Photography is a passion for many people. It lets you capture fleeting moments and preserve them forever. It’s a precise art, but with a margin for manoeuvre that often makes all the difference. If you’re interested in photography, you’re an amateur and you want to learn the basics of this art, this article is especially for you. You’ll learn how to play with the tool to truly represent the creativity within you. The lexicon used may seem rather complicated, but its definition is accessible to everyone, even beginners.

What is aperture in photography?

To understand this concept, we must first assimilate that photography is the ability to leave a limited amount of light in the camera, on a light-sensitive surface. The aperture is the amount of light that enters the camera through an iris diaphragm system. The latter can be opened or closed to control opening. The unit of aperture measurement is the “F/”. Note that the smaller the number following the “F”, the larger the aperture. When the aperture is small, it doesn’t let much light through. When you take a photo with a large aperture, the depth of field is shallower and the area in focus smaller. The aperture is therefore very important for taking a sharp, clear photo.

What is shutter speed?

This is the period during which light enters the sensor. This duration has a significant impact on the sharpness of the photo. It is therefore essential to set this feature before taking the photo you so desire. It should be noted that to achieve the desired effects, you need to know the right shutter speed. Choosing a fast speed freezes the movement, while a slow speed blurs it. If the speed is too slow, the result is motion blur.

So it turns out that adjustments are essential before taking the photo, to get the desired result with the right angles.

If the photo you want to take has several planes, you can opt for a shallow depth of field to highlight a subject against a blurred background. Alternatively, for a wider field of focus, simply set the camera to a very deep setting.

All these tips will help you take the right photo to meet your expectations. Bear in mind that the above-mentioned features, namely shutter speed, aperture and depth, all have an impact on photo capture and results. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to it well in advance of your shot.

https://www.canon.fr/get-inspired/tips-and-techniques/photography-basics/