Photography Glossary

Photography comes with its own set of terms, acronyms, and technical jargon. This glossary covers 288+ essential terms to help you understand the language of photography. For more, see our photography terms cheatsheet guide. Click any term to learn more.

Jump to: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Z

A

• Achromatic / Apochromatic (APO) LensAn apochromatic (APO) lens is an optical design that corrects chromatic aberration across three or more wavelengths of light, typically red, green, and blue.
• AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing)Auto Exposure Bracketing, or AEB, is a camera feature that allows photographers to capture multiple images at different exposure levels.
• Aerial PhotographyIs photography made from an elevated vantage above the ground: aircraft, helicopters, balloons, kites, towers, and, since the mid-2010s, drones.
• AF TrackingAF Tracking (also called Continuous AF or AF-C/AI Servo) is an autofocus mode that continuously adjusts focus to follow a moving subject.
• AliasingIs a visual artifact that occurs when a digital camera sensor cannot accurately represent fine detail or repeating patterns in a scene.
• Ambient LightIs the existing light in a scene before any additional photographic lighting is added.
• ApertureAperture is the adjustable opening inside a lens that controls how much light reaches the sensor.
• Aperture Priority ModeAperture priority mode is the most popular shooting mode among experienced photographers, and for good reason.
• APS-CIs the most common crop sensor format, a size of image sensor smaller than a full 35mm frame and used in a huge range of mirrorless cameras and DSLRs.
• ArtifactsIn digital photography, an artifact is any unintended visual element in an image that was not present in the original scene.
• Aspect RatioAspect ratio is the relationship between the width and height of a photograph, written as two numbers such as 3:2 or 4:5.
• AsymmetryDescribes compositions where visual weight is intentionally distributed unevenly across the frame, creating dynamic balance through thoughtful positioning rather than mirroring.
• Auto ISOAuto ISO lets the camera choose the ISO for each shot, inside limits you set, while you keep control of aperture, shutter speed or both.
• Autofocus PointsAre specific areas within your camera’s viewfinder where the autofocus system can detect and lock focus on a subject.

B

• Back Button FocusFor photographers, mastering the basics of back button focusing can be a game-changer.
• BacklightingBacklighting means the main light is behind the subject and pointing toward the camera.
• BalanceColor balance and highlights are two of the most important aspects of photography and are essential for achieving the desired aesthetic.
• BandingAppears as visible stripes or steps in what should be smooth gradients—the sky transitioning from light to dark shows distinct horizontal bands rather than a seamless progression.
• Barn DoorsAre a four-flap accessory that attaches to the front of a continuous or strobed studio light, used to shape and flag the beam.
• Bayer FilterA Bayer filter is the color filter array (CFA) placed directly over the photosites on a digital camera’s image sensor.
• Beauty DishA beauty dish is a shallow, parabolic light modifier, typically 16 to 22 inches in diameter, that produces a focused yet soft light with crisp shadow falloff.
• BinningBinning is a process in digital photography that combines multiple pixels on a camera sensor into one “super pixel” to improve light sensitivity and reduce noise.
• Bit DepthRefers to the number of bits used to represent the color information for each pixel in a digital image.
• BitrateMeasures how much data flows per unit of time, typically expressed in megabits per second (Mbps).
• Black PointThe black point is the tonal value in an image that maps to pure black (RGB 0,0,0 in 8-bit).
• Blown HighlightsAre areas of a photograph where the brightness has exceeded the sensor’s maximum recording capacity, resulting in pure white pixels with no recoverable detail.
• Blue HourBlue hour is the period of twilight before sunrise and after sunset when the sky takes on a deep, saturated blue tone.
• BokehSee it side by side Bokeh comes from wide apertures and longer focal lengths.
• Bounce FlashBounce flash means turning the flash head away from the subject and firing it at a ceiling or wall, so the lit patch on that surface becomes the light source.
• BracketingBracketing is the habit of taking the same picture more than once with one setting deliberately changed each time, so you can choose the…
• BufferThe buffer is temporary high-speed memory inside your camera that temporarily stores images after capture and before they’re written to the memory card.
• Bulb ModeBulb mode, marked B on the mode dial or at the end of the shutter speed list, keeps the shutter open for as long as the shutter release is held down, rather than for a fixed duration.
• Burst Mode(also called continuous shooting mode) lets your camera fire multiple frames in rapid succession for as long as you hold the shutter button.

