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Peter Ashby-Hayter - Photo glossary Category: Hobbies and Crafts > Photography Date & country: 20/09/2007, UK Words: 305

DX code
An electrical system built into recent 35mm cameras to automatically adjust the camera for the correct film speed. (see 35mm)

EF lens
The lens of the Canon EOS autofocus camera system. (see EOS & Bayonet)

Emulsion
The light-sensitive material (which is suspended in micro-thin layers of gelatin) that is coated onto different bases to make photographic film, or paper.

Enlargement
A print larger than the negative or trannie used to produce it (blow up).

EOS
A popular autofocus 35mm SLR camera system made by Canon. 'EOS' (Electro Optical System) is also the name of the goddess of dawn in Greek mythology. First introduced to the world in March 1987 with the EOS650 camera. (see SLR & 35mm)

ESP
'Electro Selective Pattern' a Matrix style metering found in many recent Olympus cameras. (see Matrix)

EXIF data
EXIF (Exchange image file format). This is a standard that allows information stored with the digital photograph (camera setting and exposure information) to be used to achieve a balanced colour when the photo is output on a EXIF data-compliant printer. Many programs can also read and display this information.

Existing Light
Available light, includes all natural lighting from moonlight to sunshine; and for photographic purposes, existing light is also the light that is already on the scene. Therefore it takes in: room lamps, fluorescent lamps, neon signs, candles, daylight through windows, and artificially illuminated night scenes.

Exposure
The quantity of light allowed to act on a photographic material; the lens aperture controls intensity or amount of light, and the shutter speed (or the enlarger timer in printing) controls the time. (See Aperture, Shutter speed & Over exposed )

Exposure compensation
To obtain the best results with certain subjects it may be necessary to alter the exposure from the value suggested by the camera. An exposure compensation button [+/-] is now found on most modern auto cameras. Positive compensation may be needed when the main subject is darker than the background and negative compensation may be needed for a subject lighter than the background.

Exposure latitude
The amount by which you can over or under expose a light-sensitive material with standard processing, and still achieve an acceptable result.

Exposure meter
An instrument for measuring the amount of light (available or flash) falling on or being reflected by a subject, and converting this measurement into usable information: shutter speed and f stop. (see Existing light , f-stop & Shutter speed )

Extension tubes
Metal tubes added to 35mm or medium format cameras, to extend the lens film distance, enabling a magnification greater than x 1(life size). (see: Close-up lens & Macro)

Fast film
Film with an emulsion that is very sensitive to light. Such films have high ISO ratings (i.e.: ISO1600). They are all, however, more grainy than there slower counterparts. (see Grain& ISO)

Fast lens
A lens with a wide maximum aperture (f2.8 is a fast lens in a 35mm telephoto design). Often used in low light situations or when a fast shutter speeds are always required. (see Aperture, Shutter speed & Tele)

Fibre (FB)
Fibre based photo printing paper of a traditional type (no plastic). High quality if printed & processed well but takes a long time to wash and dry. (see Bromide paper, Multigrade & RC paper)

Field camera
Type of folding Large format Camera usually made of wood, therefore lighter than a metal camera of the same type. Used in the 'Field' for landscapes but can be used in the Studio as a alternative for a Monorail but with less 'movements'. (see Baseboard, Monorail, Movements & Technical)

File size
The size of an image in digital photography, measured in kilobytes (K), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB). File size is proportional to its pixel dimensions; images with more pixels may produce more detail at a given printed size, but they require more disk space to store and are slower to edit, print and e-mail as an attachment. (see Pixel & Image resolution)

Fill-in
Light from an additional lamp, flash, or reflector; used to soften or 'fill in' the shadows caused by the brighter main light, often the Sun. Called fill-in flash when flash is used. (see Reflector)

Film back
Separate part of a Roll film Medium Format camera that holds the film. It aids speedy film change; especially with many preloaded backs or an assistant loading during a long session. (see Medium format)

Film Speed
The sensitivity of a film to light, indicated by a number such as ISO 100. The higher the number, the more sensitive or faster the film. (ISO stands for International Standards Organization.) (see Fast film, Slow film& ISO)

Filters
A piece of glass or other transparent material used over the lens which alters the nature, colour or quality of the light passing through it. (see CC filters)

Finder
Also known as a viewfinder. A viewing aid in a camera, used for composing, and usually focusing the subject. It would normally also display exposure information in smaller formats. (see Exposure & Focusing screen )

Fish fryer
Type of lighting attachment (a large overhead light).

