Design Terms

Archetype:

A visual archetype is symbolic on a deep level.

Crop, cropping:

The way an image or print is framed in post-production; the proportions used for presentation of an image or print.

Entry point:

Refers to where the viewer’s gaze begins going into an image.

Exit point:

Where the viewer’s gaze leaves the image.

Fractal, fractal-like:

A fractal image is one in which small areas of the image as a whole are replicated in different sizes across the entire image; a simple transformation used on a portion of an image to eventually create a highly complex overall image; an image that resembles a fractal.

Frame:

A border or boundary of something, particularly within or around a two-dimensional work of art; the context of a work of art, as in the way a concept is framed.

Framing:

In a photographic composition, positioning the image in relationship to its edges.

Mandala:

A circular shape that may represent paradise, sacred space, or the world.

Minimalism, minimalist:

The philosophy that less is more; a work of art that is simple, unadorned, and stripped to its essentials.

Perspective:

Representation of three-dimensional subjects on a two-dimensional surface to give the impression of height, width, depth, and position.

Recursive:

In math, a procedure or function that invokes itself; in art, a work that is self-referential, and may seem to continue indefinitely.

Single-point perspective:

Perspective rendering with a single vanishing point.

Spiral:

A three-dimensional curve rotating around a fixed position.

Tondo:

A circular work of art or image.

Vanishing point:

The point at which parallel lines viewed in perspective appear to converge.

Photographic Terms

Adobe Camera Raw (ACR):

Used to convert RAW files into files that Photoshop can open.

Ambient light:

The available, or existing, light that naturally surrounds a scene.

Aperture:

The size of the opening in the iris of a lens. Lens apertures are designated by f-numbers. The smaller the f-number, the bigger the opening, and the less depth of field.

Bracketing:

Shooting many exposures at a range of settings. It often works better to bracket shutter speed rather than aperture.

Camera obscura:

A dark room or box with a pinhole or lens on one side. The scene outside the camera obscura is projected onto the wall opposite the hole.

Chiaroscuro:

Moody lighting that shows contrasts between shadows and brightness.

Close-up filter:

A piece of optical glass that screws into the front of a lens and provides magnification.

CMYK:

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. The four-color color model used for most offset printing.

Color space:

A color space, sometimes called a color model, is the mechanism used to display the colors we see in the world, in print, or on a monitor. CMYK, LAB, and RGB are examples of color spaces.

Composite:

Multiple images that are combined to create a new composition.

Depth of field:

The field in front of and behind a subject that is in focus.

DICOM file:

Digital Imaging in Communication in Medicine file format.

Diffraction:

Bending of light rays; unwanted diffraction can cause loss of optical sharpness, particularly at small apertures.

DSLR:

Digital single-lens reflex camera.

Dynamic range:

The difference between the lightest tonal values and the darkest tonal values in a photo.

Effective aperture:

The aperture recorded by EXIF data as opposed to the aperture set on the camera. In close focus, the effective aperture is often a smaller opening than the set aperture.

EV (Exposure Value):

Denotes any combination of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO that yields the same exposure. –1 EV means halving the exposure, and +1 EV means doubling the exposure.

Exposure:

The amount of light hitting the camera sensor. Also, the camera settings used to capture this incoming light.

Exposure histogram:

A bar graph displayed on a camera or computer that shows the distribution of lights and darks in a photo.

Extension tube:

A hollow ring that fits between a lens and the DSLR, used to achieve closer focusing.

f-number, f-stop:

The size of the aperture, written f/n, where n is the f-number. The smaller the f-number, the larger the opening in the lens; the larger the f-number, the smaller the opening in the lens.

Focal length:

Roughly, the distance from the end of the lens to the focal plane.

Focal plane:

The sensor’s position on a plane parallel to the lens. For more information, turn to page 61.

Focus stacking:

Extending the field of focus beyond that possible in a photo by combining multiple photos, each photographed at a different point of focus.

Grayscale:

Used to render images in a single color from white to black; in Photoshop a grayscale image has only one channel.

Hand-HDR:

The process of creating an HDR image from multiple photos at different exposures without using automatic software to combine the photos.

HDR:

Extending the dynamic range in an image using techniques including multi-RAW processing, hand-HDR, and automated HDR software.

High key:

Brightly lit photos that are predominantly white, often with an intentionally “overexposed” effect.

Histogram:

A graph that represents a distribution of values; an exposure histogram is used to display the distribution of lights and darks in an image.

Image stabilization:

Also called vibration reduction, this is a high-tech system in a lens or camera that attempts to compensate for, and reduce, camera motion.

In-camera multiple exposure:

Exposures made on a single captured frame in the camera, and blended in the camera.

Infinity (∞):

The distance from the camera that is far enough away so that any object at that distance or beyond will be in focus when the lens is set to infinity, regardless of aperture.

Inversion:

A Photoshop adjustment that inverts the color in a channel or channels.

ISO:

Scale used to set a camera’s sensitivity to light.

JPEG:

A compressed file format for photos that have been processed from an original RAW image.

LAB color:

A color model consisting of three channels.

Lensbaby:

A special-purpose lens that may have a flexible barrel that allows you to adjust the “sweet spot” (area in focus).

Low key:

Dimly lit photos that are predominantly black, often with an intentionally “underexposed” effect.

Macro lens:

A lens that is specially designed for close focusing; often a macro lens focuses close enough to enable a 1:1 magnification ratio, so that the image on the sensor is as large as the image in real life.

Magnification ratio:

The correspondence of an object and its actual size on the sensor.

Monochrome, monochromatic:

A monochrome image is presented as nominally consisting of tones from white to black; however, “black and white” images can be tinted or toned, and usually vary from straight grayscale.

Multi-RAW processing:

Combining two or more different versions processed from the same RAW file to extend the dynamic range and create a more pleasing final image.

Open up, open wide:

To open up a lens, or to set the lens wide open, means to set the aperture to a large opening, denoted with a small f-number.

Overexpose:

An overexposed photo appears too bright; the exposure histogram is bunched toward the right side.

Pinhole camera:

A camera that uses a literal, very small hole as the lens to capture an image.

Polarizer:

A filter that lets in some kinds of polarized light and blocks other kinds; useful to enhance reflections.

Previsualization:

Understanding, or seeing in one’s “mind’s eye,” before making an exposure how an image will come out after capture and processing.

RAW:

A digital RAW file is a complete record of the data captured by the sensor. The details of RAW file formats vary among camera manufacturers.

Refraction:

Alteration of light waves by bending when light reflects or passes through substances such as glass and water.

RGB:

Red, Green, and Blue; a three-color color model, used for displaying photos on the web and on computer monitors.

Sensitivity:

Set using an ISO number; determines the sensitivity of the sensor to light.

Shutter speed:

Shutter speed is not a speed. Rather, it is the duration of time that the shutter is open. This interval of time controls how objects in motion are rendered.

Solarization:

Reverses or partially reverses blacks and whites. In film photography, uses re-exposure to make partially developed material lighter; simulated in digital photography.

Stop down:

To stop down a lens means to set the aperture to a small opening; denoted with a larger f-number.

Tonal range:

The range of color and light and dark values in an image.

Underexpose:

An underexposed photo appears too dark; the exposure histogram is bunched toward the left side.

X-Ray:

Radiation shorter in wavelength than visible light.

Answer to the question on pages 194–195: The image on page 194 is the original orientation. You can tell because there are faint water ripples on the duck in the flipped version on page 195.