C

• C-StandA C-stand, short for Century stand, is a heavy-duty support stand used in photo and film studios to hold lights, flags, reflectors, diffusion frames, backgrounds, and props.
• Camera ShakeCamera shake is blur caused by the camera moving while the shutter is open.
• CatchlightA catchlight is the reflection of a light source visible in a subject’s eyes.
• Center-Weighted MeteringIs an exposure metering mode that averages brightness across the entire frame but biases the calculation heavily toward the center, typically the central 60 to 80 percent of the image area.
• ChimpingIs the practice of checking the back of the camera's LCD after every shot to review the image.
• Chromatic AberrationChromatic aberration is color fringing that appears along high-contrast edges because a lens cannot bring every wavelength of light to exactly the same point.
• Circle of ConfusionThe circle of confusion is a fundamental optical concept that determines how we perceive sharpness in photographs.
• ClippingIn photography occurs when areas of an image are so bright or so dark that they exceed the recording range of the sensor or file format.
• CMOS SensorA CMOS sensor (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is the image sensor technology that has replaced CCD in nearly every modern digital camera, from smartphones to medium format.
• Color CastA color cast is an unwanted, uniform tint across an image that shifts the overall color balance away from neutral.
• Color Depth, also called bit depth, determines how many distinct colors or tones a digital image can represent.
• Color GradingIs the creative process of adjusting colors to establish mood, enhance aesthetic coherence, or guide viewer emotion.
• Color NoiseManifests as random colored speckles—primarily red, green, and magenta pixels—scattered throughout an image, particularly in shadow areas and solid tones like skies.
• Color ProfileS define how numerical color values in an image file translate to actual colors you see on screen or in print.
• Color TemperatureIs a way of describing the color characteristics of light, measured in degrees Kelvin (K).
• Color TheoryIs the body of principles describing how colors interact visually and how viewers respond to them.
• Color WheelThe color wheel is a circular diagram organizing hues by their spectral relationships, used as a reference tool in painting, design, photography, and video.
• CompositionComposition Is Arrangement, Not Rules Composition is the arrangement of everything inside the frame relative to everything else: where the subject sits, what surrounds…
• Computational PhotographyEvery time you take a photo with a smartphone, your device captures not one image but several, then combines, aligns, and enhances them using sophisticated software before showing you the result.
• Continuous Autofocus (AF-C)Continuous Autofocus, often referred to as AF-C, is a focusing mode that allows your camera to maintain focus on a moving subject.
• Continuous LightingIs studio or location lighting that stays on throughout the exposure, as opposed to flash (strobed) lighting that fires a brief, high-intensity pulse synchronized to the shutter.
• Contrast Detection AutofocusContrast detection autofocus is one of two fundamental autofocus technologies used in digital cameras.
• Crop FactorUnderstanding Crop Factor in Photography Crop factor is an important concept for photographers to understand, as it directly affects the focal length of a lens and how an image will appear in a photo.
• Crop SensorA crop sensor is any image sensor smaller than the full-frame 36x24mm reference size derived from 35mm film.

D

• Demosaicing(also spelled demosaicking) is the computational process that turns the raw single-color samples from a camera sensor into a full-color image where every pixel has red, green, and blue values.
• DepthRefers to the perception of three-dimensional space within a two-dimensional image.
• Depth of FieldWhat Is Depth of Field?
• DiffractionLens diffraction is the softening of an image that happens when light bends slightly as it passes the edge of a small opening, in this case your camera’s aperture.
• Diffused LightIs a soft, even type of lighting that reduces harsh shadows and minimizes contrast.
• DiffuserA diffuser is any translucent material placed between a light source and subject to scatter and soften light, reducing contrast, minimizing harsh shadows, and creating more even, flattering illumination.
• Distortion (Barrel / Pincushion)Distortion is an optical aberration where a lens fails to render straight lines as straight.
• DNG (Digital Negative)Is Adobe’s openly published raw file format, introduced in 2004 as a universal standard that would remain readable indefinitely regardless of which camera manufacturer’s…
• Dodge and BurnDodging and burning are techniques for selectively lightening (dodging) or darkening (burning) specific areas of an image.
• Double ExposureDouble exposure photography is one of the most striking creative techniques available to photographers.
• DPI vs PPIPPI (pixels per inch) is how many of your image's pixels land on each inch of a print or screen.
• Dragging the ShutterIs a flash technique that combines a long shutter speed with a flash exposure, allowing the flash to freeze the subject while the open shutter records ambient light and motion in the background.
• DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex)A DSLR, short for digital single-lens reflex, is an interchangeable-lens camera that uses a hinged reflex mirror and an optical viewfinder to let you compose through the same lens that takes the picture.
• Dual Native ISOIs a sensor design that incorporates two separate analog amplification paths, each optimized for a different ISO range.
• Dynamic RangeWhat is Dynamic Range?

