In photography, "wide open" typically refers to shooting with a lens aperture that is set to its widest possible setting, allowing the most amount of light to enter the camera. When a lens is "wide open," the aperture is set to its lowest f-number, typically around f/1.8 or f/2.8 for many lenses. 

Shooting "wide open" has several advantages, such as allowing for faster shutter speeds in low-light situations and creating a shallow depth of field, which can be used to blur the background and draw attention to the subject. This technique is often used in portrait photography, where the shallow depth of field can create a pleasing and professional-looking image. 

However, shooting "wide open" also has some disadvantages, such as increased susceptibility to lens distortion and reduced sharpness at the edges of the frame. 

Achieving a successful image while shooting "wide open" requires careful consideration of factors such as focus, lighting, and composition, and may involve balancing the trade-offs between image quality and creative effect.