Resources

Printable cards

Every module has an A5 Field Card for your camera bag and an Assignment Card for its challenge. Open any module, tap a card to view it, then print.

Cheat sheets

Every module on one printable page.

Quizzes

Check what stuck. Wrong answers just say try again.

Photography glossary

799 terms in plain English, each linked to the module that teaches it.

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.lrsmcol file

An exported file holding a smart collection's rules (not its photos), for importing into another catalogue. Lightroom Module 3

120 film

Medium format roll film about 6cm wide, used for 6×4.5, 6×6, 6×7 and larger frame sizes. Module 73

3-2-1 backup

Keeping three copies of your files on two types of media, with one copy stored in another location. Module 28

3-2-1 rule

A backup standard: three copies of each file, on two different devices or media, with one kept offsite. Module 18

500 rule

An approximate guide to the longest exposure before stars trail: 500 divided by the effective focal length, in seconds. Module 51

A

ABN

Australian Business Number: a free business identifier from the Australian Business Register. Elsewhere, your tax ID plays this role (e.g. a UK UTR, a US SSN or EIN). The Business of Photography Module 4

Above the fold

The part of a web page visible without scrolling; it is much smaller on a phone than on a laptop. The Business of Photography Module 1

Abstraction

Reducing or transforming a subject so the image works through form, colour and texture rather than recognition of the object. Module 69

Accent colour

A small area of a strong, contrasting colour placed in a field of a dominant colour to draw the eye. Module 41

Access

The permission and trust that let a photographer get close to a subject, place or community. Module 71

Action Pan

Motion mode option that keeps a moving subject sharp and blurs the background, like a panned shot. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Active photo

The one photo currently in focus, shown as the lightest thumbnail; Loupe, Compare and Survey changes apply only to it. Lightroom Module 2

Acutance

How abruptly an edge changes from dark to light; the quality sharpening increases. Module 12

Add Me

Pixel mode (Pixel 9 and later) that stitches two photos so the photographer appears in the group. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Additive blend

A mode that sums the light of each frame; each frame must be reduced in exposure to avoid overexposure. Module 70

Additive colour

Colour made by mixing light; red, green and blue combine to make white. Module 41

Adjustment layer

A layer that changes the appearance of layers below it without altering their pixels. Photoshop Module 1

AE lock

A button that freezes the metered exposure so you can recompose without the reading changing. Module 10

AE/AF lock

Locking autoexposure and autofocus so the camera stops re-adjusting when you recompose. Smartphone Photography Module 1

AEB

Auto exposure bracketing: a camera mode that fires a sequence of frames at set exposure intervals. Module 47

Aerial perspective

The paler, bluer, lower-contrast look of distant scenery caused by light scattering in the atmosphere; it helps a photo read as deep. Module 29

AF-C / AI Servo

Continuous autofocus: the camera keeps refocusing and predicting subject movement while the button is held. Module 13

AF-S / One-Shot

Single autofocus: the camera focuses once and locks while the button is held. Module 13

Afterglow

Colour on clouds and sky after sunset, caused by sunlight still reaching the upper atmosphere. Module 33

Agency

In representation, showing people as active participants who make choices and shape their own lives and stories, rather than as passive subjects. Module 80

AGL

Above ground level: height measured from the ground directly below the drone, not from sea level or the take-off point. Module 67

Airglow

A faint natural glow, often green or red, emitted by the upper atmosphere at night; it is not light pollution. Module 51

Airy disc

The small bright pattern a point of light forms after diffraction through an aperture; its diameter grows in proportion to the f-number. Module 6

Airy disk

The blur spot created by diffraction at the aperture; its diameter grows in proportion to the f-number. Module 12

Alt text

A short written description of an image, read aloud by screen readers and shown if the image fails to load. The Business of Photography Module 1

Ambient exposure

The exposure of the scene from steady existing light, controlled by shutter time, aperture and ISO. Module 50

Ambient light

The light already present in a scene, such as daylight or lamps, independent of the flash. Module 42

Ambrotype

A wet collodion negative on glass that appears positive when backed with black. Usually cased; in use roughly 1854–1865. Module 78

Amputation crop

A crop that cuts through a joint such as a wrist, knee or ankle, making limbs look cut off. Module 25

Analogous colours

Colours next to each other on the wheel, which usually look calm and unified together. Module 41

Anchor

A single sharp, dark or defined element that gives structure to an otherwise soft or patterned abstract frame. Module 69

Anchor pose

A stable, easy starting pose, such as sitting or leaning, that relaxes the subject before refinements. Module 25

Anchor tone

A small area of the opposite tone, such as dark eyes in a high-key portrait, that gives the image structure. Module 56

Anchorage

Barthes's term for text, such as a caption, that narrows an image to one of its possible meanings. Module 77

Angle of view

How much of the scene a lens and sensor record, expressed in degrees horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Module 14

Animal-eye autofocus

A camera feature that detects and tracks the eyes of animals, keeping focus on them as they move. Module 45

Anti-flicker shooting

A camera feature that detects pulsing artificial light and times each exposure to its brightest point, keeping frames consistent. Module 7

Antisolar point

The point in the sky directly opposite the sun, marked by the shadow of your head; rainbows circle it. Module 32

Aperture

The adjustable opening inside the lens, formed by blades, that controls how much light passes through at once. Module 1

Aperture priority (A/Av)

You choose the aperture; the camera chooses the shutter speed for correct exposure. Module 9

Apparent size

How large a light source looks from the subject's position. Larger apparent size gives softer shadows. Module 24

Artist statement

A short piece of plain-language writing explaining what the work shows, how it was made and why. Module 86

Aspect ratio

The shape of the frame, written as width to height, such as 16:9 or 9:16. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Assign profile

Changing which colour space an image’s numbers are read in, without changing the numbers. The colours shift; used only to correct a wrong or missing tag. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Assignment

A transfer of copyright ownership to someone else; in Australia, the UK and the USA it must be in writing and signed by the owner. The Business of Photography Module 3

Assisted Culling

A Lightroom Classic 15 feature that scores focus, eyes and exposure and suggests selects and rejects. Lightroom Module 2

Associative sequence

A sequence that moves by visual or poetic links such as shape, colour or motif rather than by time or cause and effect. Module 83

Astronomical twilight

The period while the sun is between 12° and 18° below the horizon, after which the sky is fully dark. Module 48

Astrophotography

A Night Sight option for the night sky that switches on when the phone is held still on a tripod or stand. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Asymmetric balance

Balance achieved with unequal elements placed at different distances from the frame centre. Module 75

Atmospheric perspective

The way haze and air make distant objects lighter, lower in contrast and often bluer, creating a sense of depth. Module 75

