1K | 1000 watts, measure of light output. |
2K | 2000 watts, measure of light output. |
5K | 5000 watts, measure of light output. |
10K | 10,000 watts, measure of light output. |
12K | 12,000 watts, measure of light output. |
120 | Film format. |
2 ¼ | 2 ¼ × 2 ¼”. Camera format. |
35mm | Camera and film format (24 × 36mm). |
500W | 500 watts, measure of light output. |
5 × 4 | 5 × 4”, camera and film format. |
6 × 4.5 | 6 × 4.5cm camera format. |
6 × 6 | 6 × 6cm camera format. |
6 × 7 | 6 × 7cm camera format. |
6 × 8 | 6 × 8cm camera format. |
6 × 9 | 6 × 9cm camera format. |
10 × 8 | 10 × 8 inches camera and film format. |
80A | Conversion filter, daylight film to 3200K light source. |
80B | Conversion filter, daylight film to 3400K light source. |
85B | Conversion filter, tungsten film to daylight. |
AC discharge | 5600K continuous light source. |
Ambient | Available or existing light. |
Analyse | To examine in detail. |
Aperture | Lens opening controlling intensity of light entering camera. |
Arri 650W | Arriflex 650 watt light source (3200K). |
ASA | Film speed rating - American Standards Association. |
Auto focus | Automatic focusing system, mainly small-format cameras. |
Available | Ambient or existing light. |
B | Shutter speed setting for exposures in excess of 1 second. |
B/g | Background. |
Background | Area behind main subject matter. |
Backlight | Light source directed at the subject from behind. |
Backlit | A subject illuminated from behind. |
Balance | A harmonious relationship between elements within the frame. |
Banding | Visible steps of tone or colour in the final image due to a lack of tonal information in a digital image file. |
Barn doors | Metal shutters attached to light source. |
Bellows | Light proof material between front and rear standards. |
Bellows extension | When length of bellows exceeds focal length of lens. |
Bellows formula | Mathematical process to allow for loss of light. |
Blurred | Unsharp image, caused by inaccurate focus, shallow depth of field, slow shutter speed, camera vibration or subject movement. |
Body copy | Written word, main content of advertisement. |
Bounce | Reflected light. |
Bracketing | Overexposure and underexposure either side of MIE. |
C stands | Vertical stand with adjustable arm. |
C-41 | Negative film process. |
Cable release | Device to release shutter, reduces camera vibration. |
Camera | Image capturing device. |
Camera RAW | Unprocessed image data from a camera’s image sensor. |
Camera shake | Blurred image caused by camera vibration during exposure. |
Close down | Decrease in aperture size. |
Closest point of focus | Minimum distance at which sharp focus is obtained. |
Colour balance | Photoshop adjustment feature for correcting a colour cast in a digital image file. |
Colour conversion | Use of filtration to balance film to light source. |
Colour correction | Use of filtration to balance film to light source. |
Colour temperature | Measure of the relationship between light source and film. |
Compensation | Variation in exposure from MIE to obtain appropriate exposure. |
Complementary | Colour - see Primary and Secondary. |
Compound | In lens design, indicating use of multiple optical elements. |
Compression | Underdevelopment allowing a high-contrast subject brightness range to be recorded on film. See The Zone System’. |
Concept | Idea or meaning. |
Context | Circumstances relevant to subject under consideration. |
Contrast | The difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest areas of the image or subject. |
Cord | Electrical lead. |
Covering power | Ability of a lens to cover film format with an image. |
CPU | Central processing unit of a camera used to compute exposure. |
Cropping | Alter image format to enhance composition. |
Cut-off | Loss of image due to camera aberrations. |
Cutter | Device used to control spread and direction of light. |
Cyclorama | Visually seamless studio. |
Darkcloth | Material used to give a clearer image on ground glass. |
Dark slide | Cut film holder. |
Daylight | 5500K. |
Dedicated flash | Flash regulated by camera’s exposure meter. |
Dense | Overexposed negative, underexposed positive. |
Density | Measure of the opacity of tone on a negative. |
Depth of field | Area of sharpness variable by aperture or focal length. |
Depth of focus | Distance through which the film plane moves without losing focus. |
