About Photography: F-Stops & Lighting
The aperture of a camera lens refers to the opening that lets in light to the film or digital sensor. F-stops indicate the size of the aperture and can be adjusted by the photographer.
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Significance
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Understanding the relationship between f-stops and lighting is essential for any photographer who wants to customize the look of his photographs.
Features
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The higher the f-stop number, the smaller the hole becomes. For example, "stopping down" from f-8 to f-10 shrinks the aperture, while "opening up" from f-8 to f-5.6 widens the hole, letting in more light.
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Function
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Photographers use f-stops to balance aperture with shutter speed in the metering process. At faster shutter speeds, you need wider apertures (lower f-stops) to capture enough light.
Effects
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Shooting with a larger aperture (lower f-stop), at the same shutter speed, will create a brighter image.
Considerations
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F-stops also relate to an image's "depth of field"---how much of the photograph that is in focus. The higher the f-stop number, the more of the image that is in focus.
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