Auto captions

Captions generated by speech recognition, which should always be proofread. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Auto ISO

A mode where the camera raises ISO as needed, within limits you set, to keep a chosen shutter speed. Module 8

Auto ISO in Manual

A hybrid mode where you set aperture and shutter speed and the camera adjusts ISO to reach the metered exposure. Module 21

Auto ISO minimum shutter speed

The slowest shutter speed auto ISO allows before it raises ISO; once ISO reaches its maximum, the shutter slows anyway. Module 19

Auto white balance (AWB)

A camera mode that estimates the colour of the light in each frame and neutralises it automatically. Module 17

Average blend

A multiple exposure mode that divides the combined light by the number of frames, so the result keeps the brightness of a single exposure. Module 70

Azimuth

The compass direction of the sun or another object, measured clockwise from north in degrees: east is 90°, west 270°. Module 33

B

B&W mix

Editing sliders that set how bright each colour range becomes when an image is converted to black and white. Module 40

B-roll

Extra footage of details, places and actions that editors cut to over the main footage. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Back-button focus

Assigning autofocus to a rear button so the shutter button only meters and takes the picture. Module 13

Backlight

Light coming from behind the subject towards the camera. On flowers it shines through thin petals and outlines edges. Module 37

Backup (mirror) mode

A dual-card camera setting that records each image to both cards at once for protection against card failure. Module 28

Backwash

Water draining back down a beach or rock shelf after a wave, which forms trails in slow exposures. Module 31

Balance

Lightroom Color Grading slider that shifts the dividing point between the shadow and highlight grades. Lightroom Module 6

Banding

Visible steps in smooth tonal gradients, such as skies, caused by limited bit depth or heavy compression. Module 85

Barrel distortion

A lens flaw that bows straight lines outwards from the centre, common in wide-angle lenses. Module 14

Baryta

A fibre-based paper coated with barium sulfate, known for deep blacks and a classic darkroom look. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Base ISO

The camera's lowest native ISO, usually 100, which gives the widest dynamic range and cleanest files. Module 8

Bayer filter

A mosaic of red, green and blue filters over the sensor, half of them green, so each photosite records one colour. Module 4

Belt of Venus

A pink band in the sky opposite the sunset, above the blue-grey shadow of the Earth. Module 33

Best Take

Google Photos tool (Pixel 8 and later) that swaps in each person’s best expression from similar group shots. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Billable day

A day you are actually paid for by a client, as opposed to days spent on admin, marketing or unpaid editing. The Business of Photography Module 5

Birds in flight (BIF)

Common shorthand for photographs of flying birds, and for the camera set-up used to capture them. Module 64

Bit depth

The number of brightness levels each colour channel can store: 8-bit has 256, 12-bit 4,096 and 14-bit 16,384. Module 4

Black point compensation

A setting that maps the image's black to the paper's deepest black so shadow detail is preserved. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Bleed

Image area extending beyond the trim line, commonly 3 mm (⅛ inch in the USA), so no white edge shows after cutting. Module 84

Blend mode

The rule for combining a layer's pixels with those beneath, such as Multiply, Screen or Soft Light. Photoshop Module 1

Blending

Lightroom Color Grading slider that controls how much the shadow, midtone and highlight ranges overlap. Lightroom Module 6

Blue hour

The twilight period when the sun is just below the horizon and the sky turns deep blue. Module 19

Body of work

A substantial group of photographs, often made over months or years, unified by a sustained concern and consistent choices. Module 82

Bokeh

The visual character of out-of-focus areas, shaped by lens design and aperture blades. Module 6

Bookending

Opening and closing a sequence with frames that echo each other, giving the essay a sense of completion. Module 72

Booking flow

The repeatable sequence of steps and documents from first enquiry to final delivery and follow-up. The Business of Photography Module 4

Bortle scale

A nine-level scale of night-sky darkness, from 1 at an excellent dark site to 9 in an inner-city sky. Module 48

Bounce flash

Aiming the flash at a ceiling, wall or reflector so the larger lit surface becomes the light source. Module 42

Boundary Warp

A Lightroom panorama option that stretches the merged image to fill a rectangle, reducing the need to crop. Module 34

Box speed

The ISO rating printed on the film by the manufacturer, used for normal development. Module 73

Bracket spacing

The exposure difference between frames in a bracket, such as 1 or 2 stops, chosen to cover the scene's brightness range. Module 46

Bracketing

Taking several exposures of the same scene at different brightness levels, for choice or blending. Module 29

Break-even point

The number of sales at which income exactly covers costs; every sale beyond it adds profit. The Business of Photography Module 4

Brewster angle

The angle at which reflected light is most strongly polarised; about 53° from vertical for water. Module 36

Brewster's angle

The angle at which reflected light is most fully polarised; for water, about 53° from vertical. Module 31

Bridge camera

A fixed-lens camera shaped like a DSLR, usually with a small sensor and a very long zoom range. Module 1

Bridge image

A quieter frame, such as a detail or pause, that is modest alone but connects stronger images in a set. Module 82

Bright-field lighting

Lighting glass against a bright background, with dark cards just outside the frame so the glass edges show as clean dark lines. Module 38

Brightness range

The difference in stops between the brightest and darkest areas of a scene that need to keep detail. Module 10

Broad lighting

Lighting the side of the face nearer the camera, which makes the face appear wider and more open. Module 25

Buffer

Fast memory inside the camera that holds frames until they are written to the card. When it fills, burst shooting slows to the card's write speed. Module 4

Build and peel

A formals method where people are added around a stationary couple, then removed in reverse order. Module 61

Bulb (B)

A shutter setting that keeps the shutter open for as long as the button, or a locked remote, is held down. Module 2

Bulb mode

A shutter setting that keeps the shutter open as long as the release is held or locked, for exposures beyond 30 seconds. Module 30

Burning

Darkening a selected area of an image, originally by giving it extra light during darkroom printing. Lightroom Module 7

Burst mode

A drive setting that fires frames continuously while the shutter button is held. A short burst often contains one frame sharper than the rest. Module 2

Butterfly lighting

Key light in front of and above the face, creating a small symmetrical shadow under the nose; also called Paramount lighting. Module 55

C

C-41

The standard chemical process for developing colour negative film. Module 73

Calibration

Adjusting a device, such as a monitor, to a known target state for white point, brightness and tone response. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Calibration panel

Lightroom's controls for the hue and saturation of the red, green and blue primaries, which shift all colours at once. Lightroom Module 4

Call sheet

A one-page plan listing times, location, contacts, looks and running order for a shoot day. Module 59

Call to action

A clear button or link telling visitors the next step, such as Enquire or View the series. The Business of Photography Module 1

