If you are interested in filming, you have likely heard the term “aperture” used. What even is aperture? How does aperture affect your image and the quality of your video? Here is a brief explanation of aperture, how it works, and how you can adjust it to create the ideal image for your video.
What does Aperture Do?
Aperture adjusts the amount of light exposure that is allowed through the lens of the camera. Opening it will allow more light in, which will logically brighten the image. Closing it will limit the amount of light that is allowed in, which will ultimately darken the image. This process is very similar to that of a human eye; the pupil adjusts to allow the appropriate amount of light to enter through the eye, producing the best possible image.
How Aperture is Denoted
Aperture is denoted by the letter “f” followed by a number. This is formatted in a fraction, such as f/2 or f/16. These work just like fractions do. The larger the denominator is, the smaller the number is, and less light will be allowed in.
How Aperture Affects your Image
The amount of light allowed in through the lens will certainly affect the brightness of your image. Aperture, however, also affects the depth of the field. This means that it can alter the overall blurriness of your background. A deeper field will be less blurry than a shallower one. The more light created by adjusting aperture, the blurrier the background will appear.
All of the techniques for increasing the brightness of your video have other impacts that may not result in the best image for your situation. Ultimately, it may be best to use aperture to adjust the depth of the field and simply add or remove exterior lighting to create the best possible visual effect for your video. To learn more about how to obtain the best video for your needs, contact our experts at Robin Hood Studios today!
