Aperture is a fundamental aspect of photography, directly influencing exposure and depth of field. It's one of the key components of the exposure triangle, which consists of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Understanding how aperture works and how it interacts with other settings will give you greater creative control over your photographs, whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer.
In this guide, we will explore the intricacies of aperture, how it affects your photos, and how you can use it to create stunning visual effects. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to use aperture like a pro, allowing you to make informed decisions based on different lighting conditions and creative goals.
What Is Aperture?
At its core, aperture refers to the opening in a camera lens that allows light to reach the camera’s sensor or film. The size of the aperture directly determines how much light enters the lens, which impacts the exposure of your image. The larger the aperture, the more light enters the camera, while a smaller aperture lets in less light.
Aperture is adjustable on most lenses, which allows photographers to control the amount of light reaching the sensor. This adaptability is essential in different lighting conditions, enabling you to capture well-exposed images regardless of whether you're shooting in bright sunlight or dimly lit interiors.
The principle behind aperture can be compared to the pupil of the human eye. When you're in a brightly lit environment, your pupils constrict to limit the amount of light entering, whereas, in low light, your pupils dilate to capture as much light as possible. The same concept applies to camera apertures.
By adjusting the size of your aperture, you can control the exposure of your image and also manipulate creative elements such as depth of field. This control gives you the power to shape your photos in ways that go beyond just exposure.
Understanding the Exposure Triangle: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO
In photography, mastering the exposure triangle is one of the most important concepts you’ll need to understand. The exposure triangle consists of three key elements: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Together, these components work in harmony to create the perfect exposure for your photos. Each of these elements plays a unique role in determining the exposure, and understanding their relationship is crucial for achieving the desired brightness and mood in your images.
What is Exposure?
Exposure refers to the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor or film. It is one of the most critical factors in photography because it affects how light or dark your image will appear. Exposure is directly influenced by aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Getting the right exposure ensures that your image is neither too bright (overexposed) nor too dark (underexposed). An overexposed photo appears washed out, losing detail in the brightest parts, while an underexposed photo appears too dark, making it difficult to discern details in the shadows.
In the digital age, achieving proper exposure is essential because modern digital cameras rely on sensors that record the light hitting them to create the image. While film cameras also relied on exposure, digital sensors allow photographers to preview their exposure immediately and adjust settings accordingly.
Overexposure and Underexposure
Understanding the potential results of overexposure and underexposure helps you maintain control over your photographs. Overexposure occurs when too much light hits the sensor, resulting in an image that is too bright. This can lead to loss of detail in the lightest parts of the image, often causing highlights to become "blown out" where no detail remains. For example, a bright sky or light-colored clothing might appear as a solid white patch instead of showing texture or detail.
On the other hand, underexposure happens when insufficient light reaches the sensor. This makes the image appear dark and muddy. Shadows become indistinct, and details in darker areas are lost. In this case, adjusting the exposure by modifying the settings of the exposure triangle can correct the image.
The Relationship Between Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO
Each component of the exposure triangle works independently, but they are all interconnected. When you change one setting, it often requires adjusting the others to maintain a balanced exposure. Here’s how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO interact:
Aperture
The aperture is the opening in the lens that allows light to pass through to the camera sensor. Its size determines how much light enters the camera and impacts both the exposure and depth of field. A larger aperture (with a smaller f-number like f/1.4 or f/2.8) allows more light to enter, resulting in brighter images. A smaller aperture (with a higher f-number like f/16 or f/22) lets in less light, making the image darker. Additionally, the aperture setting impacts the depth of field, which refers to how much of the scene is in focus. A wide aperture creates a shallow depth of field, ideal for portraits with blurred backgrounds, while a narrow aperture results in a deeper depth of field, keeping more of the scene in focus, which is great for landscape shots.
Shutter Speed: A Key Element in Controlling Exposure and Motion
Shutter speed, one of the fundamental elements in the exposure triangle, plays a crucial role in determining how much light hits the camera sensor and how motion is captured in a photograph. It refers to the length of time the camera's shutter is open, allowing light to pass through the lens and expose the camera’s sensor or film. Shutter speed directly affects both the exposure and the motion in your images, and understanding its impact is vital for mastering photography.
