F/11 and Be There: Compelling Photos with Context (VIDEO)

We often sing the praises of shooting at wide apertures to achieve soft, blurred backgrounds that accentuate the key element within the frame and guide a viewer’s eyes exactly where you want them to go. Pro Gil Kreslavsky takes a contrarian view in this interesting tutorial by demonstrating why he recommends stopping down your lens instead.

Gil is a notable Israeli photographer who specializes on travel, documentary and street photography. He’s also an experienced instructor whose popular YouTube channel shares practical insights, real-world tips, gear discussions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from his workshops and travels.

Here’s how he summarizes today’s eight-minute episode: “This video challenges the traditional view of photographic framing, and I argue that setting your aperture to f/11 is the crucial first step in building strong compositions.” His reason for stopping down can be described on one word: “Context.”

Gil admits that shooting wide open does isolate a key element and may create an effective effect in certain situations. As pleasing as the image may look, however, this familiar approach also “rips a subject out of the scene”—thereby compromising context with regard to whatever story you’re trying to tell.

In other words, all those potential compositional elements like lines, curves, and shapes become so blurred that they no longer strengthen the image. Of course all this depends on the specific task at hand, and sometimes a burred background is necessary for decluttering a busy shot.

But here’s Gil’s point: “If you make a habit of always shooting at wide apertures you’re missing out on an entire world of effective composition. Your missing the chance to create images that aren’t just pretty, but also very interesting.”

Put another way, some common habits, like the one we’ve been discussing, can result in all-to-common photos and actually stymie your creative growth. Gil digs into all the details and illustrates the thoughtful technique with a variety of eye-catching images.

Be sure to explore Gil’s instructional YouTube channel where you’ll discover other outside-the-box photography tips and techniques.

We also encourage you to check out our helpful beginners guide that explores the essence of high-contrast b&w photography and demonstrates everything you need to understand for capturing attention-grabbing monochrome images that transcend the norm.