Photography Glossary

The lens opening (f-number) controlling light reaching the sensor and affecting depth of field. Small f-numbers (e.g., f/1.4) create shallow DOF with blurred backgrounds.

Also known as: f-Stop

See also: Depth of Field , Bokeh

Sensor size smaller than full frame with ~1.5x (Fujifilm) or ~1.6x (Canon) crop factor. Compact cameras and lenses with good image quality.

See also: Crop Factor , Full Frame

Photography of buildings and structures. Requires correcting converging lines and often uses wide-angle lenses and tripods.

See also: Wide Angle , Tripod

Automatic focusing by the camera. Modern systems use phase detection and subject tracking for fast, precise focus acquisition.

Also known as: AF

See also: Manual Focus , Depth of Field

Light source behind the subject. Creates silhouettes, rim light, and dramatic moods — requires deliberate exposure control.

Also known as: Backlighting

See also: Silhouette , Golden Hour

Photography without color, emphasizing contrasts, shapes, and textures. Draws attention to the essence of the subject.

Also known as: Monochrome, B&W

See also: Contrast , Post-Processing

The twilight phase before sunrise and after sunset with deep blue sky. Perfect for cityscapes and architecture with artificial light.

See also: Golden Hour , Night Photography

The aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas. Created by wide apertures, valued in portrait and macro photography.

See also: Aperture , Depth of Field

Unposed, spontaneous photographs of people in natural situations. The photographer remains unnoticed to capture authentic moments.

Also known as: Candid

See also: Street Photography , Reportage Photography

Measured in Kelvin (K), describing the color tone of light. Low values (2700K) appear warm/yellow, high values (7000K+) cool/blue.

See also: White Balance , Kelvin

Deliberate arrangement of visual elements within the frame using principles like rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry.

See also: Golden Ratio , Rule of Thirds

The brightness difference between the lightest and darkest areas of an image. High contrast is dramatic, low contrast is soft and dreamy.

See also: Dynamic Range , Black & White Photography

Ratio of sensor size to full-frame (36×24mm). APS-C sensors have ~1.5x (Fujifilm) or ~1.6x (Canon), extending effective focal length.

See also: Focal Length , Full Frame

The area in the image that appears sharp. Determined by aperture, focal length, and subject distance.

Also known as: DOF

See also: Aperture , Bokeh , Focal Length

The contrast range a sensor can capture from darkest to brightest point. Cameras with high dynamic range preserve detail in shadows and highlights.

See also: HDR , Exposure Bracketing

Metadata automatically stored in every image file: camera, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, date, and GPS coordinates.

Also known as: Metadata

See also: RAW , JPEG

Automatically capturing multiple frames at different exposure values. Foundation for HDR photography and insurance in tricky lighting situations.

Also known as: Bracketing

See also: HDR , Shutter Speed

Camera profiles mimicking the look of classic film stocks. Fujifilm is renowned for simulations like Classic Chrome, Velvia, and Acros.

See also: JPEG , Post-Processing

Distance between lens optical center and sensor in millimeters. Short (16mm) for wide-angle, long (200mm) for telephoto.

See also: Wide Angle , Telephoto

Sensor size of 36×24mm matching classic 35mm film. Offers higher dynamic range and better noise performance than smaller sensors.

Also known as: FF

See also: Crop Factor , APS-C

The period shortly after sunrise and before sunset with warm, soft light and long shadows. Ideal for portraits and landscapes.

See also: Blue Hour , Backlight

A composition principle dividing the image in a 1:1.618 ratio. Similar to rule of thirds but slightly more dynamic.

Also known as: Golden Section

See also: Rule of Thirds , Composition

High Dynamic Range — technique combining multiple exposures into one image with extended contrast range, preserving detail in both shadows and highlights.

Also known as: High Dynamic Range

See also: Dynamic Range , Exposure Bracketing

Graphical representation of brightness distribution in an image. Helps determine if an image is over- or underexposed while shooting.

See also: Shutter Speed , Dynamic Range

Unwanted pixel artifacts appearing at high ISO values or long exposures. Can be reduced in post-processing at the cost of fine detail.

Also known as: Noise, Grain

See also: ISO , Post-Processing

Mechanism in camera body (IBIS) or lens (OIS) compensating for hand shake. Enables sharper handheld shots at slower shutter speeds.