What is Shutter Speed?
Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second, such as 1/1000, 1/500, 1/250, 1/60, and so on. The faster the shutter speed (for example, 1/1000 s), the less time the camera’s sensor is exposed to light, resulting in a darker image. Conversely, slower shutter speeds (for example, 1/30 s or 1/10 s) allow the camera’s sensor to be exposed to light for a longer period, which leads to a brighter image. The shutter speed you choose will depend on your creative intent and the specific conditions under which you're shooting.
Shutter speed is responsible for controlling the motion within your image. A fast shutter speed captures fast-moving subjects with clarity, freezing the action, while a slow shutter speed allows you to introduce motion blur, which can give a sense of movement. For example, when photographing a car in motion, a fast shutter speed will freeze the car, while a slower shutter speed will capture the motion of the wheels, creating a dynamic effect.
The Impact of Shutter Speed on Exposure
Shutter speed is one of the three elements in the exposure triangle, along with aperture and ISO. These three components work together to control the exposure of your image, which is the amount of light that reaches your camera’s sensor. Exposure is critical in ensuring that your photos are neither too bright (overexposed) nor too dark (underexposed).
When shooting in bright conditions, a fast shutter speed can help prevent overexposure by limiting the amount of light entering the camera. On the other hand, in low-light environments, a slower shutter speed allows more light to reach the sensor, helping to brighten the image. However, in low-light situations, slow shutter speeds can introduce challenges like motion blur, which may be unwanted if you are trying to capture sharp details.
Fast Shutter Speeds for Freezing Motion
Fast shutter speeds, such as 1/500 s or 1/1000 s, are excellent for freezing motion. When you use a fast shutter speed, the camera’s sensor is exposed to light for only a brief moment, ensuring that only a small fraction of movement occurs during the exposure. This results in crisp, sharp images where motion is captured with minimal blur.
Fast shutter speeds are essential for photographing fast-moving subjects, such as athletes, wildlife, or any other subject in motion. For example, capturing a football player sprinting across the field or a bird in flight requires a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion and capture the subject clearly. The faster the movement, the higher the shutter speed you'll need to avoid any blur.
However, the downside of using a fast shutter speed is that it limits the amount of light hitting the camera’s sensor. Therefore, in order to maintain a proper exposure, you may need to compensate by using a larger aperture or increasing the ISO.
Slow Shutter Speeds for Creative Effects
On the other hand, slower shutter speeds are often used for creative effects. A slow shutter speed allows light to hit the camera's sensor for a longer period of time, which can result in motion blur. This is particularly useful for capturing movement in a way that conveys energy or a sense of time passing.
For example, if you’re photographing a waterfall, a slow shutter speed (e.g., 1/2 s or 1/4 s) will create a soft, silky effect on the flowing water, blurring the motion and adding a dreamy quality to the image. Similarly, slow shutter speeds can be used in nighttime photography to capture the light trails from passing cars, creating a sense of movement and dynamism in an otherwise still scene.
The challenge with slow shutter speeds is that they are more susceptible to camera shake, which can blur the entire image. To avoid this, photographers often use a tripod to stabilize the camera or increase the shutter speed slightly for sharpness while maintaining the desired exposure.
The Trade-Off Between Shutter Speed and Aperture
Shutter speed and aperture work together to control the exposure of your image. The faster the shutter speed, the less light is allowed into the camera, which may require you to adjust the aperture to let in more light. For example, if you want to use a fast shutter speed, such as 1/1000 s, to capture motion, you may need to open up the aperture (use a lower f-stop like f/2.8) to allow more light to enter, compensating for the shorter exposure time.
On the flip side, when you use a slower shutter speed, such as 1/30 s, the camera is exposed to light for a longer period, which could potentially lead to overexposure. In this case, you might need to use a smaller aperture (higher f-stop like f/16) to reduce the amount of light entering the lens and avoid overexposing the image.
The key to balancing shutter speed and aperture lies in understanding how these two settings influence one another. With practice, you’ll learn how to adjust both elements based on the lighting conditions and the type of shot you’re aiming for.