Camera Assistant

A free Samsung app that adds power-user camera settings such as Quick tap shutter and Picture softening. Smartphone Photography Module 3

Camera Control

A pressure-sensitive button on the side of supported iPhones that opens Camera, takes photos and adjusts settings by sliding. Smartphone Photography Module 2

Camera Looks

Pixel 11 series feature for choosing how photos are processed, from a default Look to stylised ones. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Camera shake

Blur caused by the camera moving during the exposure; it affects the whole frame, usually in one direction. Module 2

Camera trap

A camera triggered by a motion or heat sensor, left near a trail or feeding area to photograph animals without the photographer present. Module 63

Canon

The set of photographers and images generally treated as most important, shaped by those who collected and wrote history. Module 78

Carousel

A single post containing several images or videos that viewers swipe through in sequence. The Business of Photography Module 2

Carte de visite

A small photographic portrait mounted on card about the size of a visiting card, hugely popular from around 1860. Module 78

Catalogue

A database, as in Lightroom Classic, that records file locations, edits, ratings and keywords without containing the photos themselves. Module 18

Catchlight

The reflection of a light source in a subject's eyes, which adds life to a portrait. Module 24

Category brief

The description of what a competition category is looking for, including subject, theme and any limits. Module 85

cd/m²

Candelas per square metre, the unit of screen brightness (luminance), also called nits. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Centre line

A horizontal line, often about 145 cm above the floor, on which the centres of hung works are aligned. Module 84

Centre-weighted metering

A mode that reads the whole frame but gives most weight to a central area, with no scene recognition. Module 10

Channel

A wireless frequency setting that keeps your triggers separate from other photographers' systems. Module 53

Channel clipping

When one colour channel (often red at sunset) reaches its maximum value, flattening gradients even if the overall histogram looks safe. Module 33

Character-led story

A picture story that follows one person, or a few, through a situation over time. Module 71

Checksum

A numerical fingerprint calculated from a file, used to confirm that a copy is identical to the original. Module 18

Circle of confusion

The largest blur disc that still looks like a sharp point to the viewer; used to calculate depth of field. Module 6

Circular polariser (CPL)

A rotating filter that blocks light polarised in one plane, cutting reflections and glare, designed to work with autofocus and metering. Module 30

Civil twilight

The period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon; it overlaps much of the blue hour. Module 29

Clamshell lighting

Butterfly lighting with a reflector or second light below the face to open the eye sockets and soften the chin shadow. Module 55

Clarity

A midtone local contrast control that adds punch at a relatively large scale. Lightroom Module 4

Clipping

Tones pushed beyond the recordable range, becoming pure black or pure white with no detail. Module 11

Clone Stamp

A tool that copies pixels exactly from one area to another, best for hard edges rather than skin. Photoshop Module 2

Closer

An image that gives a story a sense of ending, such as people leaving or a quiet aftermath. Module 71

Closure

The tendency to perceive incomplete shapes as complete. Module 76

Collection

A virtual group of photos. One file can appear in many collections without being duplicated. Lightroom Module 1

Collection set

A container that holds collections and other sets, but no photos of its own. Lightroom Module 3

Colour cast

An overall unwanted tint in a photo, such as orange under tungsten or blue in shade. Module 17

Colour constancy

The visual system's ability to see object colours as stable under different coloured light; cameras lack it. Module 76

Colour correction

Adjusting colour so neutrals are neutral and the image looks accurate to the scene. Lightroom Module 6

Colour filter

In black and white, a filter that lightens its own colour and darkens its complement, such as red darkening blue sky. Lightroom Module 7

Colour filter (monochrome)

A coloured lens filter that lightens its own colour and darkens its complementary colour in black and white. Module 40

Colour grading

Deliberately shifting colour away from neutral to create mood or a consistent look. Lightroom Module 6

Colour label

A red, yellow, green, blue or purple tag, often used for workflow status such as "to edit". Lightroom Module 2

Colour noise

Random blotches of false colour, usually magenta, green or blue, most visible in shadows and underexposed areas. Module 8

Colour space

The range of colours a file can describe, such as sRGB or Adobe RGB; set in camera for JPEGs, at export for RAW. Module 4

Colour spill

Coloured light bounced onto a subject from a nearby surface, such as green from grass or warmth from a brick wall. Module 24

Colour temperature

The colour of light described in kelvin; lower values are warmer and more orange, higher values cooler and bluer. Module 17

Coma

A lens aberration that stretches points of light near the frame corners into comet-like shapes, usually reduced by stopping down. Module 51

Common fate

The tendency to group elements that move together, in the same direction and at a similar speed. Module 76

Common region

The tendency to group elements that sit inside a shared boundary, such as a doorway, window or painted panel. Module 76

Compare view

A side-by-side view of a Select and a Candidate photo (C). Lightroom Module 2

Complementary colours

Colours opposite each other on the wheel; for light, red–cyan, green–magenta and blue–yellow. Module 41

Compression

The apparent stacking of distant layers when photographing from far away, usually with a telephoto lens. Module 22

Computational photography

Processing that captures and combines several frames, then adjusts tone, colour and sharpness, to overcome the limits of a small sensor. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Condensation

Moisture that forms on cool glass and electronics when moved into warmer, humid air. Module 2

Connotation

The associations and suggested meanings an image carries, which depend on culture and context. Module 77

Constant aperture

A zoom whose maximum aperture stays the same across its whole focal length range, such as a 24–70mm f/2.8. Module 23

Constraint

A self-imposed rule for a series, such as one colour, one material or one lens, that gives abstract work coherence and shows intent. Module 69

Contact sheet

A grid of small images from a shoot, viewed together to compare frames and spot patterns. Module 86

Content pillar

A recurring theme or category of posts, used to plan varied content without starting from scratch each time. The Business of Photography Module 2

Content-Aware Fill

A tool that fills a selection with texture synthesised from surrounding areas of the image. Photoshop Module 1

Continuous autofocus (AF-C / AI Servo)

A focus mode that keeps adjusting focus while the shutter button is half-pressed, so moving subjects stay sharp. Module 26

Contrast

The difference between light and dark tones, either across the whole image (global) or between neighbouring areas (local). Module 40

Contrast-detection AF

Autofocus that adjusts the lens until edge contrast peaks; accurate but slower and prone to hunting. Module 13

Contribution per sale

The sale price minus the direct costs of that sale, such as printing and card fees; it pays off fixed costs, then becomes profit. The Business of Photography Module 4

Converging verticals

Vertical lines that lean towards each other when the camera is tilted up or down, most visible with wide lenses. Module 22

Convert to profile

Changing an image’s RGB numbers so its colours look the same in a new colour space. Used when exporting, for example to sRGB for the web. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Copyright

