Think about what happens to your eyes when you have been sitting in a dark movie theatre in the middle of the day and exit the theatre through the side door that goes directly outside. You immediately squint your eyes because it is so bright, right? The aperture of the camera works in the same way your eyes work. (Well, I am hoping your eyes work because you might have a bit of a problem with photography if your eyes are not up to par).
The number one job of a camera is to gather light. This is accomplished by the aperture. It opens and closes to increase or decrease the amount of light that is allowed in the camera to create an image. The size of the aperture opening is represented by f/stops, i.e., f/2.8, f/8, f/16, etc. Okay, now pay attention here because this is where lots of people get confused: the larger the f/number, the smaller the aperture opening. It works in the same way as an iris of an eye (that's 
the colored part of the eye), except we don't manually adjust the iris of our eyes to let in less or more light. I will put in a plug here for READ YOUR MANUAL because a photographer should be in control of the camera, not the camera in control of the photographer. Your manual might refer to f/stop as 'aperture value'. Don't lose heart, it means the same.
the colored part of the eye), except we don't manually adjust the iris of our eyes to let in less or more light. I will put in a plug here for READ YOUR MANUAL because a photographer should be in control of the camera, not the camera in control of the photographer. Your manual might refer to f/stop as 'aperture value'. Don't lose heart, it means the same.
If you look at the yellow image to the right, you will see 8 standard f/numbers next to an aperture size. This is a good representation of the way light is allowed in the camera. FYI, the aperture is located in the lens, not the camera.
With this information, now would be a good time to go practice using the different aperture sizes. Take a notebook with you and write down the frame number, and the corresponding information about each image taken. It would be very beneficial to see the differences in aperture size if you were to take all your test shots of the same setting. For instance, you decide to practice on your flowers in your yard. Your notes might look like this:
Frame #
1--f/16 at 60 (shutter speed).
2--f/16 at 125
3--f/11 at 60
4--f/11 at 125
etc.
When you upload the images to your computer, you will see the difference of the f/stops in the outcome of the image.
Okay, this description makes sense to me. I read my manual and knew that the word "aperture" was mentioned, but I think the manual was written with the assumption that everyone would know all the terminology. I am spoiled, too, because my camera has a viewing setting that will tell me just what settings I use when I take a photograph, so that should make it easier, right? My concern is finding a good "control" when experimenting because of shifting clouds and changes in natural light. I am even noticing a difference in my pictures when taken on the auto settings because of those "variables." (Okay, most of my problem is I haven't tried to go off auto settings yet. I'm sort of indimidated by that idea, but these pointers will help, and I will now need to read the manual again now that I understand a little better. Thanks.)
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