ISO: Sensitivity to Light
ISO is the third component in the exposure triangle. It refers to the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor to light. A low ISO setting (e.g., ISO 100 or 200) is best for bright conditions, as it provides the highest image quality and minimizes noise. In low-light situations, however, you may need to increase the ISO (e.g., ISO 800 or higher) to make the sensor more sensitive to light. The tradeoff with higher ISO settings is that they introduce noise, which can reduce the overall quality of the image.
ISO works in conjunction with shutter speed and aperture to ensure proper exposure. When you adjust the aperture or shutter speed, you may need to change the ISO to compensate for the new settings and maintain a balanced exposure. For example, if you decide to use a fast shutter speed to freeze motion in low-light conditions, you can increase the ISO to compensate for the lack of light reaching the sensor.
Achieving the Perfect Exposure with Aperture: A Comprehensive Guide
Aperture is one of the most essential aspects of photography and plays a pivotal role in achieving the perfect exposure. The aperture setting allows you to control the amount of light that enters the camera, which directly influences the overall brightness of the image. By adjusting the size of the aperture, photographers can creatively manipulate exposure, achieving various effects in different lighting conditions.
When understanding aperture, it’s important to consider how it interacts with the other two elements of the exposure triangle—shutter speed and ISO. Balancing these three settings is key to capturing images with accurate exposure, allowing you to express the intended mood and aesthetic of your photographs. In this article, we’ll explore how to use aperture to achieve the perfect exposure in various lighting conditions, along with tips for maximizing your creative potential.
The Role of Aperture in Exposure
Aperture is essentially the opening in the lens through which light passes to reach the camera’s sensor or film. The size of this opening, measured in f-stops, directly determines how much light reaches the sensor. A wide aperture (represented by a low f-stop number such as f/1.4) allows more light to pass through, making the image brighter. On the other hand, a smaller aperture (represented by a higher f-stop number such as f/16 or f/22) restricts the amount of light entering the camera, resulting in a darker exposure.
The aperture setting, therefore, plays a crucial role in controlling exposure. By adjusting the aperture, photographers can adapt to various lighting conditions, whether shooting in bright daylight or low-light environments. Aperture also influences depth of field (DOF), which determines how much of the image is in focus. A shallow depth of field isolates the subject, creating a blurred background, while a deep depth of field keeps both foreground and background elements sharp.
Understanding Aperture and Its Effect on Exposure
To achieve the perfect exposure, you must carefully consider how aperture interacts with shutter speed and ISO. Exposure is the overall brightness or darkness of the image, which is determined by the amount of light hitting the sensor. When the aperture is set appropriately, it helps to balance the exposure, ensuring the image is neither overexposed (too bright) nor underexposed (too dark).
Aperture in Bright Lighting Conditions
In bright lighting conditions, there is an abundance of natural light, so the goal is to limit the amount of light entering the camera to avoid overexposure. This can be achieved by using a smaller aperture. A smaller aperture (with a higher f-stop number, such as f/11 or f/16) reduces the size of the opening in the lens, allowing less light to hit the sensor. This helps prevent the image from becoming too bright and washed out.
In bright conditions, it’s important to pair a smaller aperture with a lower ISO setting. A low ISO setting (such as ISO 100 or 200) minimizes digital noise and ensures the image remains clean and sharp. You may also need to adjust your shutter speed to achieve the desired exposure. For example, in bright daylight, a fast shutter speed (such as 1/500 s or 1/1000 s) can be used to further limit the exposure time and prevent overexposure.
Aperture in Low-Light Conditions
In low-light conditions, such as shooting indoors or during the evening, there is less available light to properly expose the image. To compensate for this, you’ll need to use a wider aperture (a lower f-stop number, such as f/2.8 or f/1.4). A wide aperture allows more light to pass through, ensuring that the camera sensor receives enough light to achieve a well-exposed image.
While a larger aperture can help you gather more light, it’s important to keep in mind that it also affects the depth of field. A wide aperture creates a shallow depth of field, which can be ideal for portraits where you want the subject to stand out against a blurred background. However, in situations where you need more of the scene to be in focus, you may need to adjust the aperture to a slightly smaller setting.
When shooting in low light, you may also need to increase the ISO to make the sensor more sensitive to light. However, increasing ISO can introduce noise or grain in your image, so it’s important to strike a balance between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. If you’re shooting in low light with a wide aperture and a higher ISO, it’s essential to keep the shutter speed in check to avoid camera shake and motion blur.