Fisheye
Extreme wide-angle lens with an angle of view exceeding 100 degrees and sometimes in excess of 180 degrees Depth of field is practically infinite. It produces highly distorted images.(Note: lines are not drawn square!) (see Angle of view, Depth of field & Distortion)

Fix
Chemical process which converts unused light-sensitive silver-halide crystals to a soluble silver complex in both negatives and prints, making the image stable and unalterable in white light. Also referred to as hypo. (see Hypo)

Flare
Non-image-forming light scattered by reflections within a lens or enlarger/camera interior which reduces image contrast and detail. Flare can affect film by causing a lowering of image contrast. (see Contrast, Distortion, Multicoating & Hood)

Flash range
The distance over which a flash unit can give adequate illumination.

Flash sync.(synchronization)
Method of making a flash light fire at the correct moment, exactly when the shutter is fully open. Normally a camera's flash sync. speed is quoted as the highest speed that a given camera can synchronize with a flash unit (e.g.:1/125th. sec.). (see Shutter speed)

Flat
Too low in contrast. The range in density in a negative or print is too small. (see Contrast & Neg.)

Flat Lighting
Soft lighting that produces very little contrast on the subject plus a minimum of shadows. (see Contrast & Soft Lighting)

Floodlight
General term for an artificial light source which provides a constant and continuous light. Usually a tungsten-filament lamp mounted in a reflector. (see Blonde & Redhead)

Focal length
The distance between the film plane and the focal point (optical centre of the lens) when the lens is focused at infinity. The focal length of the lens is marked in millimetres on the lens mount. The principal focal point is the position of best focus for infinity. There are two principal focal points, if a lens is turned around a second focus is obtained. 'Reversed' lenses are often used in close-up Macrophotography because using a lens reversed allows a closer focusing distance. (see Macro Lens & Macrophotography)

Focal plane
Plane on which a given subject is brought to a sharp focus, where the film is positioned.

Focal plane shutter
One of the two main types of shutter and used universally in 35mm SLR cameras, positioned behind the lens and in fact slightly in front of the focal plane; the shutter consists of either cloth or metal blades. When the camera is fired a slit travels across the image either vertically or horizontally. The width and speed of the slit determines the duration of the exposure. (see Between -the-lens shutter & 35mm)

Focusing screen
Glass or plastic screen set at the camera's image-forming plane, where the image can be viewed and focused. (see Finder)

Focusing Spot
A type of mains light that works like a High Powered slide projector. It can focus the flash or continuous light into a sharp beam of light, or project an image of 'light & shadow' onto the subject with special metal light pattern 'slides' or 'Gobos'. (see Gobos)

Fogging
Density produced on a negative, print or trannie by chemical processing or accidental exposure to light, caused by
1. exposure to non image-forming light (possibly: opening the camera back in daylight),
2. too much handling in air during the development process,
3. over-developed,
4. outdated film or paper, or

Format
The size of the negative, paper or camera taking area. (see Large format, Medium format & 35mm)

Gels
Large coloured sheets of a transparent medium which are used over any type of light to add colour. (Also the smaller C.C. & camera filters.) (see CC filters)

Generator pack (Power pack)
The power pack used to link Large Studio flash lights to the mains. (see Monobloc)

Gobos
Shapes made from either card or metal which when added to a suitable light source can be projected onto 'a photographic subject' e.g. a shuttered window effect onto a table. Usually the gobo is used inside a Focusing Spot Light, but an ordinary 35mm projector can be used on smaller scenes! (see Focusing Spot)

Grain
The sand-like, granular appearance of a negative, print or trannie. Graininess becomes more noticeable with fast films and increased size of enlargement.(Granularity: The amount of grain clumping that has occurred within an emulsion. Also referred to as graininess.) (see: Emulsion, Enlargement & Fast film,)

Grain sharp
Making a print 'grain sharp' means that it is printed in focus. (see Grain)

Guide number
The number which indicates the effective power of a flash unit. For a given film speed, the guide number divided by the distance between the flash and the subject gives the appropriate f stop to use.

Hammer head
A type of larger portable battery fed flashgun (normally a Metz) (see Metz)

High key
Term describing a photograph which contains large areas of light tones, with few mid-tones or shadows. (see: Low key)

Highlights
The brightest areas of the subject or photograph.

