| Aperture - Lens opening. The opening in a camera lens through which light passes
to expose the film. The size of aperture is either fixed or adjustable.
Aperture size is usually calibrated in f-numbers-the larger the number,
the smaller the lens opening.
Aperture Priority
- An exposure mode on an automatic or auto focus camera that lets
you set the aperture while the camera sets the shutter speed for proper
exposure. If you change the aperture, or the light level changes, the
shutter speed changes automatically.
ASA - American
Standards Association. Denotes a speed system in which manufacturers rate
their film in terms of of its sensitivity to light. Now superseded by
ISO.
Autofocus (AF)
- System by which the camera lens automatically focuses the image
of a selected part of the picture subject.
Automatic Camera
- A camera with a built-in exposure meter that automatically adjusts
the lens opening, shutter speed, or both for proper exposure.
(Back
To Top)
B
B (Bulb) Setting
- A shutter-speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for
time exposures. When set on B, the shutter will stay open as long as the
shutter release button remains depressed.
Background - The part of the scene the appears behind the principal subject of the
picture.
Bracketing - Taking a number of additional pictures of the subject through a range
of exposures-both lighter and darker-when unsure of the correct exposure.
(Back
To Top)
C
Cable Release
- Flexible cable used for firing the shutter. Useful for slow shutter
speeds and time exposures, when touching the camera may cause shakes.
Color Balance
- How a color film reproduces the colors of a scene. Color films are
made to be exposed by light of a certain color quality such as daylight
or tungsten. Color balance also refers to the reproduction of colors in
color prints, which can be altered during the printing process.
Contrast - The range of difference in the light to dark areas of a negative, print,
or slide (also called density); the brightness range of a subject or the
scene lighting.
Cropping - Removing unwanted areas of an image, usually for a more pleasing composition.
May also refer to the framing of the scene in the viewfinder.
(Back
To Top)
D
Double Exposure
- Two pictures taken on one frame of film, or two images printed on
one piece of photographic paper.
(Back
To Top)
E
Emulsion - Micro-thin layers of gelatin on film in which light-sensitive ingredients
are suspended; triggered by light to create a chemical reaction resulting
in a photographic image
Existing Light
- Available light. Strictly speaking, existing light covers all natural
lighting from moonlight to sunshine. For photographic purposes, existing
light is the light that is already on the scene or project and includes
room lamps, fluorescent lamps, spotlights, neon signs, candles, daylight
through windows, outdoor scenes at twilight or in moonlight, and scenes
artificially illuminated after dark.
Exposure - The product of the intensity of light that reaches the film (controlled
by the aperture) and the length of time this intensity of light is allowed
to act (controlled by the shutter speed).
(Back
To Top)
F
Fast Film - Film which has an emulsion that is very sensitive
to light. Such film have a high ASA rating.
Fast Lens- Lens with a wide maximum aperture (low f number).
Film - A photographic
emulsion coated on a flexible, transparent base that records images or
scenes.
Film Speed - The sensitivity of a given film to light, indicated by a number such as
ISO 200. The higher the number, the more sensitive or faster the film.
Note: ISO stands for International Standards Organization.
Filter - A
colored piece of glass or other transparent material used over the lens
to emphasize, eliminate, or change the color or density of the entire
scene or certain areas within a scene.
Fixed-Focus - Describes a non-adjustable camera lens, set for a fixed subject distance.
Fixed-Focus Lens
- A lens that has been focused in a fixed position by the manufacturer.
The user does not have to adjust the focus of this lens.
f-Number - A number that indicates the size of the lens opening on an adjustable
camera. The common f-numbers are f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11,
f/16, and f/22. The larger the f-number, the smaller the lens opening.
In this series, f/1.4 is the largest lens opening and f/22 is the smallest.
Also called f-stops, they work in conjunction with shutter speeds to indicate
exposure settings.
Focal Length - The distance between the film and the optical center of the lens when
the lens is focused on infinity. The focal length of the lens on most
adjustable cameras is marked in millimeters on the lens mount.
Focus - Adjustment
of the distance setting on a lens to define the subject sharply.
Foreground - The area between the camera and the principal subject.
Format - Size
or shape of negative, slide, printing paper, or camera viewing area.
Frame - One
individual picture on a roll of film. Also, tree branch, arch, etc., that
frames a subject.
(Back
To Top)
G
Graininess - The sand-like or granular appearance of a negative, print, or slide. Graininess
becomes more pronounced with faster film and the degree of enlargement.
(Back
To Top)
H
Highlights - The brightest areas of the subject.
Hue - The
name of a color (example - red, blue, yellow).
(Back
To Top)
I
ISO Speed - The emulsion speed (sensitivity) of the film as determined by the standards
of the International Standards Organization. In these standards, both
arithmetic (ASA) and logarithmic (DIN) speed values are expressed in a
single ISO term. For example, a film with a speed of ISO 100/21° would
have a speed of ASA 100 or 21 DIN.
