Must know photography terms explained
Learning photography can be overwhelming, especially with all those confusing photography terms everywhere. Stop letting all the jaron get the better of you, with todays 50+ photography terms undercovered and explained. No more headaches, just clarity on what you need to know.
AF Servo – AKA Continuous Focus.
This is a focus mode, most useful for keeping moving subjects in focus.
The size of the whole, opening of the lens in which the light travels through.
APS-C (APSC)
A term used to describe the size of the digital imaging sensors used in most compact DSLRs.
The proportional relationship between its width and its height of the image
Back Focus
Is a button used to separate the focus and shutter release. Allowing you to switch between continuous and single focus.
An area of the image that is so bright that it can’t hold any data or details.
An out of focus blur effect
Automaticing taking several photos at different exposure settings. A simplified and adjustable version of HDR.
This means that you control the shutter speed with your finger. It will remain open while you hold the button. It’s great for longer exposures.
Is the process of taking continuous photos by holding down the shutter button, most commonly used to in action photography.
Burst Rate
The Burst Rate of a camera is the number of consecutive images that it can shoot before the buffer is full.
Camera Shake
When you accidentally shake the camera resulting in a blurry image resulting from a slow shutter speed.
Chromatic Aberration
AKA colour fringing, is when the wavelengths of colour are focused on at different positions.
Clipped
Is the loss of data or detail in an image due to extreme blacks|shadows or white |highlights.
Compression
Is the process of background elements appearing larger than they are, occurring mainly in longer focal lengths.
All light holds colour. Low colour temperature is warmer while high colour temperatures cooler and more blue.
Crop Sensor / Crop Factor
Is the amount of the frame the sensor is cropping out. It’s measured by its Multipler.
Depth of field
Is the distance between the closest and farthest objects in the photos that appears in focus.
Digital vs Optical
This is in reference to the zoom method. Optical is the zoom ability of the lens, while digital is the image being enlarged and cropped. Optical zoom will always produce a better quality of image.
Dynamic Range
Is the difference between the darkest and lightest parts of the photo.
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File)
Is the additional information such as the metadata.
Is the amount of light that travels through the lens to the sensor or film.
Is used to alter the amount of light allowed in, making the image brighter or darker.
F-stop | Focal STOP
Is the ratio measurement of exposure. If you want to double the amount of light allowed through the aperture, you go to the next level on the f/scale.
The f/stop scale is as follows: f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22. https://youtu.be/KmNIouLByJQ
Fast Glass
Means a lens with a large aperture.
File format
Is the method of the saving photos that can be read using a computer of printer. Most common file formats for images are JPEG, GIF, TIFF, RAW, PNG, PSD.
Is the distance between the lens and the sensor when in focus, usually measured in mm.
Focus
The action of adjusting the distance between the lens and subject to make light rays converge to form a clear and sharply defined image of the subject.
Flash sync
Is the synchronisation of the shutter release and the firing of a flash.
JPEG
Most commonly used and supported image format, and the best formats for sharing.
GIF
Graphics Interchange Format are extremely compressed animated images. Great for social media, but that’s about it.
Grain | Noise
Is a texture of processing film due to particulars. Gain on the other hand in what you see at higher ISO’s. People tend to dislike noise and grain however, like many aspects of photography it has its place.
Are a graphical representation of the colours and tones of your photo. Wanna learn more about them, check out How to make good photos great
Hot shoe
Is a way of connecting other devices to your camera.
Image stabilization IS
Vibration reduction or anti shake technology is a family of features available on either your camera or your lens to help reduce camera shake.
International Standards Organization, a method of measuring light sensitivity of the film or sensor. The standard starting point is 100 and max out at various levels, however normally produce too much noise at this point.
Kelvin values is the numerical range for the colour temperature.
Lens Flare
Normally known as a bright light source that causes a star like, however there is a second type which is light a haze over the whole image. It’s caused by scattered light in the lens.
Long exposure
Refers to a technique of a longer shutter speed. Most commonly used for intentional blur or extreme low light situations such as the night sky.
Manual
Is when you take control of the camera settings, allowing you to control them manually rather than via the cameras computing.
Is the ability to choose how the camera accesses the light within the frame. Modes normally include spot metering, matrix/evaluative, or centred.
ND filter
Is a filter that allows you to block a certain amount of light (f-stops) through the lens, allowing you to do long exposures during daytime.
Nifty Fifty – 50mm prime lens.
The first Prime lens that I recommend you get. It’s cheap and very versatile.
Noise
See Grain.
Panning
It is a technique to keep your subject in focus while blurring your background, typically done horizontally.
PNG
A lossless image format, allowing for transparent elements, however are larger in size than JPEG.
Prime
Is a fixed focal length lens. They are normally a faster & sharper lens.
PSD
The Photoshop image format, allowing you to save all the individual layers. Best for saving the work process and allowing you to return
Raw
RAW files contain the maximum amount of data that your camera has captured. Allowing a greater depth of editing to occur, but at the cost of a significantly larger file.
The speed in a fraction of a second of which the shutter opens and shuts.
The button or remote that allows the shutter to activate.
SOOC – Straight out of camera.
Is a photography term for an unedited photo.
Stopping down
Stopping down refers to increasing the numerical f-stop number which decreases the size (diameter) of the aperture of a lens, resulting in less light entering the lens.
TIFF
Tagged-Image File Format (TIFF) contains a lot of information and is best reserved for archiving and retaining maximum information.
Time Lapse
The process of taking a sequence of photos over a period of time. Normally done on a tripod to guarantee the same perspective.
TTL (Through the lens)
A metering of the light through the lens.
View finder
Is where the photographer (you) look through to compose the image.
Vignetting
A reduction of brightness on the edges of the image.
WB is about finding a pure white, rather than a colour tinted
Wide open
Is the process of using your lens with the widest possible aperture. (f1.8, 2.8
Zoom
Increases the size of the subject, making it appear closer. This is determined by the increased focal length.
Have some photography terms you want to learn more about that’s not listed? Comment below and I’ll get back to you asap.
