How to Take Better Pictures {Learning All About Aperture}

Are you ready to learn how to take better pictures? It’s time to learn all about aperture, so you can instantly take your photos to the next level!

Following is a fun Photography Tip and
guestpost by Aimee at Its Overflowing ~ enjoy!!

How to Take Better Pictures

Want to know How to Take Better Pictures? Aperture is going to be your new best friend!

Although there is a ton to learn to make my pictures professional looking, I already see a much improved result since I switched to a DSLR, even when I use the automatic setting. This perhaps is the reason I’ve dragged my feet about learning more. The reason my DSLR produces a less grainy photograph even in automatic is DSLR cameras have a greater image sensor then most point and shoot cameras.

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The image sensory is the mechanism inside a camera which converts the light pattern captured with each shot into signals that in turn, the camera converts into digital coding and this coding is saved on your memory card. The better scope of light allowed in, the less grainy your pictures will be. Because DSLRs have better mechanics, allowing more light to stream in, even as the pixels improve on point and shoots, they can’t keep up with the image quality of pictures on a DSLR. That’s not to say that point and shoots aren’t handy for some situations, but for portraits and photography you hope to frame, your best quality will come from a DSLR.

After several years of having my DSLR, I think it’s time for me to work towards great shots rather then just good shots. My Photographer’s (aka, my hubby) favorite feature on the DSLR camera is the f-stop, aka the aperture. He thinks this feature is what makes a photograph interesting and professional. In my words, the f-stop is what allows a subject to be in perfect sharp focus and everything in the background is blurred. How blurry the outside is can be controlled by the f-stop. The higher you set your f-stop, the larger the area in focus will be. The lower you set your f-stop, the smaller the area in focus will be.

In application, if you’re taking a scenery picture you will want your f-stop to be at a higher setting. Probably somewhere between f/8 and f/11. If you’re taking a close up picture with a 50mm lens (my photographer’s favorite lens), you’ll want to lower your f-stop, perhaps as low as f/1.8, this low setting will give you the blurred background effect.

In addition, the f-stop also plays an important role in your photography’s lighting. The lower the f-stop, the more light is let in AND the higher the f-stop, the less light is let in. On a really sunny day or in a well lit room you are able to set your f-stop high, (f/22 being the highest, but my Photographer never goes that high) and in a low lit area, a lower f-stop may be more conducive.

Are you ready to play around with your f-stop? Grab your camera manual and find where your f-stop button is located on your camera and start using it! Do you see in the above picture that my camera is set to f/4?! It’s that easy! I know I’m not the only one holding an expensive camera and not using it for all it’s worth. Let’s work on learning our cameras and start producing some high quality pictures!!!

f/5.6 Aperture = Greater Depth of Field

f/1.8 Aperture = Smaller Depth of Field

As you’ll see, there’s more blur in the background.

f/1.8 – CLOSE UP – When you’re using a smaller depth, it’s also impressive when the focused subject is zoomed in more, like this…

*Eventually my Photographer’s going to teach all my friends a perfectly easy system to keep your pictures stored on your computer – simple and organized!!! It’ll put your mind at ease!!!

Aimee at Its Overflowing is mommy to three sweet B’s and married to her handsome Photographer. They’re remodeling their 1950s original rancher and would love for you to join them in their DIY adventures. Along the way, Aimee’s learning to operate the manual settings on her DSLR from her Photographer (her hubby) and sharing those tips with you! {you can also join Aimee on Facebook!}

Now… I’ve got even more fun Photo Tips and Tricks, and Photo Gift Ideas I know you’re gonna love.

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