(Back
To Top)
L
Lens - One
or more pieces of optical glass or similar material designed to collect
and focus rays of light to form a sharp image on the film, paper, or projection
screen.
Lens Shade - A collar or hood at the front of a lens that keeps unwanted light from
striking the lens and causing image flare. May be attached or detachable,
and should be sized to the particular lens to avoid vignetting.
Lens-Shutter Camera
- A camera with the shutter built into the lens; the viewfinder and
picture-taking lens are separate.
Lens Speed - The largest lens opening (smallest f-number) at which a lens can be set.
A fast lens transmits more light and has a larger opening than a slow
lens.
(Back
To Top)
N
Negative - The developed film that contains a reversed tone image of the original
scene.
Neutral Density
Filter - A gray filter that reduces the amount of light entering the
camera when aperture and speed settings cannot be altered. This filter
will not affect the color content of the light.
Normal Lens or
(Standard lens) - Lens with a focal length approximately equal to
the diagonal of the picture format. On 35mm cameras this is usually 50mm
(SLRs).
(Back
To Top)
O
Object - General
term for an element in a scene. Often interchangeable with subject.
Overexposure - A condition in which too much light reaches the film, producing a dense
negative or a very light print or slide.
(Back
To Top)
P
Panorama - A broad view, usually scenic.
Polarizing Screen
(Filter) - A filter that transmits light traveling in one plane while
absorbing light traveling in other planes. When placed on a camera lens
or on light sources, it can eliminate undesirable reflections from a subject
such as water, glass, or other objects with shiny surfaces. This filter
also darkens blue sky.
Print - A
positive picture, usually on paper, and usually produced from a negative.
Processing - Developing, fixing, and washing exposed photographic film or paper to
produce either a negative image or a positive image.
Program Exposure
- An exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that automatically
sets both the aperture and the shutter speed for proper exposure.
Push Processing
- Increasing the development time of a film to increase its effective
speed (raising the ISO number for initial exposure ) for low-light situations;
forced development.
(Back
To Top)
R
Reciprocity - Most films are designed to be exposed within a certain range of exposure
times-usually between 1/15 second to 1/1000 second. When exposure times
fall outside of this range-becoming either significantly longer or shorter-a
film's characteristics may change. Loss of effective film speed, contrast
changes, and (with color films) color shifts are the three common results.
These changes are called reciprocity effect.
Retouching - Altering a print or negative after development by use of dyes or pencils
to alter tones of highlights, shadows, and other details, or to remove
blemishes.
(Back
To Top)
S
Shutter - Blades, a curtain, plate, or some other movable cover in a camera that
controls the time during which light reaches the film.
Shutter-Priority
Cameras - Semi-automatic exposure system whereby the user selects
the shutter speed, and the camera meter then sets the lens aperture.
Shutter Speed
- The time (normally set in fractions of a second) the shutter mechanism
effectively allows the film to receive light.
Single-Lens-Reflex
(SLR) Camera - A camera in which you view the scene through the same
lens that takes the picture.
Slide - A
photographic transparency (positive) mounted for projection.
Slow Film - Film having an emulsion with a low sensitivity to light. Such film have
a low ASA rating
Standard Lens
- See Normal Lens.
Stopping Down
- Changing the lens aperture to a smaller opening; for example, from
f/8 to f/11.
Subject - The person or thing being photographed.
(Back
To Top)
T
Telephoto Lens
- A lens that makes a subject appear larger on film than does a normal
lens at the same camera-to-subject distance. A telephoto lens has a longer
focal length and narrower field of view than a normal lens.
Time Exposure
- General term for an exposure longer than can be set using the camera's
fixed shutter speeds.
Tint - Shades
of white in a finished print, controlled by the color of the paper, varying
from white to buff.
Tone - The
degree of lightness or darkness in any given area of a print; also referred
to as value. Cold tones (bluish) and warm tones (reddish) refer to the
color of the image in both black-and-white and color photographs.
Tripod - A
three-legged supporting stand used to hold the camera steady. Especially
useful when using slow shutter speeds and/or telephoto lenses.
(Back
To Top)
U
Underexposure
- A condition in which too little light reaches the film, producing
a thin negative, a dark slide, or a muddy-looking print.
Unipod - A
one-legged support used to hold the camera steady.
(Back
To Top)
V
Viewfinder - System for viewing the subject, showing the field of view of the cameras
lens
(Back
To Top)
W
Wide-Angle Lens
- 35mm camera lens having a focal length appreciably shorter than
50mm. Gives a wide angle view and considerable depth of field.
(Back
To Top)
X,Y,Z
Zoom Lens - Lens that is constructed to allow continuously variable focal length within
a specific range.
(Back
To Top)
|