Experimenting with Aperture for Creative Control
Mastering aperture settings isn’t just about achieving the correct exposure; it’s also about gaining creative control over your images. Aperture allows you to manipulate the depth of field, influencing how much of your image is in focus. This creative effect can significantly impact the mood and style of your photograph.
Controlling Depth of Field
Depth of field (DOF) refers to the area of the image that is in focus. A shallow depth of field isolates the subject from the background, creating a pleasing bokeh effect that blurs the surrounding elements. This is often used in portrait photography to focus attention on the subject while blurring out distracting backgrounds.
To achieve a shallow depth of field, use a wide aperture (such as f/1.4 or f/2.8). This allows only a small area of the image to be in focus, while the rest of the scene appears blurred. A wide aperture is perfect for highlighting a subject or emphasizing a specific detail within the frame.
On the other hand, a deep depth of field keeps the foreground, middle ground, and background all in focus. This effect is ideal for landscape and architectural photography, where you want to capture the entire scene with sharp detail. To achieve a deep depth of field, use a smaller aperture (such as f/8, f/11, or f/16), which increases the area of focus.
Using Aperture for Bokeh Effects
Bokeh refers to the aesthetically pleasing blur in the background of an image, which is often achieved with a wide aperture. When photographing portraits, flowers, or any subject where you want to isolate the main focal point, a wide aperture helps you create beautiful bokeh effects that give the photo a soft, dreamy look.
The size and shape of the bokeh depend on the aperture blades in the lens. Lenses with rounded aperture blades tend to produce a smoother, more pleasing bokeh, while lenses with straight aperture blades may create a more geometric blur. Experimenting with aperture settings allows you to explore various bokeh effects and enhance the visual appeal of your photos.
Understanding the F-Stop Scale and Choosing the Right Aperture
The f-stop scale is used to measure aperture size, with smaller numbers corresponding to wider apertures and larger numbers corresponding to smaller apertures. The f-stop number represents the ratio of the lens's focal length to the diameter of the aperture. For example, an f/2 aperture on a 50mm lens means the diameter of the aperture is 25mm (50mm divided by 2).
As the f-stop number increases, the aperture size decreases, allowing less light to pass through the lens. Common f-stop numbers include f/1.4, f/2.8, f/5.6, f/8, and f/16. Each time you decrease the f-stop number (e.g., from f/8 to f/5.6), the aperture doubles in size, letting in more light.
The f-stop scale is logarithmic, meaning that each full stop change (e.g., from f/2 to f/2.8) halves or doubles the amount of light entering the lens. This allows you to make precise adjustments to exposure, especially when you need to balance aperture with shutter speed and ISO.
How Aperture Affects Lenses and Photography Styles
The type of lens you use can also impact how aperture behaves. Prime lenses, for example, often offer wider maximum apertures (such as f/1.4 or f/1.8), allowing for greater control over depth of field and light gathering. Prime lenses are popular for portrait photography, where a shallow depth of field and a soft, blurred background are desirable.
Zoom lenses, on the other hand, may have variable apertures, meaning the maximum aperture size changes as you zoom in or out. For instance, a 24-70mm zoom lens might have a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at 24mm but a smaller maximum aperture (e.g., f/5.6) at 70mm. Zoom lenses are versatile for a range of photography styles, from landscapes to action shots, but they may offer less control over depth of field compared to prime lenses.
Aperture and Depth of Field
One of the most powerful ways to use aperture is to control depth of field (DOF), which refers to the zone of the photo that appears in focus. Aperture is the primary tool for controlling depth of field, and understanding how it works will allow you to achieve specific effects, such as creating a blurred background or keeping everything sharp from front to back.
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Shallow Depth of Field: A wide aperture (low f-stop number like f/1.4 or f/2) results in a shallow depth of field, where the subject is in focus while the background and foreground are blurred. This effect is commonly used in portrait photography to isolate the subject and create a soft, aesthetically pleasing bokeh effect.
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Deep Depth of Field: A narrow aperture (high f-stop number like f/11 or f/16) produces a deep depth of field, meaning more of the scene, from foreground to background, will be in focus. This is ideal for landscape photography, where you want to keep both the foreground and background sharp.