Design | Basis of visual composition. |
Diagonal | A line neither horizontal nor vertical. |
Diaphragm | Aperture. |
Differential focusing | Use of focus to highlight subject areas. |
Diffuse | Dispersion of light (spread out) and not focused. |
Diffuser | Material used to disperse light. |
Digital | Images recorded in the form of binary numbers. |
Digital image | Computer generated image created with pixels, not film. |
DIN | Film speed rating - Deutsche Industrie Norm. |
Dioptres | Close-up lenses. |
Direct light | Light direct from source to subject without interference. |
Distortion | Lens aberration or apparent change in perspective. |
Double dark slide | Cut film holder. |
Dynamic | Visual energy. |
DX coding | Bar coded film rating. |
E-6 | Transparency film process. |
Ecu | Extreme close-up. |
Electronic flash | Mobile 5800K light source of high intensity and short duration. |
Emulsion | Light-sensitive coating on film or paper. |
Equivalent | Combinations of aperture and time producing equal exposure. |
EV | Numerical values used in exposure evaluation without reference to aperture or time. |
Evaluate | Estimate the value or quality of a piece of work. |
Expansion | Manipulating the separation of zones in B & W processing. |
Exposure | Combined effect of intensity and duration of light on light-sensitive material. |
Exposure factor | Indication of the increase in light required to obtain correct exposure. |
Exposure meter | Device for the measurement of light. |
Exposure value | Numerical values used in exposure evaluation without reference to aperture or time. |
Extreme contrast | Subject brightness range that exceeds the film’s ability to record all detail. |
F-stop | Numerical system indicating aperture diameter. |
Fall | A movement on large-format camera front and rear standards. |
Fast film | Film with high ISO, can be used with low light levels. |
Field of view | Area visible through the camera’s viewing system. |
Figure and ground | Relationship between subject and background. |
Fill | Use of light to increase detail in shadow area. |
Fill-flash | Flash used to lower the subject brightness range. |
Film | Imaging medium. |
Film speed | Rating of film’s sensitivity to light. |
Filter | Optical device used to modify transmitted light. |
Filter factor | Number indicating the effect of the filter’s density on exposure. |
Flare | Unwanted light entering the camera and falling on film plane. |
Flash | Mobile 5800K light source, high intensity, short duration. |
Floodlight | Diffuse tungsten light source. |
Focal | Term used to describe optical situations. |
Focal length | Lens to image distance when focused at infinity. |
Focal plane | Where the film will receive exposure. |
Focal plane shutter | Shutter mechanism next to film plane. |
Focal point | Point of focus at the film plane or point of interest in the image. |
Focusing | Creating a sharp image by adjustment of the lens to film distance. |
Fog/fogging | Effect of light upon unexposed film. |
Foreground | Area in front of subject matter. |
Format | Camera size, image area or orientation of camera. |
Frame | Boundary of composed area. |
Fresnel | Glass lens used in spotlight. |
Front light | Light from camera to subject. |
Front standard | Front section of large-format camera. |
Gels | Colour filters used on light sources. |
Genre | Style or category of photography. |
Gobos | Shaped cutters placed in front of light source. |
Grain | Particles of metallic silver or dye which make up the film image. |
Grey card | Contrast and exposure reference, reflects 18% of light. |
Ground glass | Viewing and focusing screen of large-format camera. |
Guide number | Measurement of flash power relative to ISO and flash to subject distance. |
Halftone | Commercial printing process, reproduces tone using a pattern of dots printed by offset litho. |
Hard/harsh light | Directional light with defined shadows. |
High key | Dominant light tones and highlight densities. |
Highlight | Area of subject giving highest exposure value. |
Histogram | A graphical representation of a digital image indicating the pixels allocated to each level of brightness. |
Hot shoe | Mounting position for on-camera flash. |
Hyperfocal distance | Nearest distance in focus when lens is set to infinity. |
Image sensor | Light-sensitive digital chip used in digital cameras. |
Incandescent | Tungsten light source. |
