Have you ever wondered what the “A” or “Av” mode setting on your digital camera is, or what you’re supposed to do with it? Let’s take a look at this feature, called Aperture Priority.

Aperture Priority is a shooting mode on some digital cameras that lets you manually choose the aperture value. The aperture value determines how much light is let in through the lens, by widening or narrowing the hole through which light enters the camera. In Auto mode this setting is established automatically by the camera, but there are times when you may want to adjust it yourself.

The most common reason for shooting in Aperture Priority mode is to control the depth of field. This means that you have more control over whether things in the background appear clear or blurry. You may want to control this for various reasons.

Making the background appear blurry puts more emphasis on the object that’s in focus. This is sometimes used in portraits to make the person(s) in the photo stand out more. It is also used in macro photography (e.g. detailed photos of flowers, insects, or other objects close up). To achieve this effect, the camera needs a wide aperture, which means the setting should be on a smaller number, such as 1.4, 2, etc.

Making the background clearer is useful when you want the details of the landscape or environment to be seen. It can also be used in an artistic way, such as making running water look more blurred. For this, the camera needs a narrow aperture, which means the setting should be on a larger number, such as 8, 11, etc.

The aperture is not the only setting that affects how your pictures will come out, though; another important setting is the shutter speed. In Aperture Priority mode, your camera will automatically select a shutter speed that compliments the aperture value you have selected, relative to the conditions that the camera detects. In order to control both the aperture and the shutter speed, you will need to shoot in Manual or a preset custom mode.

Now that you’ve learned a little more about Aperture Priority, do some experimenting! Try taking pictures of the same subject using different aperture values, then compare them. Learning how to adjust these settings will help you get the most out of your digital camera!