E

• Electronic ShutterAn electronic shutter exposes the sensor to light without any moving mechanical parts.
• EnlargeHow large can you print a photograph from a given camera or file?
• ETTR (Expose to the Right)Is a digital exposure technique where the photographer deliberately pushes the histogram as far to the right as possible without clipping the highlights, then pulls the exposure down in post-processing.
• Evaluative / Matrix MeteringMatrix metering (called evaluative metering by Canon, multi-pattern metering by Pentax, ESP metering by Olympus, and multi metering by Sony) is the default exposure metering mode on essentially every modern camera.
• EVF Lag(electronic viewfinder lag) is the brief delay between real-world action and what you see in the electronic viewfinder.
• EXIF / MetadataWhat is EXIF data?
• ExportExporting turns your edited master into a finished file built for one destination: a website, a phone screen, a print lab or a client.
• ExposureExposure is an essential aspect of taking good photographs.
• Exposure BlendingExposure blending is the technique of combining two or more photographs taken at different exposure levels into a single image that captures the full range of light in a scene.
• Exposure CompensationExposure compensation is the control marked +/- that tells the camera to make its automatic exposure brighter or darker than the meter suggests.
• Exposure TriangleThe exposure triangle is the relationship between three camera settings, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, that work together to control how bright or dark your photograph is.
• Extension TubeAn extension tube is a hollow spacer that mounts between the camera body and lens, increasing the distance from the lens’s rear element to…
• Eye Detection AFEye Detection AF, or Eye Detection Autofocus, is a game-changing feature in modern cameras that allows you to automatically focus on a subject’s eyes with precision.

F

• F-StopWhat Is An F-Stop?
• Fast Lens vs Slow Lens8.
• Field of View (FOV)Is the angular extent of a scene captured by a lens on a given sensor, expressed in degrees.
• Fill FlashFill flash is a small dose of flash added to a photograph that the existing light already exposes correctly.
• Fill LightA fill light is a secondary light source used to lighten the shadows created by the key (main) light, reducing the contrast between the lit and unlit sides of the subject.
• Film GrainIs the visible texture in a photographic image caused by the random distribution and size of silver halide crystals (or, in color film, the dye clouds developed from those crystals) embedded in the film emulsion.
• FiltersFilters modify the way colors are recorded onto film and the sensor.
• Fisheye LensA fisheye lens is an ultra-wide optic, typically 8mm to 16mm on a full-frame body, that produces extreme barrel distortion and a field of view approaching or exceeding 180 degrees.
• FlagA flag is an opaque panel used to block light from hitting a specific area of a scene.
• Flash And SlashThe Flash and Slash technique is a creative form of photography that combines the use of flash and light to capture stunningly unique images.
• Flash Sync SpeedIs the fastest shutter speed at which a camera can fully synchronize with a flash unit, ensuring the entire image sensor is exposed when the flash fires.
• Focal LengthWhat Focal Length Actually Measures Focal length is the distance, in millimeters, between the optical center of a lens and the camera's sensor when the lens is focused at infinity.
• Focal PlaneThe focal plane is the plane behind the lens at which the image forms sharply, coinciding with the surface of the sensor or film.
• Focus BreathingLearn what focus breathing is, why it occurs, and how to minimize its effects in photography and videography.
• Focus LimiterA Focus Limiter is a physical switch or setting on a lens that restricts the focus range, preventing the lens from searching the entire distance from minimum focus to infinity.
• Focus Modes (AF-S / One Shot)AF-S (Nikon, Sony) or One-Shot AF (Canon) is a single-shot autofocus mode that locks focus when you half-press the shutter button, then stops adjusting.
• Focus PeakingIs a real-time visual aid that highlights the areas of sharpest focus in your image with a colored overlay.
• Focus PullingFocus pulling is the deliberate shifting of focus from one subject to another while the shutter is open or while the camera is rolling.
• Focus Stacking
• Focus ThrowFocus Throw is the physical distance (measured in degrees of rotation) that a lens’s focus ring must turn to move from the minimum focusing distance (MFD) to infinity.
• Foreground, Midground, BackgroundForeground, midground and background are the three distance zones of a scene: what is near the camera, what sits in the middle distance, and what lies far away.
• FramingFraming is the compositional technique of using elements within a scene to create a visual border or window around your subject.
• Front Curtain SyncIs the default flash sync mode on virtually every camera, in which the flash fires the instant the first shutter curtain finishes opening.
• Full FrameDescribes a sensor measuring approximately 36x24mm, matching the size of a single frame of 35mm motion picture film as adapted for still cameras by Oskar Barnack at Leica in 1913.

