Blur
What is Aperature Anyway?
PHOTOGRAPHY
5/4/20261 min read
Aperture is what controls how much light comes into your camera. It’s measured in f-stops. The smaller the number, the more light gets in—and the blurrier your background can be. You might hear people call this “shooting wide open.” On the flip side, a higher f-stop keeps more of the image in focus.
If you’re going for that soft, blurry background, try using Aperture Priority mode (usually labeled AV). Set your f-stop as low as your lens allows. Every lens is a little different, but I tend to land somewhere between f/1.4 and f/2.8 when I want that look—though it always depends on the situation.
One thing to keep in mind: some lenses aren’t at their sharpest at the lowest f-stop. It’s worth taking a few shots at different settings and comparing them later. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting home, loading your photos, and realizing none of them are quite sharp enough—I’ve definitely been there.