Hold-back (shading)
Photo printing method to make parts of a picture lighter than it would normally have been. (see: Burning- in & Dodging)

Hood
A tube, usually made of metal or rubber, that prevents unwanted light from falling on the lens surface. (see Flare)

Hot shoe
The electrical fitting on a camera that holds a small portable flash and links the gun to the camera shutter mechanism.. This direct flash-to-camera contact eliminates the need for a flash sync. cord. (see Accessory Shoe, Flash sync. & Shutter)

Hunting
An autofocus system that has trouble finding the focus in a low contrast image or in poor light 'hunts'; this is where the lens moves continuously from close-up to infinity looking for the correct point of focus .

Hyperfocal Distance
The Hyperfocal Distance or point is the nearest point to the camera which is regarded as acceptably sharp when the lens is focused at infinity. So when the lens is focused on the hyperfocal point, depth of field extends from infinity back to a distance halfway between the camera and the hyperfocal point. This method is used in fixed focus viewfinder and 'box' cameras to obtain a photo that would perhaps include both a far away mountain range and a close group of people in acceptable focus. (see Depth of Field)

Hypo
Popular name for a fixing agent, derived from an abbreviation of hyposulfite of soda, the misnomer applied to sodium thiosulphate during the 19th century. (see Fix)

Image resolution
Digital photography: The number of pixels displayed per inch of printed length in an image, usually measured in dots per inch (dpi) or pixels per inch (ppi) The amount of detail in an image depends on its pixel dimensions, while the image resolution controls how much space the pixels are printed over. You can modify an image's resolution without changing the actual pixel data in the image all you change is the printed size of the image. (see Pixel & File size)

Incident light
Light falling on a surface (as opposed to reflected by it). (see Meter)

Incident light reading
Measurement, of the amount of incident light falling upon a subject. The meter is placed close to the subject, pointing toward the light. (see Meter)

Infinity
Focusing point at which the lens gives a sharp image of very distant objects, such as the far horizon.

Joule
Unit of energy in the SI (Système International) system of units. The joule is sometimes used in photography to indicate the output of an electronic flash.

JPEG
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a file compression method used in Digital Photography that shrinks a file's storage size, but which can also cause image degradation as a result of data loss. (see Lossy)

Kelvin(K)
Unit of temperature in the SI (Système International) system of units. Kelvin is used to measure the colour temperature of light. Daylight films are designed for colour temperatures between 5200K and 5800K.

Keystoning
Converging verticals can make a building appear to be falling down (wider at the bottom than the top), this can be corrected by making sure the film plane is parallel to the photographed surface using either a Shift Lens or camera movements. It can also be corrected within Photoshop. Keystoning is also the term for the effect of a tilted (up or down) projector. (see: Camera movements, Converging angles, Movements, Photoshop, Rising front & Shift )

Kodalith
Kodak trade name for Lith film. (see Lith film)

Large format
As the name implies this is the largest of modern film formats (the most popular being 5'x4' & 10'x8'), and they are especially suitable for high quality commercial work. (see Medium format)

Lastolite
Well known reflector manufacturer who created the folding 'spring out of the bag' style reflectors and Backgrounds. (see Reflector)

Latent image
The invisible image left by the action of light on photographic film or paper. The light changes the photosensitive salts and when processed, this latent image will become a visible image.

Latitude
The range of camera exposures from under to over exposure that will still produce an acceptable image from a specific film. (See Exposure & Exposure latitude)

Leader
The beginning of a 35 mm or roll film, which is attached to the take-up spool. (see Roll film & 35mm)

Lens shade
A Bellows or Hood at the front of a lens that keeps unwanted light from striking the lens and causing image flare. Should be sized to the particular lens to avoid vignetting. (see Bellows, Flare, Hood & Vignetting)

Lens Speed
The largest lens opening, e.g. f2 not f16. A fast lens transmits more light and has a larger opening than a slow lens. (see f-stop & Slow lens)

Light meter
(see: Exposure meter) Lith film

Long lens
Term describing a lens in which the focal length is much greater than the diagonal of the film format (or standard lens) with which it is used. e.g. 300mm on 35mm format where the standard is just 50mm. (see Focal length, Standard lens & Tele)

Lossy
Many file formats use compression to reduce the file size of bitmap images (digital photo). Lossless techniques compress the file without removing image detail or colour information; lossy techniques remove detail. JPEG is the most common file format in digital photography but this is a 'Lossy' file format. TIFF with LZW(Lemple-Zif-Welch) compression is the most popular lossless file format. (see JPEG & TIFF)

Low key
Term describing a photograph in which the tones are mostly dark and there are few highlights. (see High key)

Lumen
Measurement of 'candle power' or light output, a unit of light falling on a surface.

