Sometimes it seems like the attention is always on wide open apertures with shallow depth of field, like f/1.2 and f/1.4. These apertures create a great look with a razor thin depth of field. But what about the smaller apertures? Apertures like f/11, f/16, and f/22 deserve more appreciation and use.
There are several good reasons to use small apertures as a photographer.
1. Deep depth of field: When you need maximum depth of field, small f/stops are the way to go. This is especially important for group photos where you need everyone’s faces to be sharp. Large landscapes and product shots also benefit from small apertures to achieve front to back sharpness.
2. Deliberate motion blur: Whether it’s a waterfall or a fast-moving sports subject, achieving motion blur requires small apertures for longer shutter speeds. This creates a beautiful, blurred effect in photos.
3. The sharpest apertures: Some apertures produce sharper photos than others, regardless of depth of field. Medium and small apertures in the middle of the range tend to be sharper than wide open apertures. So if you want crucial sharpness, stop down to a smaller aperture.
4. Mixing sun and strobe: Overpowering the sun with a powerful flash or strobe requires small apertures. This allows for special lighting effects that can only be achieved with strobe photography.
5. Special effects: Small apertures like f/16 and f/22 create starbursts from pinpoint light sources. This can be used for special effects and creating unique shapes with light sources in the background.