Exclusive rights to reproduce, publish and communicate a work; it arises automatically in most countries, e.g. under Australia's Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The Business of Photography Module 3

Cost of doing business (CODB)

The total annual cost of running your photography business, including gear replacement, software, insurance, marketing and fees. The Business of Photography Module 5

Coverage audit

Sorting your picks by frame type after a shoot to reveal which kinds of frames the story still lacks. Module 71

Creative fee

The part of a commercial quote that pays for the photographer's time, skill and production. The Business of Photography Module 5

Creep

The outward shift of inner pages in a thick saddle-stitched booklet, which makes them lose more at the trim. Module 84

Crepuscular

Most active at dawn and dusk, like kangaroos and wombats in Australia, or deer and foxes in Europe and North America. Module 63

Crop factor

The ratio between a full-frame sensor’s diagonal and a smaller sensor’s; multiply focal length by it to find the equivalent full-frame field of view. Module 1

Crop-safe framing

Leaving space around the subject so the image can be cropped to different ratios without cutting the head or chin. Module 57

Cross-dissolve

A transition where one clip fades into the next while overlapping it. Smartphone Photography Module 7

CTO gel

Colour temperature orange: a warming filter placed over a flash or light so it matches tungsten or warm household lighting. Module 17

Culling

Reviewing a shoot to reject weak frames and keep the best ones. Module 18

Cultural protocols

Community practices and expectations about how people, places, ceremonies and knowledge may be photographed and shared. Module 80

Custom mode

A dial position (C1, U1 or similar) that recalls a complete saved camera set-up in one turn. Module 9

Custom white balance

A white balance measured from a neutral grey or white target in the actual light. Module 17

Cut

An instant change from one clip to the next. Smartphone Photography Module 7

D

D65

A standard daylight white point of roughly 6500K, the usual target for monitor calibration. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Daguerreotype

The first public photographic process (1839): a unique, detailed image on a silvered copper plate, with no negative. Module 78

Dark frame

An exposure made with the shutter closed, at the same length and settings, used to record and subtract hot pixels and thermal noise. Module 49

Dark-field lighting

Lighting glass against a black background with bright sources behind and to the sides, so the edges glow light. Module 68

Darken blend

A mode that keeps the darker pixel from the frames at each point, so bright areas reveal the other image. Module 70

Darling

An image you're attached to for reasons a viewer can't see, such as effort or memory, rather than its visual strength. Module 79

Day in the life

A documentary-style session where the photographer observes a family's ordinary routine with little or no direction. Module 60

Decentring

A lens fault where an element sits slightly out of line, making one side or corner of every frame softer. Module 3

Decisive moment

The instant when action and composition align; the phrase is associated with Henri Cartier-Bresson’s 1952 book of that English title. Module 15

Default

A choice made through habit or equipment rather than intention, such as always shooting landscape orientation. Module 81

Deghosting

A blending option that suppresses ghosted, semi-transparent copies of things that moved between bracketed frames. Module 46

Demosaicing

The processing step that estimates the two missing colours at each photosite to create a full-colour image. Module 4

Denotation

The literal content of an image: what is shown, as anyone could agree. Module 77

Density

A brush setting that caps the maximum strength a painted mask can reach, however many strokes you apply. Lightroom Module 5

Deposit

A payment made upfront to secure a booking date; terms on refunds and cancellation must be stated clearly and comply with consumer law. The Business of Photography Module 5

Depth of field

The zone in front of and behind the focus plane that looks acceptably sharp at a given viewing size. Module 6

Depth-of-field preview

A button or function that closes the lens to the shooting aperture so the sharp zone can be seen before taking the picture. Module 6

Describe

The first critique stage: listing what is literally visible in the frame without opinion. Module 79

Desiccant

A material, such as silica gel, that absorbs moisture to keep a sealed space dry. Module 3

Dew heater

A low-power heating band wrapped around the lens that keeps it slightly above the dew point so moisture does not form on the glass. Module 52

Dew point

The temperature at which water vapour in the air starts to condense. A camera colder than the dew point fogs up. Module 3

Diffraction

The spreading of light past the edges of a small aperture, which softens fine detail at f-numbers such as f/16 and f/22. Module 6

Diffuser

A translucent panel held between the light and the subject to soften and spread hard light. Module 37

Diffusion

Scattering of light through a translucent material such as cloud, which enlarges the light source and softens shadows. Module 32

Digital zoom

Cropping and enlarging part of the image. It discards pixels, so detail and low-light quality drop. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Dioptre

A small adjustment beside the viewfinder that matches the eyepiece to your eyesight; it does not change the photograph’s focus. Module 1

Dmax

The deepest black a paper and ink combination can produce. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

DMCA takedown notice

A notice under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act asking a website host or platform to remove infringing material. The Business of Photography Module 3

DNG

Digital Negative, Adobe's openly documented RAW format, used natively by some cameras and as an archive or conversion format. Module 4

Documentary photography

Photography that records real people, places and events honestly, usually over time, to inform or build understanding. Module 71

Dodge and burn

Selectively lightening (dodging) and darkening (burning) areas to even tone or shape light, often painted on a grey Soft Light layer. Photoshop Module 2

Dodging

Lightening a selected area of an image, originally by holding back light during darkroom printing. Lightroom Module 7

Dodging and burning

Selectively lightening (dodging) or darkening (burning) parts of an image to guide the eye. Module 40

Domain name

Your site's address, such as yourname.com or yourname.com.au; some country endings, like Australia's .au, have eligibility rules. The Business of Photography Module 1

Doorway light

Soft, directional light on a subject standing just inside an open doorway, with the dark interior behind them. Module 58

dpi

Dots per inch: the printer's ink-droplet resolution, much higher than the image's ppi and not the same thing. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Dragging the shutter

Using a slower shutter speed with flash so ambient light records in the background while the flash freezes the subject. Module 43

DSLR

Digital single-lens reflex: a camera that uses a mirror and pentaprism to show the scene through the lens in an optical viewfinder. Module 1

Dual-slot backup

A camera mode that records every frame to two memory cards at once, so a single card failure loses nothing. Module 18

Ducking

Lowering music automatically or by hand while someone speaks. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Dummy

A handmade mock-up of a book or zine used to test sequence, pacing and page order before printing. Module 84

Dummy (maquette)

A rough mock-up of a book or zine, used to test selection and sequence before final production. Module 82

Dwell time

How long a moving light illuminates any one point on the sensor; it sets trail brightness and halves when speed doubles. Module 50

Dynamic range

The span from darkest to brightest tones a camera can record with detail, measured in stops. Module 8

Dynamic symmetry

A compositional armature of diagonals and perpendicular reciprocals derived from the frame's own proportions. Module 75

