Photographic Terminology

Photographic Terminology
Aperture
A hole built into the camera lens that allows light to pass through and
reach the film or digital chip. The hole or aperture size can be adjusted.
Aperture number is indicated by an f in front of a number e.g. f4, f5.6, f8,
f11, f16 and f22.
Aperture Priority (A or Av)
The exposure mode which allows the user to select the aperture whilest
the camera automatically selects a shutter speed to give correct exposure
Bracketing
To take several photographs of exactly the same scene, but each with a
different exposure.
Camera
A light-tight box, usually with a lens and some way of recording an
exposure to light.
Colour Balance
A setting on many digital cameras which corrects the image for the type
of light source, enabling colours to be rendered accurately.
Exposure
The total amount of light which reaches the film or digital chip. Exposure
is adjusted by changing the aperture &/or shutter speed.
Exposure Compensation
A control button on the camera that allows you to over or under expose
images often used in situations where the camera light meter is fooled
by difficult lighting conditions.
Exposure Mode
A setting on cameras which allows the exposure to be controlled in a
variety of ways.
Focal Length
A measure of the power of a lens how near or far it appears to make
the subject. Short focal length lenses are usually wide-angle lenses, long
focal length are usually telephoto.
Focus
An adjustment made either manually (Manual Focus) or automatically
(Auto Focus) so that the image appears sharp.
Format Card
This function on a digital camera deletes all the images on a memory
card.
Grain
Characteristic of high ISO film or digital camera setting in which the image
appears to be composed of small irregular dots or grains.
Inkjet Printer
A type of printer which uses tiny dots of ink to produce high quality B/W
or colour prints.
1
ISO
The sensitivity of the film or digital chip to light. The higher the ISO the
greater the sensitivity to light (and the less light that is needed to
successfully record an image).
Image Quality
An adjustable setting on many digital cameras that allows the image to be
recorded in high, low or medium quality. Low quality images are only
suitable to output as small prints.
JPEG
A compressed image file format which is ideal for general purpose
photography.
Laser Printer
A type of printer that produces black & white or colour prints, usually of
medium quality.
Manual Exposure Mode (M)
The exposure mode where the camera user can choose both aperture and
shutter speed.
Menu
A button on most digital cameras, which allows the user to access various
camera settings.
Over-Exposed
An image where too much light has hit the film or digital chip.
Program Exposure Mode (P)
The camera automatically chooses aperture and shutter speed to give
correct exposure.
Resolution
A measure of the detail which can be recorded in an image. High
resolution gives lots of detail. Low resolution images have less detail and
can appear grainy or pixelated. Resolution is often measured in dpi (dots
per inch) or ppi (pixels per inch).
Shutter
A device in a camera which opens and closes to let in light for a specific
amount of time.
Shutter Speed
The length of time that the camera shutter opens for, allowing light to
reach the film or digital chip. Measured in seconds or fractions of a
second. E.g. , , 1/125, 2, 4 etc.
Shutter Priority (S or Tv)
The exposure mode where the user selects the shutter speed and the
camera automatically selects the aperture to give correct exposure
Stop Motion
A technique in which objects are moved between taking photographs.
When viewed rapidly one after another this then creates the illusion of
movement.
2
Telephoto
A type of lens which brings the subject nearer (like looking through a
telescope). Telephoto lenses usually have a long focal length.
Under-Exposed
An image where not enough light has reached the film or digital chip.
Wide Angle
A type of lens which gives a wide field of view but makes subjects appear
further away.
Wide angle lenses usually have a short focal length.
White Balance
See Colour Balance
Zoom Lens
A type of lens whose focal length can be changed (e.g. from wide angle to
telephoto).

Photographic Terminology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Photographic Terminology

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Photographic Terminology

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Photographic Terminology

You might also like