Photography Vocabulary Flashcards
Additive Color
Involves the mising of colored light via Red, Green and Blue, such as through a computer monitor or a TV screen (opposite: Subtractive Color)
AE (Automatic Exposure)
Three modes are available: Programmed, Aperture-priority, and Shutter-priority)
AE Lock
Used to hold an automatically controlled shutter speed and/or lens aperture, in case you need to recompose your picture but want to retain any previous exposure readings
AF-I (Nikon)
Lens with built-in autofocus drive motor. CPU is also built in. Af-I Nikkor lenses send information on distance to the camera body and are classified as D-type AF Nikkor lenses
Agitate
To move a solution over the surface of film or paper during development so that fresh liquid comes into contact with the surface
AI (Nikon)
Automatic index; Nikon’s sytem for telling the camera’s exposure meter what the lens’ maximum aperture is.
AI/S (Nikon)
Automatic index/Shutter; Nikons’ lens mount permitting autmatic operation in shutter-priority and program auto-exposure systems
Aperture
The size of the variable lens opening (produced by the iris or diaphragm) through which light passes to the flim plan or CCD; measured in f/stops
Aperture Pirority
Auto-exposure systems where the photographer selects the aperture and the camera selects the appropriate shutter speed
APO
Apochromatic; a type of lens which focuses difference wavelenghts of light on the film plane for improved image sharpness. Especially useful in telephoto lenses (Chromatic aberration is corrected)
ASA (also see ISO)
American Standards Association numverical rating the describes the sensitivity of film to light
B(Bulb)
At the B setting the shutter remains open as long as the shutter release button remains fully depressed
Bracketing
To make several exposures, some greater (over exposing) and some less than (under exposing) the exposure that the camera meter has calculate to be correct, often b/c you have no idea of the proper exposure; bracketing allows for error and permits selection of the best exposure after the fact (OK if subject is static, but can create issues if you are ‘chasing brides’)
Burn on or Burn In
To darken a specific area of a print by giving it additional printing exposure (see dodge)
Camera
A picture taking device usually consisting of a light-tight box, a shutter to admit a measure quantity of light, a lens to focus the image, and an area for the light to be captured visa film or digital CCD
Cassette
a light-tight metal or plastic container that permits a roll of 35mm film to be loading into a camera in the light
Close-up
The general term for pictures taken at relatively close distances, form 1/10 life-sizes (1:10) to life-size (1:1)
Coating
A layer or multiple layers of thin anti-reflective materials applied to the surface of lens elements to reduce light reflection (see Flare) and increases the amount of transmitted light
Contact Printing
Placing a negative in contact with sensitized material, usually paper and then passing light through the negative onto the material
Contrast of Contrast Range
The difference in darkness or density between one tone and another; difference in the maximum density and the minimum density of a photorpgraphic media; generally measured with a densitometer
CMYK
A graphic arts intialism for CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, and BLACK; these are the Process Colors (transparent) used in four-color printing processes which, when combined in various, can create a large number of hues; in digital printing, there is often up to 4 more colors, generally light Cyan, Light Magenta, and a couple of shades of Black (increases color gamut); certain inks, pigments, and dyes can be used in Historical Processes to duplicate the CMYK effect
Crop
To trim the edges of an image, often to improve composition
D-Max
A value of 90% of maximum density of photographic materials as read on a densitometer
D-Min
a value of density .04 and aboce base plus fog for photographic materials as read on a densimoter
Densitometer
a mechanical device which measures the amount of reflected or transmitted light to determine the density of a photographic print (reflected densitometer) or negative and positive film (transmission densitometer)
Density
a measurable darkening of photosensitive paper film or paper caused by the conversion of silver halides into metallic silver; the greater the number of conversions, the darker the smulsion and eventually an image is formed
Density Rnage of Negative
The measureable difference between the max and min density, less film base plus fog, of a negative as measured with a transmission densitometer
Density Range of Print
The measureable difference b/tw the max and min density, less base plus fog, on a substrate as measured with a reflection desitometer
Depth of Field (DOF)
The range of allowable focusing error which will still produce an acceptably sharp image; the range of acceptably sharp focus in front of an behind the distance the lens is (primarily) focused on (think plane of glass through your subject)
Developer
a chemical solution that changes the invisible, latent image produced during exposure into a visible one
Diaphragm
A series of metal “blades” that can be manipulated to form a larger or smaller opening through which the light is admitted
Digital Imaging
The new evolution of the art of photography where images are scanned into an electronic format and then “processed” with a software such as adobe photoshop
Dodge
To lighten an area of a print by shading it during part of the printing exposure (as see burn)
Dot Gain
Also known as Tonal value Increase, a phenomenon in offset lithography and some other forms of printing which caused by ink spreading around halftone dots, which causes printed material to look darker than intended; an image that has not been adjusted to account for dot gain will appear too dark when it is printed; factors which can contribute to the increase in halftone dot area: different paper types have different ink absorption rates; uncoated papers can absord more ink than coated ones, and thus can show more gain
Dry Down
When wet, the fibers in paper substrate swell with the absorption of moisture; after druing the size of the fiver is reduced resulting in measurable change in the contrast of the image; the amount of change depends on the nature of the photosensitive coating and the amoung of subsgtrate swelling; similar to dot grain in the commercial printing industry
DX-Coding
code printed on film cartridges providing most new cameras with film speed information
Easel
darkroom accessory used to hold printing paper flat and in place under the enlarger
Element
one piece of glass comprising the internal optics of a lens (see Group)
EOS (Canon)
Electronic Optical System; Canon’s current line of autofocus cameras and accessories
Emulsion
Light sensitive salts or halides suspended in a colloid material and coated onto paper, plates, acetate, or other substrate; a light-sensitive coating applied to photographic films or papers often cconsists of silver halide crystals and other chemicals suspended in gelatin (silver gelatin papers)
Equivalent Exposure
Alternative exposures settings (f-stops and shutter speeds) produce proper exposure
E-TTL (Canon)
Evaluative, through-the-lens flash metering
EV
Exposure value; a numver that represents available combinations of shutter speed and aperture offering the same exposure effect when scene brightness remains the same. Each EV numver can be applied to various shutter speed and aperture combinations
Exposure
Light striking a sensitized material (film, paper emulsion, or CCD); intensity of light multiplied by the length of time it falls on a light-sensitive material; specifically, the combination of shutter speed and aperture
Exposure Compensation
Modifying the shutter speed and/or lens aperture recommended by the camera’s light meter in order to produce special creative ffects or to meet special requirements
Exposure Scale (E.S.)
The range of light intesities capable of being reproduced with a specific sensitizer or emulsion on a specific substrate, usually paper (Davis, 1990)
F-Stop
The common term for the aperture setting of a lens
Fill-Flash
Exposure consisting of a combination of flash and ‘available light’ balanced to produce a pleasing mix of the two