E

E-6

The standard chemical process for developing colour slide (reversal) film into positive transparencies. Module 73

Earthshine

Faint light on the dark part of a crescent moon, reflected from Earth. Module 52

Edge walk

Tracing a frame's border deliberately to find distractions, intrusions and tilted lines at the edges. Module 79

Edit

In portfolio work, the process of selecting which photographs to include, as distinct from adjusting them in software. Module 83

Editorial

Story-led photography for publication, where a concept guides styling, location, light and sequence. Module 59

EFCS

Electronic first curtain shutter: exposure starts electronically and ends with the mechanical rear curtain, reducing shutter shock. Module 46

Effective aperture

The actual light-gathering f-number at close focus, roughly marked f-number × (1 + magnification). Module 66

Effective hourly rate

What a job really earns per hour: fee minus direct costs, divided by all hours spent, before tax and overheads. The Business of Photography Module 4

Electronic first-curtain shutter

A mode where the sensor starts the exposure electronically and the mechanical shutter ends it, reducing shutter shock. Module 2

Electronic shutter

A shutter mode that starts and ends the exposure by reading the sensor electronically. Silent, but can skew fast motion and band under flickering lights. Module 26

Electronic stabilisation

Software that shifts each frame within a slightly cropped window to cancel shake. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Electronic viewfinder (EVF)

A small high-resolution display inside the eyepiece that shows the live sensor image, including a preview of exposure. Module 1

Elevation

A straight-on, symmetrical view of one face of a building, like an architect’s drawing. Module 35

End points

The darkest and lightest tones in an image, usually set so it contains a small true black and true white. Lightroom Module 7

Entrance pupil

The image of the aperture seen through the front of the lens. Perspective is centred here; rotating around it avoids parallax in panoramas. Module 14

Environmental frame

A wider image that shows the subject in its surroundings, giving context rather than isolation. Module 45

Environmental portrait

A portrait made in the subject's own surroundings, where the setting helps describe who they are or what they do. Module 58

Ephemeris app

An app that shows the position and timing of the sun and moon for any location and date. Module 28

Equinox

The two days, around March and September, when the sun rises due east and sets due west. Module 32

Equivalence

Settings that give the same picture on different sensor sizes: focal length and f-number scaled by the crop factor, ISO by its square. Module 8

Equivalent aperture

An f-number multiplied by the crop factor, used to compare depth of field across sensor sizes at the same framing. Module 6

Equivalent exposure

Different combinations of aperture, shutter speed and ISO that produce the same brightness. Module 5

Equivalent focal length

The full-frame focal length that gives the same field of view: actual focal length multiplied by the crop factor. Module 1

Establishing frame

A wide image that shows the whole location and places the subject within it. Module 58

Establishing shot

A wide frame that shows where a story takes place and sets the scene for closer images. Module 28

Evaluative / Matrix metering

A mode that reads many zones across the frame and compares them to choose an exposure. The best everyday default. Module 10

Exclusive licence

A licence under which the owner agrees not to license the same work to anyone else within the agreed scope. The Business of Photography Module 3

Expansion

Increasing the tonal range of a low-contrast scene: N+ development on film, or a steeper curve in RAW conversion on digital. Module 74

Expert RAW

Samsung’s advanced camera app that saves a JPEG and a 16-bit Linear DNG RAW file with each shot. Smartphone Photography Module 3

Export

Rendering an edited project into a new, finished video file. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Expose to the right (ETTR)

Giving the sensor as much exposure as possible without clipping important highlights, to minimise noise. Module 8

Exposure

The amount of light that reaches the sensor to make an image, set by aperture and shutter speed; ISO then sets how it is amplified. Module 5

Exposure blending

Combining bracketed frames by hand with layer masks, choosing which frame supplies each area. Module 47

Exposure bracketing

Taking several frames of the same scene at different exposures, often two stops apart, to blend into one image with more tonal range. Module 48

Exposure compensation

An instruction to make the automatic exposure brighter (+) or darker (–), measured in stops. Module 9

Exposure index (EI)

The ISO you choose to rate a film at, which may differ from box speed when pushing or pulling. Module 73

Exposure level indicator

The scale in the viewfinder showing, in stops, how your settings compare with the meter’s suggestion, mainly used in M. Module 9

Exposure lock (AE-L)

A button that holds the current meter reading so you can recompose without the exposure changing. Module 9

Exposure simulation

A live-view setting that makes the screen and live histogram show the brightness your current settings will produce. Module 11

Exposure value (EV)

A single number for an aperture and shutter pair, log₂(N²/t) at ISO 100; one EV equals one stop. Module 5

Extended ISO

ISO settings beyond the native range, marked L or H, produced by processing; they usually cost highlight headroom or image quality. Module 8

Extension tube

A hollow spacer between camera and lens that allows closer focus at the cost of light and infinity focus. Module 66

Eye detection AF

Autofocus that recognises and tracks a human or animal eye, placing focus where viewers look first. Module 26

Eye path

The route a viewer's attention typically takes through a picture, from entry point to resting point. Module 77

Eye sensor

A proximity sensor beside the viewfinder that switches the display from the rear screen to the EVF when you raise the camera. Module 1

Eye-detection AF

An autofocus mode that finds and tracks a subject's eye, ideal for keeping the nearer eye sharp. Module 57

F

f-number

Focal length divided by the diameter of the aperture. Smaller numbers mean a wider opening and more light. Module 5

Fair dealing

Limited exceptions (Australia, UK) for specific purposes such as research, criticism, parody or news reporting. The USA has broader, case-by-case "fair use". The Business of Photography Module 3

Fall

Where other tones land on the zone scale once one tone has been placed, based on their brightness difference in stops. Module 74

Fall-off

How quickly light dims with distance across a scene. Steep near a small source, gentle when the source is far away. Module 16

Falloff

How quickly light dims with distance from the source, governed by the inverse square law. Module 53

Family formals

Planned group photographs of the couple with family members, usually taken soon after the ceremony. Module 61

Family of angles

The zone of light positions that will appear as a specular reflection in a glossy surface from a given camera position. Module 16

Feather

The softness of a mask's edge; higher feather gives a wider, smoother transition. Lightroom Module 5

Feathering

Aiming the edge of a light's beam at the subject rather than its centre, for softer, more even light. Module 24

Field curvature

A lens trait where the sharpest focus falls on a slightly curved surface, so corners focus a little in front of or behind the centre. Module 12

Fieldcraft

The skills of approaching and observing wildlife closely without disturbing it, such as using hides, cover, wind direction and slow movement. Module 23

Figure-ground

How we separate a subject (figure) from its background (ground); abstract images often make this relationship ambiguous. Module 69

