Apertures differ but focus is same

Photo By Collen McGee | Doc Jargon, cutting through the jargon that is the U.S. Army.  

UNITED STATES

12.21.2023

Story by Collen McGee 

Fort Riley Public Affairs Office

Dear Doc Jargon,

I know most people write to you with questions about military terms. Today, I learned something about a military term, which was completely different from what I thought and wanted to share it with you and the readers out there.

I’m sort of a photography geek in my spare time. I love getting the perfect shot. I have learned to adjust my aperture to maximize the image as I capture it. I always thought when the guys were talking about opening up my aperture to gain understanding, they were talking about the adjustment on the camera and they meant it as a way to bring more data into my view. But I just learned the term really refers to the sights on a weapon and it originates from that.

Sincerely,

Aperture Wide Open


Dear Aperture,

What an interesting thought! I also never connected that phrase to the sights on a weapon, but I looked it up and you are sure right! An aperture sight is a lens-less sight and is usually made up of a hole to view through or a v-shaped notch. The closer you get to that sight, the wider your field of vision through that aperture — or opening.

How interesting that it is being used in the way you said. It does sort of mean the same thing - increase your visual data - through the lens or through the sights.

Thanks for the information,
Sincerely,
Doc Jargon

• Date Taken: 12.21.2023
• Date Posted: 12.20.2023 15:53
• Story ID: 460503
• Location: US