Shooting At F8
Posted by Katrina Kennedy on Jul 6, 2011 in Blog, Photography | 5 commentsIf you are like me, you find yourself with wide apertures. My camera often sits at f/1.4 or f/2.8 depending on the lens I’m using. Creamy backgrounds, bokehed lights. I find myself obsessed.
But then, from time to time, I shoot wide open and find myself frustrated with results. Part of one eye in focus. Nothing at all in focus in a noncreative way. Just not the result I was looking for.
Enter f/8.
Bryan Peterson in Understanding Exposure
I love the details you can grab without worry of only one body part in focus. It can tell a good story. Watch your shutter speed, shoot with a high ISO and take advantage of good light to take advantage of f/8. I wrote more about apertures at The Daily Digi.
What stories can you tell with f8?
I love these photos, Katrina! Love the reflection in the mirror. Very cool! Ian looks so determined in the running photo! This post is a good reminder to use f/8. Too often I stick to my favorite apertures.
Thanks Katrina!
Definitely a great reminder post, thanks Katrina! I once heard f/8 described as the photojournalist aperture – “f/8 and be there” being the secret to a good shot. Sometimes it just works!
I am going to start shooting more at f/8 when I’m outside with my kids. I use my Canon 70-200 mm f/4 (LOVE this lens!!) a lot, but I often keep it wide open or a stop narrower. Sometimes my action photos are blurry even with a fast enough shutter speed. You said in your class that a narrower aperture gives you more area to focus on for action, and that totally makes sense to me! This weekend….it’s gonna be f/8. Your last shot still has great bokeh.
Excellent Michelle! You’ll get that same bokeh on the 200mm end of your lens with lots of distance between your subject and the background.
Bryan Peterson’s book is the best. I was struggling a bit before I read his book Understanding Exposure. All beginning photographers should read it!