When using a high f stop for close-ups, what is primarily being achieved?

Using a high f-stop for close-ups primarily achieves greater depth of field in your images. This means that more of the scene, both in the foreground and background, will be in focus. A high f-stop value indicates a smaller aperture opening, which allows less light to enter the camera but increases the depth of field. This is particularly beneficial in close-up photography, where you want to keep both the subject and surrounding details sharp to provide context and enhance the overall composition.

In contrast to this, a lower f-stop would result in a shallower depth of field, where only a specific portion of the image is in focus and the background becomes more blurred. Higher f-stop settings are ideal for achieving clarity across multiple layers in a close-up shot, allowing the viewer to glean more information about the scene.