Figure–ground

The perceptual split between the subject we notice (figure) and everything behind it (ground); clear differences in tone, colour or focus make the split easy. Module 15

Fill

Light added to shadows, often by bouncing the main light off a white card or reflector. Module 38

Fill card

A white or silver surface that bounces light back into shadow areas to reduce contrast. Module 68

Fill light

Secondary light, often from a reflector, that brightens shadows without creating new ones. Module 16

Filter factor

The number by which exposure must be multiplied with a filter fitted; ND8 has a factor of 8, or 3 stops. Module 30

Filter stack

The layers of glass filters directly in front of the image sensor. Sensor dust actually sits on this, not on the sensor itself. Module 3

Firmware

The software built into a camera or lens, which the manufacturer can update to fix faults or add features. Module 3

Fisheye lens

A lens that maps angles more evenly across the frame, giving very wide views with little edge stretching but curved lines away from the centre. Module 14

Fishing

A street technique: composing a strong setting first, then waiting for a subject to enter the frame. Module 19

Fixed aperture

A lens opening that cannot be changed, as on most phone cameras, leaving shutter speed and ISO to control exposure. Smartphone Photography Module 5

Fixed viewpoint

A camera position revisited every session so that changes in the subject, light or weather become visible across a set. Module 86

Flag

A dark card or panel placed to block light from reaching part of the scene, such as the background. Module 56

Flagging

Blocking part of a light, often with a small black card on a flash, so it lights only the surfaces you choose. Module 43

Flambient

An interior technique blending an ambient exposure with a flash-lit frame for clean colour and natural mood. Module 35

Flare ghost

A stray reflection of a bright light inside the lens, often appearing as a coloured spot mirrored across the frame centre. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Flash duration (t.1)

The time a flash burst stays above 10% of its peak brightness. A shorter t.1 freezes faster motion. Module 54

Flash duration (t0.1)

The time a flash pulse stays above 10% of its peak output; a better guide to motion-freezing than t0.5. Module 53

Flash exposure compensation

A setting that makes TTL flash output brighter or darker without changing the ambient exposure. Module 43

Flash exposure compensation (FEC)

An adjustment that makes the flash brighter or darker than the camera's TTL calculation without changing the ambient exposure. Module 42

Flash sync speed

The fastest shutter speed at which a focal-plane shutter is fully open at once, so a standard flash can light the whole frame. Module 7

Flash-to-ambient ratio

The difference in stops between flash and existing light on the subject, deciding whether flash dominates or acts as fill. Module 42

Flat-file test

Viewing your images with the edit removed to check whether your style lives in your choices of subject, light and timing, or only in the preset. Module 81

Flicker

Rapid brightness pulsing of LED and fluorescent lights that causes uneven exposure and colour at fast shutter speeds. Module 65

Flicker banding

Dark or coloured stripes in a frame caused by pulsing light sources recorded by a line-by-line sensor readout. Module 44

Flicker reduction

A camera mode that detects flickering artificial light and times exposures to its brightest point. Module 43

Flight distance

The distance at which an animal flees from an approaching person; it varies with species, individual and setting. Module 63

Flow

How much a brush stroke applies per pass; low flow builds the effect gradually. Lightroom Module 5

Flushing

Disturbing birds so they take flight; it wastes their energy and is unethical for photography. Module 64

Focal length

The distance from a lens’s optical centre to the sensor when focused at infinity, in millimetres. It determines angle of view. Module 14

Focal point (web)

A point you set on an image so a website template keeps that area visible when it crops the image for different screens. The Business of Photography Module 1

Focus and recompose

Focusing with the centre point then turning the camera to frame. At wide apertures it can leave the subject in front of the focus plane. Module 12

Focus area

The part of the frame the camera uses to find focus, from a single point to the whole frame. Module 13

Focus bracketing

A camera feature that shoots a sequence while shifting focus by a set step, ready for focus stacking. Module 66

Focus breathing

A change in angle of view as a lens focuses closer or further away. Module 14

Focus limiter

A switch on many telephoto and macro lenses that restricts the focusing range, so autofocus does not waste time searching distances you will not use. Module 13

Focus magnification

Enlarging part of the live view so you can judge critical focus precisely. Module 12

Focus peaking

A live-view aid that outlines in-focus, high-contrast edges in colour. Module 12

Focus pull

Moving sharp focus from one subject to another during a shot; also called a rack focus. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Focus shift

A slight movement of a lens's plane of best focus as it is stopped down, seen mostly in fast lenses at close distances. Module 6

Focus stacking

Blending several frames focused at different distances to gain more depth of field than one frame allows. Module 29

Focus-by-wire

A manual focus system where the focus ring drives a motor electronically rather than moving the lens elements directly. Module 12

Focusing rail

A geared or motorised slide that moves the whole camera in tiny steps, used for precise focus stacks at high magnification. Module 66

Fog

Suspended water droplets that reduce visibility to under 1 kilometre; lighter conditions are called mist. Module 32

Food stylist

The specialist who cooks, prepares and arranges the hero food for the camera on a professional shoot. Module 38

Form

The appearance of three-dimensional volume, created by light and shadow across a surface. Module 69

Frame rate (fps)

How many still frames a video records each second, such as 24, 30 or 60 frames per second. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Frame within a frame

Using a doorway, arch, branches or similar shapes inside the photo to surround and emphasise the subject. Module 15

Freedom of panorama

Exceptions letting you photograph certain works permanently in public places. Scope varies: buildings and sculptures in Australia and the UK, buildings only in the USA. The Business of Photography Module 3

Frequency separation

A retouching method that splits an image into a blurred tone-and-colour layer and a fine-texture layer, edited separately. Photoshop Module 1

Funnel

The narrowing path from people who see your content to those who visit, enquire or buy. The Business of Photography Module 2

G

Galactic core

The bright central region of the Milky Way, towards Sagittarius and Scorpius; best on June–August evenings, high from the Southern Hemisphere, low in the south from the Northern. Module 51

Gamma

The tone response curve relating input values to displayed brightness; 2.2 is the common target. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Gamut

The range of colours a device or colour space can reproduce. Module 41

Geotag

Location information attached to a post or file, which can reveal precisely where an image was made. The Business of Photography Module 2

Gestalt

German for form or shape; a school of psychology holding that we perceive organised wholes rather than separate parts. Module 76

Ghosting

Semi-transparent artefacts in a merged image caused by subjects moving between frames. Module 47

Gimbal

A motorised mount that stabilises the drone camera and lets you tilt it from level to straight down. Module 67

Gimbal head

A tripod head that holds a long lens at its balance point so it swings freely and stays where you leave it. Module 2