G

• GammaControls the mathematical relationship between encoded pixel values and displayed brightness, particularly in the midtones.
• GelA gel is a thin, colored, translucent sheet placed over a light source to tint its output.
• GimbalA gimbal is a pivoted support that lets an object rotate freely about one or more axes, and in photography the word refers to…
• Global ShutterA global shutter exposes all pixels on the sensor simultaneously, rather than scanning line by line.
• GoboA gobo, short for go-between optic, is a cutout placed in front of a light to cast a patterned shadow into a scene.
• Golden HourGolden hour is a magical time for photographers.
• Golden RatioSome argue that the rule of thirds is an oversimplification of a more advanced mathematical equation known as the golden ratio (also known as the golden mean).
• Graduated ND FilterA graduated neutral density filter, commonly shortened to graduated ND, GND, or ND grad, is dark across one half and clear across the other, with a transition zone in between.
• Gray CardA gray card is a neutral 18% reflectance reference card used to set custom white balance and verify exposure.
• Grid (Lighting Modifier)A grid, in lighting terms, is a honeycomb-pattern attachment that fits over the front of a light source to narrow its beam angle, increase directionality, and reduce spill onto surrounding surfaces.
• Guide Number(GN) is a numerical rating system that indicates the power output of a camera flash unit.

H

• HalationIs the soft glow that surrounds bright highlights in a film image, caused by light passing through the emulsion, striking the film's backing or pressure plate, and scattering back through the emulsion from behind.
• Hand-Holding RuleThe hand-holding rule, also called the 1/focal length rule, is the traditional guideline that a sharp handheld shot requires a shutter speed equal to or faster than 1 divided by the lens focal length.
• Headroom / Lead RoomHeadroom and lead room are two closely related framing principles that govern how much empty space you leave around your subject in a photograph.
• HEIF / HEICHEIF is the High Efficiency Image File Format, a container for pictures standardised by the MPEG group.
• High Dynamic Range (HDR)High dynamic range photography is a technique for capturing scenes where the difference between the brightest highlights and darkest shadows exceeds what a single exposure can record.
• High Key / Low KeyHigh key and low key describe the overall tonal key of a photograph, not how well it is exposed.
• High-Speed Sync (HSS)High-speed sync (HSS) lets a flash work at shutter speeds faster than the camera's sync speed, which is usually 1/160 to 1/250 second.
• Highlight RecoveryIs the process of pulling detail back from overexposed regions of a raw file during editing, typically using the highlight slider in Lightroom, Capture One, ACR, or any equivalent raw processor.
• HistogramFree Photography Lesson: Reading Your Histogram It’s important to understand the histogram.
• Hot ShoeThe hot shoe is the mounting bracket on top of a camera designed to hold an external flash unit and other accessories.
• Hyperfocal DistanceHyperfocal distance is a powerful concept in photography that helps you achieve maximum depth of field, allowing everything from a certain point to infinity to appear in focus.
• HyperlapseA hyperlapse is a time-lapse sequence in which the camera moves between frames, usually over significant distances, producing an accelerated moving-camera shot rather than a fixed view of changing time.

I

• IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization)Compensates for camera shake by physically moving the camera’s sensor to counteract unwanted motion.
• Image CircleThe image circle is the circular projection of light that a lens casts onto the film plane or sensor.
• Incandescent / Tungsten LightingIncandescent lighting, also called tungsten lighting after the metal filament in the bulb, is the warm, orange-toned light produced by traditional household bulbs and many studio hot lights.
• Incident Light MeterAn incident light meter is a type of handheld light meter that measures the light falling onto a subject rather than the light reflecting from it.
• Infinity FocusIs the focus setting at which objects effectively infinitely far away, such as distant mountains, the horizon, or the stars, render sharp.
• InterpolationIs the process of generating new pixel values from existing ones, used whenever an image is resampled, enlarged, rotated, or demosaiced from sensor data.
• IntervalometerAn intervalometer is a timer that fires the camera's shutter automatically at set intervals, or holds it open for precise durations.
• Inverse Square LawThe Rule Itself The inverse square law states that the intensity of light from a point source falls off with the square of the distance from that source.
• ISOISO is the setting that controls how bright your camera renders a given amount of light.
• ISO InvarianceIs a sensor property describing how raising ISO in the camera produces essentially the same final image as raising the exposure of a lower-ISO raw file in post.

