Photography Glossary

A comprehensive compilation of terminology associated with the art and science of photography, encompassing everything from camera settings to photographic techniques and equipment.

Photography Glossary
Photo by NordWood Themes / Unsplash

Here is a glossary of photography terms:

  • Aperture: The opening in a camera lens through which light passes. It is measured in f-stops, with larger f-stops indicating smaller apertures and vice versa.
  • ISO: International Organization for Standardization. It refers to the sensitivity of the camera's sensor to light. A higher ISO number means the sensor is more sensitive to light, and vice versa.
  • Shutter Speed: The amount of time the camera's shutter stays open to expose the sensor to light. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second.
  • Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor. It is controlled by aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
  • Depth of Field: The distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image.
  • Bokeh: The aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image.
  • Focal Length: The distance between the lens and the camera's sensor when the lens is focused at infinity. It determines the angle of view and magnification of the image.
  • White Balance: The process of adjusting the colors in an image to accurately reflect the true colors of the scene.
  • RAW: A file format that contains unprocessed image data captured by the camera's sensor.
  • Composition: The arrangement of visual elements in a photograph.
  • Histogram: A graph that shows the distribution of tones in an image.
  • Light Meter: A tool used to measure the amount of light in a scene.
  • Exposure Compensation: The adjustment of exposure settings to make an image brighter or darker.
  • Autofocus: A camera feature that automatically focuses the lens on the subject.
  • Manual Focus: The process of manually adjusting the lens to achieve the desired focus.
  • Bracketing: The technique of taking multiple shots of the same scene at different exposures.
  • Polarizing Filter: A filter used to reduce glare and reflections in a photograph.
  • ND Filter: A filter used to reduce the amount of light entering the camera.
  • Flash: A device used to illuminate a subject in low-light situations.
  • Tripod: A three-legged stand used to support a camera and prevent camera shake.