The F-Stop Scale: Understanding Aperture Sizes in Photography
Aperture is one of the most fundamental aspects of photography, and understanding how it works is key to mastering your camera settings. The aperture, which controls how much light enters the camera, is measured using the f-stop scale. The f-stop scale is a mathematical formula that helps photographers understand how much light will be allowed through the lens to hit the camera sensor, thereby influencing exposure.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the f-stop scale, how aperture sizes are measured, and why this is crucial for capturing the perfect image. Understanding the f-stop scale is not just about knowing numbers; it’s about mastering how aperture affects your depth of field, exposure, and overall creative control over your photographs.
What is the F-Stop Scale?
The f-stop scale is a measurement that determines the size of the aperture opening in a camera lens. The aperture is the circular opening within the lens that adjusts to control the amount of light passing through to the sensor. The size of this opening directly influences how bright or dark an image appears, as well as how much of the scene will be in focus.
The f-stop number is the ratio of the lens's focal length to the diameter of the aperture opening. In simpler terms, the f-stop number tells you how wide or narrow the aperture is, which in turn tells you how much light is allowed into the camera. The general rule is:
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A smaller f-stop number (e.g., f/1.4 or f/2) means a larger aperture. This allows more light to pass through the lens to the sensor, making the image brighter.
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A larger f-stop number (e.g., f/16 or f/22) means a smaller aperture. This restricts the amount of light passing through the lens, which results in a darker image.
The Relationship Between F-Stop Numbers and Aperture Size
One of the most important aspects to grasp when working with the f-stop scale is the inverse relationship between the f-stop number and aperture size. As the f-stop number increases, the size of the aperture decreases. This can be counterintuitive for many beginner photographers, as one might assume that higher numbers equate to larger apertures.
For example:
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An f/1.4 aperture is very wide, allowing a lot of light to pass through the lens.
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An f/5.6 aperture is much smaller and lets in significantly less light.
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An f/22 aperture is very small and limits the amount of light, allowing for deep focus but also resulting in darker images.
This inverse relationship between aperture size and f-stop number is crucial to understanding how aperture affects exposure and depth of field.
How the F-Stop Scale Affects Exposure
Exposure refers to the amount of light that hits the camera’s sensor or film. Exposure is determined by three main elements: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. When using the f-stop scale, the size of the aperture directly impacts how much light enters the camera, thus influencing exposure.
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Larger apertures (lower f-stop numbers) let in more light, which is ideal for low-light conditions or situations where you need a bright image, such as shooting indoors or at night.
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Smaller apertures (higher f-stop numbers) allow less light to enter the camera, making them useful for bright conditions like daylight or to avoid overexposing an image.
By adjusting the aperture size and using the correct f-stop, you can balance the exposure and avoid images that are too bright (overexposed) or too dark (underexposed).
How the F-Stop Scale Affects Depth of Field
Depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest points in a scene that appear in focus. The f-stop scale is also crucial in determining the depth of field.
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Wide apertures (lower f-stop numbers), such as f/1.4 or f/2.8, produce a shallow depth of field. This means only a small portion of the image will be in focus, while the background and foreground will be blurred. This effect is highly desirable for portrait photography, where the subject is in sharp focus and the background is artistically blurred (also known as bokeh).
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Narrow apertures (higher f-stop numbers), such as f/16 or f/22, produce a deep depth of field, where more of the scene is in focus. This is ideal for landscape photography, where you want both the foreground and background to appear sharp.
By adjusting the f-stop, you have creative control over how much of your image is in focus, allowing you to use depth of field as a storytelling tool in your compositions.
The F-Stop Scale and Its Impact on Lens Performance
When it comes to lenses, the f-stop scale helps determine their performance. Some lenses, particularly prime lenses, offer wider apertures, which can be very useful in various photographic scenarios.
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Prime Lenses: These lenses have a fixed focal length, meaning they don’t zoom. However, they tend to offer much wider apertures, such as f/1.4 or f/1.8. These lenses are highly favored by portrait photographers because of their ability to create a shallow depth of field and perform well in low-light conditions.