J

• JPEGJPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is the most widely used image file format in photography and on the web.
• JuxtapositionJuxtaposition in photography is one of those simple but powerful ideas that can change the way you see the world.

K

• KelvinIs the SI unit of absolute temperature, used in photography to describe the color temperature of a light source.
• Key LightThe key light is the dominant light source in a scene, defining the direction, quality, and color of illumination on the subject.
• Kit LensA kit lens is the lens bundled with a camera body at the time of purchase, typically a variable-aperture zoom like an 18-55mm on APS-C bodies or a 24-105mm on full-frame bodies.

L

• Leading LinesLeading lines are compositional elements that guide the viewer’s eye through a photograph toward the main subject or a focal point.
• LensPhotography: Different Photography Lenses If you have an advanced digital camera or film camera you probably have the ability to change your lenses.
• Lens ElementA lens element is a single piece of optical glass inside a lens, ground and polished to a precise curve and surface quality.
• Lens FlareLens flare is light from a bright source that does not follow the intended path through the lens.
• Lens HoodA lens hood is a short tube or petal-shaped shade that clips onto the front of a lens and keeps light from outside the picture off the front glass.
• Lens MountA lens mount is the mechanical and electronic interface between a camera body and an interchangeable lens.
• Lens SharpnessRefers to how clearly and crisply a lens can resolve fine details in an image.
• Light MeterA light meter is a device that measures the intensity of light in a scene and provides exposure settings to achieve a correct exposure.
• Light ModifierA light modifier is any device or material used to alter the quality, direction, color, or intensity of light from a source—whether flash, strobe, or continuous lighting.
• Light PaintingLight painting is one of the most creatively rewarding techniques in photography.
• Light TrailsTo photograph light trails, put the camera on a tripod above or beside a busy road at dusk, set ISO 100 and f/8 to…
• LineLine in photography is the use of lines to create visual interest and convey a message in an image.
• Live ViewIs a camera mode in which the sensor's output is displayed in real time on the rear LCD or in an electronic viewfinder, replacing or supplementing the optical viewfinder.
• Long Exposure Noise Reduction (LENR)Long Exposure Noise Reduction, commonly abbreviated as LENR, is a camera setting designed to reduce digital noise during long exposure shots.
• Lossless CompressionIs a class of file encoding that reduces storage size while preserving every bit of the original image data, allowing a mathematically perfect reconstruction of the source when the file is decoded.
• Lossy CompressionIs image encoding that achieves smaller files by permanently discarding information the algorithm judges to be visually unimportant.
• Luminance NoiseAppears as random brightness variation across an image, creating a grainy texture similar to high-speed film.
• LUTA LUT (Lookup Table) is a mathematical formula that transforms one set of colors into another, providing precise color grading and ensuring consistency across images or video.

M

• Magnification RatioExpresses the relationship between the physical size of a subject in the real world and the size of its projected image on the camera sensor.
• Manual FocusIs the act of setting focus by hand using the lens focus ring, rather than delegating the task to the camera’s autofocus system.
• Manual ModeManual mode gives you complete control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
• MaskingMasking allows you to apply adjustments to specific areas of an image while leaving other areas unaffected.
• Mechanical ShutterA mechanical shutter is a physical curtain or blade system inside a camera that opens and closes to control how long light reaches the sensor or film.
• MeteringMetering is the quiet decision your camera makes every time you half-press the shutter.
• Middle Gray (18% Gray)Middle gray, often called 18 percent gray, is the standard mid-tone that camera light meters are calibrated to reproduce.
• Mirror Lockup(often abbreviated MLU) is a DSLR feature that flips the reflex mirror up in a separate, earlier action than the shutter release, allowing internal…
• Mirrorless CameraA mirrorless camera is an interchangeable lens camera that omits the reflex mirror and pentaprism found in DSLRs.
• Modeling LightA modeling light is a continuous bulb or LED built into a studio strobe, used to preview lighting before the flash fires.
• MoiréMoire is a wavy, often colored interference pattern that appears in digital photographs when a repeating pattern in the subject (fine fabric weaves, brick…
• MonochromeDescribes an image rendered in tones of a single color, most commonly the neutral grayscale of black and white photography.
• MonopodA monopod is a single-leg camera support that bridges the gap between handheld shooting and a full tripod.
• Motion BlurIs the streaking, smearing, or softening of moving subjects in a photograph caused by movement during the exposure.