Incident | Light meter reading from subject to camera using a diffuser (invercone). |
Infinity | Point of focus where bellows extension equals focal length. |
Infrared film | A film sensitive to wavelengths of light longer than 720nm invisible to the human eye. |
Invercone | Trademark of Weston. Dome-shaped diffuser used for incident light meter readings. |
Inverse square law | Mathematical formula for measuring the fall-off (reduced intensity) of light over a given distance. |
Iris | Aperture/diaphragm. |
ISO | Film speed rating - International Standards Organisation. |
JPEG (.jpg) | Joint Photographic Experts Group. Popular image compression file format used for images destined for the World Wide Web. |
Key light | Main light source relative to lighting ratio. |
Laboratory | Film processing facility. |
Landscape | Horizontal format. |
Large format | 5 × 4inch camera, 10 × 8inch camera. |
Latitude | Film’s ability to record the brightness range of a subject. |
Lens | Optical device used to bring an image to focus at the film plane. |
Lens angle | Angle of lens to subject. |
Lens cut-off | Inadequate covering power. |
Lens hood | Device to stop excess light entering the lens. |
Light | The essence of photography. |
Lightbox | Transparency viewing system. |
Lighting contrast | Difference between highlights and shadows. |
Lighting grid | Studio overhead lighting system. |
Lighting ratio | Balance and relationship between light falling on subject. |
Light meter | Device for the measurement of light. |
Long lens | Lens with a reduced field of view compared to normal. |
Loupe | Viewing lens. |
Low key | Dominant dark tones and shadow densities. |
Luminance range | Range of light intensity falling on subject. |
M | Flash synchronisation setting for flash bulbs. |
Macro | Extreme close-up. |
Matrix metering | Reflected meter reading averaged from segments within the image area. Preprogrammed bias given to differing segments. |
Maximum aperture | Largest lens opening, smallest f-stop. |
Medium format | 6 × 7cm, 6 × 6cm, 6 × 4.5cm. |
Meter | Light meter. |
MIE | Meter indicated exposure. |
Minimum aperture | Smallest lens opening, largest f-stop. |
Monorail | Support mechanism for large-format camera. |
Multiple exposure | More than one exposure on the same piece of film. |
ND | Neutral density filter. |
Negative | Film medium with reversed tones. |
Negatives | Exposed, processed negative film. |
Neutral density | Filter to reduce exposure without affecting colour. |
Non-cord | Flash not requiring direct connection to shutter. |
Normal lens | Perspective and angle of view approximately equivalent to the human eye. |
Objective | Factual and non-subjective analysis of information. |
Opaque | Does not transmit light. |
Open up | Increase lens aperture size. |
Orthochromatic | Film which is only sensitive to blue and green light. |
Overall focus | Image where everything appears sharp. |
Overdevelopment | When manufacturer’s processing recommendations have been exceeded. |
Overexposure | Exposure greater than meter indicated exposure. |
Panchromatic | Film which is sensitive to blue, green and red light. |
Panning | Camera follows moving subject during exposure. |
Perspective | The illusion of depth and distance in two dimensions. The relationship between near and far imaged objects. |
Photoflood | 3400K tungsten light source. |
Photograph | Image created by the action of light and chemistry. |
Plane | Focal plane. |
Polarising filter | A filter used to remove polarised light. |
Portrait | Type of photograph or vertical image format. |
Positive | Transparency. |
Posterisation | Visible steps of tone or colour in the final image due to a lack of tonal information in a digital image file. |
P.o.v. | Point of view. |
Preview | Observing image at exposure aperture. |
Previsualise | The ability to decide what the photographic image will look like before the exposure. |
Primary | The colours, blue, green and red. |
Process | Development of exposed film. |
Pull | Under-processing of film. |
Push | Over-processing of film. |
QI | Quartz iodine light source. |
RAW | The unprocessed data recorded by a digital image sensor. Sometimes referred to as camera RAW or the ‘digital negative’. |
Rear standard | Rear section of large-format camera. |
Reciprocity failure | Inability of film to behave predictably at exposure extremes. |
Reflectance | Amount of light from a reflective surface. |
