Glossary

The opening in a lens through which light passes. Measured in f-stops (f/1.4, f/2.8, etc.), it controls depth of field and exposure.

The length of time the camera shutter remains open to expose the sensor to light. Measured in seconds or fractions of seconds.

The sensitivity of your camera sensor to light. Higher ISO values allow shooting in darker conditions but may introduce noise.

The relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO that determines the overall exposure of an image.

The distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that appear acceptably sharp. Controlled primarily by aperture.

The aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image, often characterized by soft, circular highlights.

A composition guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines.

Lines within an image that lead the viewer's eye toward the main subject or through the photograph.

The period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when daylight is redder and softer, ideal for photography.

The period of twilight when the sun is below the horizon and indirect sunlight takes on a blue shade.

An unprocessed image file that contains all data captured by the camera sensor, allowing maximum editing flexibility.

A compressed image file format that is smaller in size but has less editing flexibility than RAW files.

The process of removing unrealistic color casts to ensure whites appear white regardless of lighting conditions.

A graph showing the tonal distribution in an image, helping to evaluate exposure and contrast.

The distance between the lens and the image sensor when focused at infinity, determining the field of view.

A lens with a fixed focal length that cannot zoom but often provides superior image quality and wider apertures.

A lens with variable focal length, allowing you to adjust the field of view without changing lenses.

The camera's method of measuring the light in a scene to determine proper exposure settings.

A lens defect causing color fringing around edges, especially noticeable in high-contrast areas.

The darkening of image corners compared to the center, which can occur naturally or be added in post-processing.

Photographic paper that responds to different colors of light. One sheet can produce any contrast grade (00-5) by changing yellow or magenta filtration.

Taking multiple shots of the same scene at different exposures (normal, underexposed, overexposed) to ensure at least one perfect exposure.

A darkroom technique where a strip of photographic paper is exposed in incremental steps to determine optimal printing time.

A print made by placing negatives directly on photographic paper, creating a reference sheet of all frames for selection and evaluation.

The contrast level of photographic paper, ranging from Grade 00 (very low contrast) to Grade 5 (very high contrast). Grade 2 is considered normal.

A negative that is pale and transparent due to underexposure. Prints flat and muddy at normal grades; requires high contrast grades (3-5) to compensate.

A negative that is dark and opaque due to overexposure. Requires long exposure times and low contrast grades (00-1) to print successfully.

A card that reflects 18% of light, representing middle grey. Used for accurate light meter readings since all meters are calibrated to this standard.

The relationship where changes in aperture can be compensated by opposite changes in shutter speed to maintain the same exposure.

The range of exposures that film can tolerate while still producing an acceptable image. Greater latitude means more forgiving film.