N

• ND Filter (Neutral Density)An ND (neutral density) filter is dark glass that cuts the light entering the lens without changing its colour, so you can use a slower shutter speed or a wider aperture than the scene would otherwise allow.
• Negative SpaceNegative space is the empty or unoccupied area surrounding the main subject in a photograph.
• NoiseIs random variation in brightness and color values that appears as grain or speckles in digital images, particularly in shadows and at high ISO settings.
• Noise ReductionNoise reduction is the editing step that smooths random grain and color speckle out of a photo.
• Non-Destructive EditingEvery edit you make to a photograph is a decision.
• Normal Lens (50mm)A normal lens is one whose focal length is roughly equal to the diagonal of the image sensor or film frame, which on full frame works out to about 43mm and is conventionally rounded to the familiar 50mm.

O

• OctaboxAn octabox is an eight-sided softbox used as a light modifier on studio strobes and large speedlights.
• Off-Camera FlashPhoto: Seamless Synthesis by Duncan Rawlinson The built-in flash or a hot shoe mounted speedlight fires light from directly above the lens, producing the…
• Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)(also called Vibration Reduction/VR, Image Stabilization/IS, or Vibration Compensation/VC depending on manufacturer) compensates for camera shake by physically moving optical elements inside the lens.
• OverexposureIs the condition in which an image receives too much light, pushing the brightest parts of the scene past the sensor’s recording capacity so that highlight detail is clipped to pure white.

P

• PanningPanning is a photography technique where you track a moving subject with your camera during a slow shutter speed exposure.
• PanoramaFor Photographers This is an important topic for photographers at every skill level.
• ParallaxParallax is a term in photography that refers to the shift in perspective that occurs when you view a subject from different angles or move the camera.
• Perspective DistortionPerspective distortion is an effect that occurs when photographing a subject at different angles or distances.
• Phase Detection AutofocusPhase Detection Autofocus uses dedicated sensors to analyze light phase differences, determining whether an image is in front-focus or back-focus and instantly calculating the correction needed.
• PhotogrammetryIs the science of reconstructing three-dimensional geometry from multiple two-dimensional photographs of the same subject taken from different angles.
• Pinhole PhotographyPinhole photography strips the medium down to its most essential physics: light passing through a tiny hole to form an image.
• PixelA pixel (a contraction of "picture element") is the smallest discrete unit of a digital image, a single colored point in a two-dimensional grid that, multiplied by millions of others, forms the full picture.
• Pixel PeepingIs the practice of zooming an image to 100 percent or beyond on screen to scrutinize its finest details, judging sharpness, noise, and rendering at the level of individual pixels.
• Pixel PitchIs the center-to-center distance between adjacent photosites on a camera sensor, measured in micrometers (um).
• Pixel ShiftPixel shift is a computational photography technique that physically moves the camera sensor by sub-pixel increments between multiple exposures, then combines these shifted captures…
• Polarizing Filter (CPL)A polarizing filter (a circular polarizer, or CPL) screws onto the lens and rotates.
• Portrait Lighting PatternsPortrait lighting patterns are the foundation of professional portraiture.
• PresetA preset is a saved collection of editing settings that can be applied to multiple photos with one click.
• Prime LensA prime lens has a single, fixed focal length, meaning it cannot zoom in or out.
• Print / PrintingA print is the physical output of a photograph, the moment a digital file or a film negative becomes a tangible object that can be held, hung, signed, or given away.
• ProofingProofing is the process of previewing how your images will look on different output devices or media before final delivery.
• Pulling Film / Pushing FilmPulling and pushing film are darkroom techniques for exposing film at an ISO different from its nominal box speed and compensating in development.

Q

• Quality of LightDescribes the character of light independent of its quantity.

