the subtleties of light, focus, and space.

Barth’s photography frequently employs a shallow depth of field, which creates a sense of ambiguity and encourages viewers to question what they see. This technique can obscure details and shift attention, prompting an examination of how our perception is influenced by focus and blur. In pieces like her series “Ground,” she uses soft focus to emphasize the sensory experience of seeing, rather than merely documenting a subject.

Through her experiments with aperture, Barth highlights the temporal and spatial aspects of photography. By adjusting the settings on her camera, she plays with the viewer’s expectations and experiences, often leading to a more meditative engagement with the images.

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was a pioneering American photographer known for his vibrant colour work and innovative use of depth of field. Active primarily in the mid-20th century, Leiter’s photography is characterized by a poetic approach to street scenes and urban life, blending abstraction with the everyday.

Leiter often employed a shallow depth of field, which allowed him to create a sense of intimacy and immediacy in his images. By focusing on specific details while leaving other elements blurred, he drew attention to colour, light, and form, transforming mundane scenes into evocative compositions. His unique use of colour was ground-breaking at the time, capturing the atmosphere of New York City with a painterly sensibility.

His work also often features reflections, layers, and obstructions, such as windows or rain-soaked surfaces, which further enhance the feeling of depth and complexity. Leiter’s ability to blend focus and blur creates a dreamlike quality, inviting viewers to explore both the physical and emotional landscapes of his photographs.

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was an American photographer known for his enigmatic and often haunting imagery. Active primarily in the mid-20th century, Meatyard’s work is characterized by its exploration of themes such as identity, isolation, and the uncanny, often using masks and staged scenes to evoke a sense of mystery.

His approach to photography was deeply influenced by his background in philosophy and literature. Meatyard often created surreal, dreamlike compositions that challenge viewers’ perceptions of reality. He frequently employed shallow depth of field and unconventional framing, which contribute to the otherworldly quality of his work.

Meat yard’s use of masks in his photographs adds layers of meaning, inviting viewers to consider the nature of identity and the roles we play in society. His series often included family members and friends, blending personal narrative with broader themes of existence.

Personal Work inspired by Ralph Eugene Meat yard

I focused on capturing close-up shots of sticks, branches, and the intricate details of tree life. As I adjusted the aperture settings, I chose a wider opening to create a shallow depth of field.

This technique allowed me to keep my main subjects sharp and detailed, while the backgrounds faded into a soft blur. I loved how this made the textures of the plants and the unique shapes of the branches stand out., drawing the viewer’s eye directly to the beauty I found in those small, often overlooked elements of nature.

The blurred backgrounds created a peaceful, dreamy effect, adding a sense of calm to my shots. Making the textured details of the tree life truly stand out.

Focus points and focal length

The focal point is essentially the area of an image that draws the viewer’s attention first; it’s where I want to direct their gaze. Understanding how to choose and emphasize this point is crucial for effective composition.

Focal length, measured in millimetres, determines the lens’s angle of view and how much of the scene is captured. A shorter focal length, like 18mm, gives a wider perspective, which is great for landscapes or capturing more of a scene. Conversely, a longer focal length, such as 85mm or 200mm, allows me to zoom in on specific details, isolating subjects.

When I experiment with different focal lengths, I notice how they affect the depth of field. A longer focal length can produce a shallower depth of field, blurring the background and making my focal point stand out even more. This technique can really enhance the textures and details I want to highlight in my subjects, whether it’s the intricate patterns on a leaf or the roughness of tree bark.