Reflectance range | Subject contrast measured in even light. |
Reflected | Light coming from a reflective surface. |
Reflection | Specular image from a reflective surface. |
Reflector | Material used to reflect light. |
Refraction | Deviation of light. |
Resolution | Optical measure of definition, also called sharpness. |
Reversal | Colour transparency film. |
Rim light | Outline around a subject created by a light source. |
Rise | A movement on large-format camera front and rear standard. |
Saturation | Intensity or richness of colour. |
SBR | Subject brightness range, a measurement of subject contrast. |
Scale | Size relationship within subject matter. |
Scrim | Diffusing material. |
Secondary | Complementary to primary colours, yellow, magenta, cyan. |
Selective focus | Use of focus and depth of field to emphasise subject areas. |
Shadow | Unlit area within the image. |
Sharp | In focus. |
Shutter | Device controlling the duration (time) of exposure. |
Shutter-priority | Semiautomatic exposure mode. The photographer selects the shutter and the camera sets the aperture automatically. |
Shutter speed | Specific time selected for correct exposure. |
Side light | Light from side to subject. |
Silhouette | Object with no detail against background with detail. |
Slave | Remote firing system for multiple flash heads. |
Slide | Transparency usually 24 × 36mm. |
Slow film | Film with reduced sensitivity and low ISO rating. |
SLR | Single lens reflex camera; viewfinder image is identical to image captured by film or image sensor. |
Small format | 35mm. |
Snoot | Cone-shaped device to control the spread of light. |
Softbox | Heavily diffuse light source. |
Soft light | Diffuse light source with ill-defined shadows. |
Specular | Highly reflective surfaces. |
Speed | ISO rating, exposure time relative to shutter speed. |
Spotlight | Light source controlled by optical manipulation of a focusing lens. |
Spot meter | Reflective light meter capable of reading small selected areas. |
Standard lens | Perspective and angle of view equivalent to the eye. |
Stock | Chosen film emulsion. |
Stop | Selected lens aperture relative to exposure. |
Stop down | Decrease in aperture size. |
Strobe | 5800K light source. |
Studio | Photographic workplace. |
Subject | Main emphasis within image area. |
Subjective | Interpretative and non-objective analysis of information. |
Subject reflectance | Amount of light reflected from the subject. |
Swing | A movement on large-format front or rear standards. |
Symmetrical | Image balance and visual harmony. |
Sync | Flash sychronisation. |
Sync lead | Cable used to synchronise flash. |
Sync speed | Shutter speed designated to flash. |
T | Shutter speed setting for exposures in excess of 1 second. |
T-stop | Calibration of light actually transmitted by a lens. |
Text | Printed word. |
Thin | Overexposed positive, underexposed negative. |
Thyristor | Electronic switch used to control electronic flash discharge. |
TIFF | Tagged Image File Format. Popular digital image file format for desktop publishing applications. |
Tilt | A movement on large-format front or rear standards. |
Time | Shutter speed, measure of duration of light. |
Time exposure | Exposure greater than 1 second. |
Tonal range | Difference between highlights and shadows. |
Tone | A tint of colour or shade of grey. |
Trace | Material used to diffuse light. |
Transmitted light | Light that passes through another medium. |
Transparency | Positive film image. |
Transparent | Allowing light to pass through. |
Tripod | Camera support. |
Tripod clamp | Device used to connect camera to tripod. |
TTL | Through the lens light metering system. |
Tungsten | 3200K light source. |
Typeface | Size and style of type. |
Typography | Selection of typeface. |
Underdevelopment | When manufacturer’s processing recommendations have been reduced. |
Uprating film | Increasing the film speed. |
UV | Ultraviolet radiation invisible to the human vision. |
Vertical | At right angles to the horizontal plane. |
Viewpoint | Camera to subject position. |
Visualise | Ability to exercise visual imagination. |
Wide angle | Lens with a greater field of view than normal. |
X-synch. | Synchronisation setting for electronic flash. |
X-synch. socket | Co-axial socket on lens or camera for external flash cable. |
Zone system | Exposure system related to tonal values. |