Lux
(see Lumen)

Macro lens
A lens that provides continuous focusing from infinity to extreme life-size 1:1 close-ups. Also used as a copy lens because of its highly corrected design and close-focusing. Macro lenses can also be used at ordinary subject distances (see: Copy, Close-up lens& Extension tubes)

Macrophotography
Close-up photography in the range of magnification between life-size 1:1 and about ten times 10:1.

Mains flash
Not battery fed; large studio based Flash lights, run from mains electric. (see Generator pack & Monobloc) .

Matrix Metering
Multi-segment metering (originally devised by Nikon for its FA SLR of 1983 under the name AMP: Automatic Multi-Pattern metering). Matrix was introduced to the world in 1988 with the Nikon F4. Now available from most manufactures under varying names. Light coming from the subject passes through the lens into the viewfinder where it strikes a 10 segment light meter (in the current Nikon F6), this gives the camera a better chance of obtaining the correct exposure for the main component of a particular image.

Medium format
A larger format than the popular 35mm size, which can provide the image quality necessary for commercial reproduction, using 120, 220 or 70mm film. Various sizes can be shot, the most popular are 6cmx6cm, 6cmx4.5cm and 6cmx7cm. (see 35mm)

Megapixel
The manufacturers way of describing the resolution of a Digital camera; a 6 megapixel camera has a resolution of 6 million pixels. (see Pixel)

Memory Stick
A Sony memory card. Like Compact Flash and Smart Media it is a flash memory based storage system for use in digital cameras. (see Compact Flash, and Smart Media)

Meter
An instrument with a light-sensitive cell that measures the light reflected from or falling onto a subject. Some types can also measure Flash light. (see: Exposure meter & Incident light)

Metz
Well known German manufacturer of large portable battery flashguns.

Micro Drives
Very small Hard Drives (HD) designed for Digital cameras. Compact 'flash memory' cards are now available in similar sizes. (see Compact Flash)

Micro lens
The Micro-Nikkor is the Nikon Corporation's name for their close-up 'Macro' lens. (see Macro lens)

Microphotography
(see Photomicrography)

Mirror (Mirror lens)
A long lens that uses mirrors within its construction. This allows an extremely long focal length lens to fit within a relatively short barrel. Also known as reflex or catadioptric (cat). (see Long lens)

Modeling light
A high powered bulb in a Mains Flash unit which is used to help judge what effect the flash light will have on the subject. It also describes a light used to enhance a three-dimensional effect. (see Mains flash)

Monobloc
Type of mains flash that is smaller than the Generator style items. They are self contained and can be used more easily on location. (see Generator pack)

Monorail camera
Large format camera, constructed on a single rail. Offers the maximum of camera movements. (see Baseboard, Camera movements, Field camera ,& Technical)

Movements
Large format camera movements to help focus, shape, composition or converging angles (swing, shift & tilt) . (see Camera movements& Converging angles)

MP
Abbreviation for Megapixel. (see Megapixel)

Multicoating
Modern lenses are made up of many individual glass elements, these elements improve the overall image quality compared with a simple 'single' or 'double' element lens, however, extra elements can reduce the performance by absorbing incoming light. A transparent lens 'Coating' (single or multi) aids the passage of light, reduces 'flare' and also improves contrast. (see: Flare)

Multigrade
Photographic B&W paper that provides all the different grades of contrast from one box. Invented by Ilford in the 1950's, but versions are now manufactured by all the major makers. (see Contrast grade paper)

Neg. (Negative)
Developed film that contains a reversed image of the original scene (in a colour negative the colours are also reversed, and appear as their complementaries.). Light shone through the transparent negative will make a positive (normal) print on photographic paper.

Neg. carrier
Negative holder used in an enlarger. It may be adjustable for different formats and is designed to exclude unwanted light from the edges of the neg . (see Format)

Neutral density filter
A neutral grey camera filter which is used to reduce the amount of light entering the camera when a slow shutter speed or wide aperture is needed. (see Aperture & Shutter speed)

One shot back
Digital camera back for Large or Medium format cameras that can shoot a scene in one pass like ordinary film (not three like the RGB Scanning backs) can therefore be used with live subjects, not just still life! (see Large format& Scanning back)