Also known as: IS, IBIS, OIS

See also: Shutter Speed , Tripod

Sensor light sensitivity. Low ISO (100-400) produces noise-free images, high ISO (3200+) enables low-light shooting at the cost of noise.

Also known as: Sensitivity

See also: Shutter Speed , Image Noise

Compressed image format with smaller file size. The camera applies sharpening, color adjustments, and compression — less post-processing latitude than RAW.

Also known as: JPG

See also: RAW , Post-Processing

Unit of measurement for color temperature in photography. Daylight is approximately 5500K, tungsten light 3200K, overcast sky 6500K.

Also known as: K

See also: Color Temperature , White Balance

Photography of natural scenery — mountains, rivers, forests. Thrives on light, weather, and composition. Golden and blue hour deliver the best light.

See also: Golden Hour , Blue Hour

Exposure times of seconds to minutes creating flowing water, light trails, and surreal cloud effects. Tripod mandatory.

See also: Shutter Speed , Tripod , ND Filter

Close-up photography of small subjects at 1:1 magnification or greater. Reveals details invisible to the naked eye — insects, flowers, textures.

Also known as: Macro

See also: Depth of Field , Tripod

Focusing by hand via the lens focus ring. Essential for macro, astrophotography, and challenging AF situations.

Also known as: MF

See also: Autofocus , Macro Photography

The camera measures scene brightness to determine aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Methods: matrix/evaluative, center-weighted, or spot.

Also known as: Exposure Metering

See also: Shutter Speed , Histogram

Neutral density filter reducing light without color shift. Enables long exposures in daylight — essential for flowing water and cloud movement.

Also known as: Neutral Density

See also: Long Exposure , Aperture

Photography in darkness or twilight. Requires high ISO, long exposures, and a sturdy tripod.

See also: Long Exposure , ISO

Photography of people focusing on face, expression, and character. Fast lenses (f/1.4–f/2.8) and controlled lighting are key.

Also known as: Portraiture

See also: Bokeh , Aperture

Digital editing of photographs — exposure correction, color grading, sharpening, and retouching. Common software: Lightroom, Capture One, Photoshop.

Also known as: Editing, Retouching

See also: RAW , JPEG

Fixed focal length lens (no zoom). Typically offers wider maximum aperture and sharper rendering than comparable zoom lenses.

Also known as: Fixed Lens

See also: Focal Length , Aperture

Uncompressed image format storing all sensor data. Maximum post-processing flexibility — more latitude than JPEG for exposure, colors, and white balance.

Also known as: NEF, CR2, RAF

See also: JPEG , Post-Processing

Documentary photography that visually tells stories and captures events. Authenticity and timing are paramount.

Also known as: Documentary Photography

See also: Street Photography , Candid Photography

Composition guideline dividing the frame into nine equal sections using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Key subjects are placed along these lines or at their intersections.

See also: Golden Ratio , Composition

Duration the shutter stays open. Fast speeds (1/1000s) freeze motion, slow speeds (30s) create motion blur — ideal for night and water photography.

Also known as: Exposure Time

See also: Long Exposure , ISO

Dark outline of a subject against a bright background. Created by strong backlight and deliberate foreground underexposure.

See also: Backlight , Contrast

Exposure metering from a small area (1–5% of the frame). Ideal in high-contrast scenes when the main subject needs correct exposure.

See also: Metering , Backlight

Unposed public-space photography documenting everyday life and spontaneous moments. Requires quick reflexes and respect for subjects.

See also: Candid Photography , Reportage Photography

Lenses with long focal lengths (70mm+) magnifying distant subjects. Compresses perspective and creates stronger background blur.

Also known as: Tele

See also: Focal Length , Wide Angle

Three-legged camera support for shake-free images. Essential for long exposures, macro, and architecture photography.

See also: Long Exposure

Darkening of image corners relative to the center. Occurs optically and can be corrected or intentionally enhanced in post-processing.

Also known as: Vignette

See also: Post-Processing , Wide Angle

Color temperature correction so white appears neutral under different light sources. Can be used creatively for warmer or cooler moods.

Also known as: WB

See also: Color Temperature , Kelvin

Lenses with short focal lengths (10–35mm) covering a broad field of view. Ideal for landscapes, architecture, and tight spaces.

See also: Focal Length , Telephoto