R

• RangefinderA rangefinder is a focusing mechanism that measures the distance to a subject by triangulation, and by extension the name for a camera that uses one.
• RAWThere are different formats for shooting digital and photographers generally refer to this as RAW or JPEG.
• RAW vs JPEGThe choice between shooting RAW and JPEG is one of the most important decisions you will make as a photographer, and understanding what each format actually does helps you choose with confidence rather than guesswork.
• Rear Curtain Sync, also called second curtain sync, is a flash technique where the flash fires at the end of the exposure rather than at the beginning.
• Reciprocal RuleThe reciprocal rule, also known as the hand-holding rule or the 1/focal length rule, is a long-standing guideline for choosing the slowest shutter speed…
• Reciprocity / Reciprocity FailureReciprocity in photographic exposure is the principle that exposure depends on the product of light intensity and time.
• Red-EyeIs a common photographic effect where a subject’s eyes appear bright red in flash photographs.
• ReflectionIs light bouncing off a surface back toward the camera.
• Reflective MeteringIs the method used by all camera-based light meters to measure exposure.
• ReflectorA reflector is a surface used to redirect and bounce light onto a subject, providing fill light, reducing shadows, or creating additional illumination without using active light sources.
• ResolutionRefers to the level of detail an image holds and is generally measured in pixels for digital photographs.
• ReticulationReticulation in photography is a unique, often unintended effect that occurs in film images when there is a sudden change in temperature or chemicals during development.
• RetouchingIs the detailed, per-pixel editing work applied to a finished image after broader corrections are complete.
• Rim LightA rim light is a light positioned behind and slightly to the side of the subject, aimed back toward the camera so that it grazes the subject's edge and produces a bright outline.
• Rolling BufferA rolling buffer (also called pre-capture or pre-record) continuously records frames before you fully press the shutter button, storing them in the camera’s buffer memory.
• Rolling ReadoutRolling readout is a sensor scanning method where image data is captured and read sequentially, one row of pixels at a time, rather than capturing the entire frame simultaneously.
• Rolling ShutterRolling shutter is a common effect in digital photography and videography, where fast-moving subjects or quick camera movements cause image distortion.
• Rule of OddsThe rule of odds is a composition guideline that says a group of three or five subjects usually looks more natural and holds attention longer than a group of two or four.
• Rule of SpaceThe rule of space says to leave more room in the frame in front of a subject than behind it: ahead of a moving subject (lead room) and on the side a person or animal is looking toward (nose room or looking room).
• Rule Of ThirdsPhotography Composition: Rule of Thirds The rule of thirds and the golden ratio in photography (also referred to as the golden mean) are two of compositions backbone subjects.

S

• SaturationHue & Saturation Settings Hue: Hue is the aspect of color which is described as “red” or “yellow” etc.
• ScaleRefers to the relative size relationships between elements within an image.
• Selective FocusInvolves focusing on a specific subject or area within the frame while leaving the remainder out of focus.
• Self-TimerThe self-timer is a camera function that delays the firing of the shutter for a set number of seconds after you press the release, most commonly two or ten seconds.
• SensorThe sensor is the light-sensitive electronic component at the heart of a digital camera, replacing film as the medium that records the image.
• Shallow Depth of FieldDescribes an image in which only a thin slice of the scene is in sharp focus while everything in front of and behind it falls into soft blur.
• ShapeShape in photography is a powerful tool for creating compelling images.
• SharpeningSharpening makes a photo look crisper by increasing contrast along edges: the light side of each edge gets a little lighter and the dark side a little darker.
• Shutter Count(also called shutter actuations or shutter clicks) is the total number of times the camera's mechanical shutter has fired.
• Shutter LagShutter lag is the delay between pressing the shutter button and the camera actually capturing the image.
• Shutter SpeedShutter Speed: Camera Settings Your cameras shutter speed is a measurement of how long your cameras shutter stays open when you’re taking a picture.
• SilhouetteA silhouette photograph reduces a subject to its outline against a brighter background.
• SimplicityWhile monochromatic photographs are the most color simplistic (often just using varying shades of one color), there are other photographs which take great effort…
• SnootA snoot is a cylindrical or conical tube fitted over a light source to narrow its beam into a tight, controlled spot.
• Soft ProofingSimulates how your image will appear when printed, displayed on screen rather than committing to expensive paper and ink.
• SoftboxA softbox is a fabric enclosure that attaches to a light source, designed to create soft, diffused, and directional illumination for photography.
• Speedlight / SpeedliteA speedlight is a small, battery-powered electronic flash designed to mount on a camera's hot shoe or fire remotely via a wireless trigger.
• Split ToningIs an editing technique that adds one color tint to the highlights of an image and a different color tint to the shadows, splitting the tones into two color families.
• Spot MeteringSpot metering is a feature that measures the light intensity in a small, specific area of the frame.
• StitchingImage stitching in photography is a technique that combines multiple photos to create a single, larger image.
• StopA stop is the fundamental unit of exposure in photography, representing a doubling or halving of the light reaching the sensor.
• Stop Down“Stopping down” in photography refers to the process of narrowing a camera lens’s aperture, effectively decreasing the amount of light that enters the lens.
• StrobeA strobe, in still photography, is a studio-class flash unit delivering substantially more power than a portable speedlight.
• Sunny 16 RuleThe Sunny 16 rule sets a correct exposure in daylight without a light meter.
• SuperResolution
• Sweet Spot (Lens)Every lens you own has a sweet spot, an aperture range where it delivers its best optical performance.
• SymmetryOccurs when elements mirror each other across a central axis, whether vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

