As a photography enthusiast, you likely know that there is a lot of specialized vocabulary involved in the art form. Whether You’re just getting started or you’ve been taking photos for years, it never hurts to brush up on the lingo. To help you out, We’ve compiled a list of common photography terms and their definitions.
Aperture: The aperture is the opening in the lens through which light passes. It is expressed as an f-stop number, which indicates the ratio of the lens?s focal length to the diameter of the aperture. A lower f-stop number corresponds to a wider aperture, while a higher number indicates a narrower aperture.
Bokeh: Bokeh is the term used to describe the aesthetic quality of the blur in the background of a photo. It is often described as ?the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.? Good bokeh is usually soft and pleasing to the eye, while bad bokeh can be harsh and distracting.
Depth of field: Depth of field is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in a photograph. It is determined by the aperture, focal length, and distance of the subject from the camera. A shallow depth of field results in a blurry background, while a deep depth of field keeps both the foreground and background in focus.
Exposure: Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the sensor (or film) of a camera. It is determined by the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. A proper exposure will result in an image that is neither too light nor too dark.
ISO: ISO is the sensitivity of the sensor (or film) to light. A higher ISO results in a higher sensitivity, which means less light is needed to produce a properly exposed image. However, a high ISO also results in more noise in the image.
Lens: A lens is a piece of glass (or plastic) that is used to focus light onto the sensor (or film) of a camera. Lenses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and each type has its own purpose. For example, a wide-angle lens is used for landscape photography, while a telephoto lens is better suited for wildlife or sports photography.
Shutter speed: Shutter speed is the amount of time that the shutter is open, allowing light to reach the sensor (or film). It is expressed as a fraction of a second, such as 1/250 or 1/60. A faster shutter speed results in a shorter exposure, while a slower shutter speed results in a longer exposure.
White balance: White balance is the process of removing color casts from an image so that white objects appear truly white. It is important to set the white balance properly, as a incorrect setting can result in an image that looks unnatural.