Global shutter

A sensor design that exposes and reads all pixels simultaneously, eliminating rolling shutter distortion. Module 46

Golden hour

The period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when low sun gives warm, soft, directional light. Module 19

Golden ratio (phi)

The proportion of about 1.618 to 1; a phi grid divides each side of the frame at 38.2% and 61.8%. Module 75

Golden spiral

A logarithmic spiral growing by phi each quarter turn, usually approximated with quarter-circle arcs through nested squares in a golden rectangle. Module 75

Graduated ND (grad)

A filter darker at the top than the bottom, used to balance a bright sky with a darker foreground. Module 30

Ground sample distance (GSD)

The width of ground covered by one pixel, equal to height × pixel pitch ÷ actual focal length. Module 67

Group

A set of remote flashes controlled together, so each group's power or mode can be adjusted from the camera. Module 53

Group f/64

A Californian group founded in 1932, including Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, named after a very small large-format aperture. Module 78

GST / VAT / sales tax

Taxes added to sales. GST (Australia) and VAT (UK, Europe) become compulsory at a national turnover threshold; US sales tax is set by states and localities. The Business of Photography Module 4

Guide number (GN)

A measure of flash power: distance multiplied by f-number for a correct exposure, usually quoted in metres at ISO 100. Module 42

Gutter

The inner margin where pages meet at the binding; detail placed there can be hidden. Module 84

H

Halo

An unnatural bright or dark outline along an edge, often caused by extreme slider or local contrast adjustments. Module 40

Hard light

Light from a source that is small relative to the subject, producing dark shadows with crisp edges. Module 16

HDR

High dynamic range: merging darker and brighter frames so both highlights and shadows keep detail. Smartphone Photography Module 1

HDR merge

Combining bracketed exposures into one high-bit-depth image that holds the full scene range. Module 47

HDR panorama

A panorama built from exposure brackets shot at every position, merged for both dynamic range and width. Module 34

HDR video

High dynamic range video that records and displays a wider range of brightness on supported screens. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Headshot

A tightly framed portrait of the head and shoulders, used to introduce a person professionally. Module 57

Healing Brush

A tool that copies texture from a source area and blends it into the tone and colour around the target. Photoshop Module 2

Heat shimmer

Distortion caused by light passing through layers of air at different temperatures, which softens distant detail in long-lens shots. Module 36

HEIF

A modern compressed image format offered by some cameras that stores 10-bit data in a file size similar to JPEG. Module 4

Hero

The main dish or part of a dish that the photograph is about; everything else supports it. Module 38

Hero image

The large, prominent image at the top of a web page, usually the first thing a visitor sees. The Business of Photography Module 1

Hero shot

The main, cleanest image of a product, usually showing the whole object clearly on a simple background. Module 39

Hide

A shelter or screen that conceals the photographer so animals behave naturally; called a blind in North America. Module 63

High frequency

Fine, rapidly changing detail in an image, such as pores, fine hairs and small lines. Photoshop Module 2

High key

An image made mostly of light tones, with few dark areas, usually lit softly and evenly. Module 56

High-key

An image made mostly of light tones, with a histogram bunched to the right. Module 11

High-speed sync (HSS)

A flash mode that pulses rapidly to allow shutter speeds above sync speed, at a large cost in power and range. Module 42

Highlight alert

A playback display, often called blinkies, that flashes the parts of an image with clipped highlights. Module 11

Highlight warning

A playback display, often called blinkies, that flashes areas of the image that are clipped to pure white. Module 21

Highlight-weighted metering

A mode, offered by Nikon and Sony among others, that sets exposure to keep the brightest areas from clipping. Module 10

Histogram

A graph showing how many pixels in an image sit at each tone, from black on the left to white on the right. Module 11

HMUA

Hair and make-up artist, the team member responsible for the model's hair and make-up. Module 59

Hot pixel

A sensor pixel that records a bright coloured dot in long or warm exposures, appearing in the same place in every frame. Module 48

Hue

The attribute that names a colour, such as red, orange or teal; its position around the colour wheel. Module 41

Hue, saturation, brightness

The three properties of a colour: which colour it is, how intense it is and how light or dark it is. Module 17

Hyperfocal distance

The focus distance that extends depth of field to infinity; everything from about half that distance onwards looks acceptably sharp. Module 6

Hyperlapse

A time-lapse filmed while the camera moves, such as on a walk or drive. Smartphone Photography Module 6

I

ICC profile

A standard file describing how a device or colour space reproduces colour, used by software to translate colour accurately. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Image circle

The circle of light a lens projects. It must cover the sensor, which is why APS-C lenses may vignette on full frame. Module 23

Image speed

How fast a moving subject's image travels across the sensor; roughly subject speed × focal length ÷ distance. Module 27

Image stabilisation

A system in the lens or body (IS, VR, OIS, IBIS) that moves an element or the sensor to counter camera movement, rated in stops. Module 2

Image stacking

Aligning and averaging several identical exposures; random noise falls by the square root of the number of frames. Module 8

Impact

An image's power to hold attention and communicate, judged separately from technical quality. Module 79

Implied consent

Consent inferred from circumstances, such as being part of a crowd at a public event where photography is visible. Module 80

Imposition

Arranging pages on printed sheets so they appear in the correct order once folded, nested and bound. Module 84

Incident meter

A handheld meter that measures light falling on the subject, unaffected by the subject's tone. Module 54

Incident metering

Measuring the light falling on a subject, usually with a handheld meter at the subject, so the reading is not affected by how light or dark the subject is. Module 21

Incident-light meter

A handheld meter that measures light falling on the subject, so it is not fooled by very light or dark subjects. Module 10

Index

A sign physically caused by what it represents; photographs are indexical because light from the scene made them. Module 77

Informed consent

Agreement given by someone who understands how and where an image will be used and is free to refuse. Module 80

Infrared photography

Photography using near-infrared light, in which foliage renders very light and blue skies dark. Module 40

Ingest

Copying files from a card or device into your storage, usually renaming them and adding metadata. Module 18

Intentional camera movement (ICM)

Moving the camera on purpose during a slow exposure to turn a scene into painterly blur. Module 7

Interpret

The critique stage where you state what an image means or evokes, anchored to visible evidence. Module 79

Intersect

Combining mask components so the adjustment applies only where both overlap. Lightroom Module 5

Intervalometer

A built-in or external timer that fires the camera repeatedly at a set interval for sequences. Module 52

Inverse square law

For a small source, light falls off with the square of distance: double the distance, a quarter of the light. Module 16

Invert

Swapping a mask so the adjustment applies to everything outside the original selection. Lightroom Module 5

IP rating

An IEC 60529 code for protection against dust (first digit) and water (second digit), such as IP53. Module 3