T

• T-StopA T-stop is a measurement of the actual amount of light a lens transmits, accounting for absorption and internal reflection losses across all glass elements and coatings.
• Teleconverters
• Telephoto LensA telephoto lens is any lens with a focal length longer than the standard 50mm field of view on a full-frame sensor, providing a narrower angle of view and greater apparent magnification.
• TetheringTethering means connecting your camera directly to a computer or tablet while you shoot, so each frame appears on the larger screen the moment it is captured.
• TextureDescribes the visual representation of surface qualities—rough, smooth, soft, hard, weathered, or polished.
• Three-Point LightingIs the foundational lighting setup that uses three distinct sources, a key light, a fill light, and a rim or back light, to render a subject with shape, controlled shadow, and separation from the background.
• TIFF(Tagged Image File Format) is a high-quality lossless image format widely used in professional photography, printing, and archival work.
• Tilt-Shift LensA tilt-shift lens is a specialty lens whose optical group can be tilted and shifted relative to the sensor plane, providing optical movements similar to those of a view camera.
• Time-LapseTime-lapse photography involves taking a series of photos at set intervals to record changes that happen slowly over time.
• TintTint in photography most precisely refers to the green-to-magenta axis of white balance, the second adjustment that works alongside color temperature.
• Tonal RangeTonal range is the span of brightness values in an image, from the darkest shadow that holds detail to the brightest highlight, and how the tones are distributed across the middle.
• Tone CurveThe tone curve is an editing tool that maps every input brightness value to an output brightness value via an adjustable curve plotted on a square graph.
• Tone MappingIs the process of compressing the wide dynamic range of an HDR source into the narrower range a display or print can actually show, while preserving as much perceptual realism as possible.
• TripodTo use a tripod properly, extend the thickest leg sections first, spread the legs wide on firm ground, keep the centre column down, tighten…
• TTL (Through the Lens)TTL stands for “Through The Lens,” a flash metering system where the camera measures the actual light passing through the lens to determine the correct flash exposure.

U

• Ultra-Wide LensAn ultra-wide lens is any lens significantly wider than the standard wide-angle range, typically with a focal length under 24mm on a full-frame sensor.
• Umbrella (Lighting Modifier)An umbrella is the simplest and most affordable light modifier in photography, used to enlarge and soften the output of a flash or continuous source.
• UnderexposureOccurs when an image receives too little light, leaving shadow detail crushed to black, midtones unnaturally dark, and the histogram bunched against the left edge.
• Unsharp MaskUnsharp mask, abbreviated USM, is the classic image sharpening technique found in virtually every editing program.
• UV FilterYou do not need a UV filter for image quality on a digital camera.

V

• Variable ApertureA variable aperture zoom is a zoom lens whose maximum aperture changes as the focal length changes.
• Variable NDA variable ND filter is a neutral density filter constructed from two stacked linear polarizers, the rear element fixed and the front element rotatable.
• Vibrance vs. SaturationWhen editing photos, you’ve likely encountered both the vibrance and saturation settings, two powerful tools for adjusting color intensity.
• View CameraA view camera is a large-format camera consisting of a lens mounted on a movable front standard, a film holder on a movable rear standard, and a flexible bellows connecting the two.
• Viewfinder (Optical vs Electronic)The viewfinder is how you frame and compose your shots.
• VignettingIs the darkening of the corners and edges of an image relative to the center.
• Visual WeightVisual weight is the perceived heaviness or importance of an element within a photograph.

W

• WatermarkTo watermark photos, make a simple text or logo mark, save it as a preset in your editor, and apply it only to exported web copies, never to the original.
• White BalanceWhy Cameras Need White Balance At All Human vision performs color constancy automatically: a white shirt looks white to you whether you're standing under…
• Wide OpenShooting wide open means using a lens at its maximum aperture, the widest opening it offers, which corresponds to its smallest f-number.
• Window LightIs natural daylight passing through a window into an interior space, typically diffused by the glass, by sheer curtains, or by overcast skies outside.
• WorkflowA photography workflow is the complete sequence of steps you follow from pressing the shutter to delivering a finished image.

X

• X-SyncIs the maximum shutter speed at which a focal plane shutter is fully open across the entire frame at one time, allowing a flash to expose the whole sensor uniformly.

Z

• Zone SystemThe zone system is an exposure and development framework developed by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer in the late 1930s and 1940s for use with black-and-white sheet film.
• Zoom CreepZoom creep is a common issue photographers encounter when using zoom lenses.
• Zoom LensA zoom lens lets you change your focal length by turning a ring on the lens barrel.

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