Stop Shooting Wide Open

Summary

In this video, a photographer reflects on 18 years of shooting, revealing how a shift in lens aperture changed his approach to capturing images. He explores the evolution of his style from wide-open shots focused on lens character to a more mature appreciation for depth and layering achieved by closing down the aperture. Through practical comparisons of images taken at different apertures, he demonstrates how closing down to f8 enhances his still life photography, bringing more visual depth and cinematic quality. The photographer also shares insights from photo books that inspired this shift, urging viewers to experiment and evolve in their own photography.

Takeaways

• 😀 Aperture choice is crucial: shooting wide open (low f-stop) isn’t always ideal; stopping down (higher f-stop) can improve composition and depth.
• 😀 Wide apertures are best for isolating subjects, creating bokeh, and emphasizing lens character, especially in portraits and fashion photography.
• 😀 Stopping down allows the viewer's eye to explore the entire frame, enhancing the painterly and cinematic quality of still-life and Americana photography.
• 😀 Lens character from vintage lenses is valuable, but doesn’t require always shooting wide open; stopping down still retains some softness and charm.
• 😀 Hands-on experimentation with different apertures is essential to discover one’s personal photographic style.
• 😀 Inspiration should come from curated photo books and historical photographers rather than relying solely on social media platforms like Instagram.
• 😀 Iconic photographers, such as Alex Webb, demonstrate how composition, depth, and color influence viewer engagement.
• 😀 Film emulation presets in editing software like Capture One can help achieve a classic, filmic look and complement the aperture choices.
• 😀 Using a rangefinder camera like the Leica M11 encourages more thoughtful aperture decisions and unlocks new creative possibilities.
• 😀 Understanding how the brain perceives color, contrast, and focus helps photographers make intentional choices that guide viewer attention across the frame.
• 😀 Even casual or simple shots benefit from aperture experimentation; small adjustments can dramatically change the feel and story of an image.

Q & A

What was the main realization the photographer had about his work after 18 years?

He realized that shooting wide open all the time limited his ability to achieve the look he admired in Americana and still life photography, and that closing down the aperture could enhance depth, layering, and the overall composition of his images.

Why did the photographer prefer shooting wide open for fashion and portrait work?

He preferred shooting wide open to emphasize lens character, create bokeh, and isolate subjects, which helped him build a unique visual style in fashion and portrait photography.

What problem did he identify when shooting still life photography wide open?

When shooting still life wide open, the focus was too narrow, often isolating one subject and preventing the viewer’s eye from exploring the full scene, making the images less painterly and layered.

Which cameras and lenses did the photographer discuss using in the video?

He discussed using Leica M11 cameras along with the Taip Eureka 50mm f2 lens, highlighting its vintage character and sharpness even when shooting wide open.

How does closing down the aperture to f8 affect the photographs?

Closing down to f8 flattens the image slightly, brings more of the scene into focus, enhances depth and layering, and creates a more painterly, classic, and filmic look.

What role did photo books play in his inspiration?

Photo books like 'Photography and the American Road Trip' and Alex Webb's work inspired him by providing exposure to iconic compositions and color usage, helping him learn to focus on the whole scene rather than isolated subjects.

Why did the photographer emphasize getting off Instagram?

He suggested deleting Instagram from the phone and limiting exposure to social media to reduce distraction, comparison, and creative burnout, while encouraging inspiration from books and personal exploration.

How did the photographer adjust his editing workflow?

He used Capture One with his Rambler film emulation presets, adjusting exposure, contrast, levels, dehaze, and white balance to achieve a film-like, saturated, and textured look.

What lesson did he learn about subject isolation versus full scene composition?

He learned that isolating a subject with wide-open apertures works for portraits, but for Americana and street-style photography, closing down the aperture encourages viewers to analyze the full scene, resulting in more engaging and painterly images.

What practical advice did he give for photographers wanting to improve their work?

He advised experimenting with aperture, learning when to close down lenses instead of always shooting wide open, studying classic photography through photo books, and using film or film-emulation presets to achieve timeless looks.

How did using a rangefinder camera influence his photography?

Using a rangefinder like the Leica M11 encouraged him to rethink aperture choices, avoid over-reliance on NDs, and explore different compositional approaches, unlocking a new aesthetic he had been pursuing for years.

Why did he still value lens character even when closing down the aperture?

He valued vintage lens character because it adds softness, slight aberrations, and aesthetic uniqueness to images, even when stopped down, maintaining a balance between technical sharpness and artistic expression.