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Zoom Lenses: Zoom lenses, on the other hand, typically have variable apertures, such as f/3.5-5.6. This means the aperture size changes depending on the focal length you choose (i.e., the zoom setting). For example, when you zoom in, the maximum aperture might reduce from f/3.5 to f/5.6, which can affect your exposure. These lenses offer more versatility but often don’t perform as well in low light or at their longer focal lengths.
Some modern lenses, however, offer a fixed aperture across the entire zoom range. These lenses are often labeled with f-stop values such as f/2.8, and they allow photographers to maintain the same exposure level regardless of zoom adjustments.
Third-Stop Aperture Adjustments
Some newer lenses feature third-stop increments on the f-stop scale, offering more fine-grained control over aperture size. This allows for more precise adjustments to the amount of light entering the lens, providing photographers with better control over exposure and depth of field.
For example, with a traditional f-stop scale, you would typically adjust the aperture in full stops, such as f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, and so on. With third-stop adjustments, you could make changes like f/2.2, f/2.8, f/3.2, f/3.5, offering more nuanced control over light and focus.
The Relationship Between F-Stop and Lens Focal Length
The f-stop number is not just about the aperture size itself; it is also influenced by the focal length of the lens. The focal length refers to the distance between the lens’s optical center and the sensor when the lens is focused at infinity. The relationship between aperture size and focal length determines how much light is captured.
For example, a 50mm lens with an aperture of f/2 will have a different light-gathering ability than a 200mm lens with the same f-stop. While both lenses have the same f-stop, the aperture size (the physical opening) will be larger on the 50mm lens. This is due to the differences in focal length, which impacts the actual diameter of the aperture opening.
Using the F-Stop Scale for Effective Exposure Control
Using the f-stop scale effectively allows photographers to control exposure, depth of field, and the overall aesthetic of their images. By understanding the relationship between the f-stop number, aperture size, and lens focal length, you can achieve a balanced exposure and create striking compositions that reflect your creative vision.
When shooting in different lighting conditions, it’s essential to adjust the aperture size to control how much light enters the lens. A wide aperture is perfect for low-light environments, while a smaller aperture is ideal for bright conditions. Similarly, adjusting the aperture allows you to manipulate the depth of field, helping to isolate your subject or ensure that everything in the frame is in focus.
Aperture and Lenses: The Difference Between Prime and Zoom Lenses
Different lenses offer different aperture characteristics:
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Prime Lenses: A prime lens has a fixed focal length and typically offers a wider aperture (e.g., f/1.4 or f/1.8). These lenses are preferred by many photographers for their ability to achieve a shallow depth of field and perform well in low-light conditions. Prime lenses are often favored in portrait and street photography.
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Zoom Lenses: Zoom lenses have a variable focal length (e.g., 24-70mm) and usually feature a smaller maximum aperture (e.g., f/2.8 at the widest setting). Zoom lenses are versatile, allowing you to change the focal length, but they may offer less control over depth of field than prime lenses, especially as the focal length increases.
Using Aperture Creatively
Beyond exposure and depth of field, aperture can be used creatively to enhance the overall mood and atmosphere of your images. For example:
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In bright environments, you can use a small aperture (e.g., f/16) to increase depth of field and keep the entire scene in focus, which is great for capturing landscapes.
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In darker settings, a larger aperture (e.g., f/2.8) will allow more light into the camera, brightening the image without the need to increase ISO and introduce noise.
Aperture also plays a role in freezing motion or creating motion blur. By adjusting the aperture and combining it with a faster or slower shutter speed, you can achieve different artistic effects that make your photos more dynamic.
Conclusion: Mastering Aperture in Photography
Aperture is one of the most powerful tools in a photographer’s kit. It not only impacts exposure but also gives you creative control over the depth of field, allowing you to isolate subjects or capture everything in focus. By mastering aperture, you’ll be able to control the amount of light hitting your camera’s sensor and achieve the perfect exposure for any scene.
Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or action shots, aperture allows you to add a personal touch to your photos. Understanding how aperture works and how to adjust it based on the lighting and mood you want to create is essential for taking your photography to the next level. Practice and experimentation will help you fully understand the potential of aperture, so you can make informed decisions and craft stunning images every time you shoot.