IPTC

A standard set of descriptive metadata fields, such as creator, copyright, caption and location, that you add to a photo. Module 18

IPTC metadata

Standard caption, keyword, location and copyright fields stored with an image file, used by editors, agencies and photo libraries. Module 28

ISO

The setting that controls how much the sensor’s signal is amplified; higher ISO brightens the image but increases visible noise. Module 5

ISO invariance

When brightening a low-ISO RAW file in editing gives nearly the same noise as shooting at the higher ISO with identical aperture and shutter speed. Module 8

Issue-led story

A picture story built from many people and places around one theme, such as housing or water. Module 71

J

J-cut and L-cut

Edits where the sound of the next clip starts early (J) or the sound of a clip continues after the picture changes (L). Smartphone Photography Module 7

JPEG

A compressed 8-bit image format processed in the camera, with white balance, style, noise reduction and sharpening baked in. Module 4

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting or echoing elements together so they comment on each other. Module 27

K

Kelvin (K)

The scale used to describe the colour of light: lower values are warmer, higher values cooler. Smartphone Photography Module 5

Key image

The frame carrying the greatest emotional or narrative weight in an essay. Module 72

Key light

The main light in a set-up, which sets the direction and character of the lighting. Module 53

Keyframe

A marker storing a setting at a moment in time; the editor animates between keyframes. Smartphone Photography Module 7

L

L-bracket

An L-shaped quick-release plate that lets a camera clamp to a tripod head on its base or its side, keeping vertical frames centred. Module 2

Latent image

The invisible image formed in exposed silver halide crystals, made visible by chemical development. Module 73

Latitude

How far a film can be over- or underexposed and still produce a usable image. Module 73

Lavalier microphone

A small clip-on microphone worn near the chin for clear speech. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Layer

A separate level in a Photoshop document that can hold pixels or an adjustment, stacked above or below others. Photoshop Module 1

Layer mask

A greyscale map attached to a layer: white reveals the layer, black conceals it. Photoshop Module 1

Layering

Composing with points of interest at two or more distances from the camera to create depth. Module 27

Leading lines

Lines within a scene, such as roads or fences, that guide the viewer’s eye towards the subject. Module 15

Lens flare

Stray light bouncing inside a lens, causing haze, lower contrast or bright shapes when a strong light source is in or near the frame. Module 60

Lens fungus

Mould that grows on lens elements in humid storage, seen as threads or a web pattern; it can permanently mark coatings. Module 3

Lens mount

The bayonet ring and electrical contacts that lock a lens to a camera body; each system has its own. Module 1

Lens profile

A correction file that reverses a specific lens’s distortion and vignetting, and often its colour fringing. Module 14

Library Filter bar

The bar above the Grid that shows only photos matching text, attributes or metadata (\ to show). Lightroom Module 2

Library module

The part of Lightroom Classic where you browse, sort, mark and organise photos before editing. Lightroom Module 2

Licence

Permission from the copyright owner for someone to use a work on defined terms, while the owner keeps copyright. The Business of Photography Module 3

Licence fee

The part of a quote that reflects permitted usage of images: media, duration and territory. The Business of Photography Module 5

Lifestyle photography

Natural-looking images of people in their own environment, usually created through prompts and light direction rather than formal posing. Module 60

Light leak

Stray light entering through an eyepiece, filter holder or gap, causing haze or bands during long exposures. Module 49

Light meter

The camera’s built-in sensor and scale that estimates the exposure for an average scene, shown from –3 to +3 or similar. Module 5

Light painting

Adding light by hand during a long exposure, by sweeping a torch over a subject or drawing with a light towards the camera. Module 50

Light tent

A translucent enclosure around a small product that surrounds it with soft, even light and clean white reflections. Module 39

Light trail

The line recorded by a moving light source during a long exposure, such as car head- or tail-lights. Module 50

Lighten blend

A mode that keeps the brighter pixel from the frames at each point, so dark areas reveal the other image. Module 70

Lighten blend mode

An editing blend that keeps the brightest pixel from each layer, used to combine many trail frames. Module 50

Lighting cue

A planned change in stage lighting, often timed to music or action. Module 44

Lighting ratio

The brightness difference between the lit and shadow sides of a subject, such as 2:1 for one stop. Module 16

Liquify

A Photoshop filter that pushes and reshapes pixels; reshaping a person with it needs their consent. Photoshop Module 2

Live Photo

A photo that also records a moment before and after the shot, with sound. Smartphone Photography Module 2

Local contrast

The tonal separation between neighbouring areas, adjusted with tools such as Texture and Clarity. Lightroom Module 7

Log

A flat, low-contrast recording format that keeps maximum detail for colour grading. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Long Exposure (Motion mode)

Motion mode option that blurs moving things, such as water, while the still parts stay sharp. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Long-exposure noise reduction

A camera setting that takes a second dark frame of equal length and subtracts it to remove hot pixels, doubling the time per shot. Module 8

Lookbook

A set of images presenting a designer's or brand's collection, usually clean and consistent. Module 59

Looking room

Extra space left in front of a face or moving subject, in the direction it looks or travels; also called lead room or the rule of space. Module 15

Looney 11 rule

A starting exposure for the full moon: f/11 with a shutter speed of 1/ISO. Module 52

Loop lighting

Key about 30 to 45 degrees to the side, making a small nose shadow that points down without touching the cheek shadow. Module 55

Lossless compression

A way of making files smaller without discarding any data; the original can be reconstructed exactly. Module 4

Low frequency

Broad, slowly changing tone and colour in an image, such as shading across a cheek or a patch of redness. Photoshop Module 2

Low key

An image made mostly of dark tones, with a small area of light on the subject, usually from a directional source. Module 56

Low-key

An image made mostly of dark tones, with a histogram bunched to the left. Module 11

Low-level lighting

Lighting a night scene with a very dim, constant light left on for the whole exposure, instead of sweeping a torch. Module 50

Luminance

The brightness of an area regardless of its colour; the only information a black-and-white image shows. Module 40

Luminance histogram

A single histogram combining the colour channels into brightness, weighted mostly to green, so it can miss single-channel clipping. Module 11

Luminance noise

Random pixel-to-pixel variation in brightness that looks like fine grain. Module 8

Luminance Range

A mask component that selects pixels by brightness, with a smoothness zone at each end. Lightroom Module 5

Luminosity mask

A selection built from an image’s own brightness values, such as Brights or Darks, giving smooth, self-feathering masks. Lightroom Module 5

LUT

Look-up table: a file that maps each input colour to an output colour, used to apply a consistent look in photo and video software. Lightroom Module 6

M

Magellanic Clouds

Two small satellite galaxies of the Milky Way, visible all year from southern Australia as faint glowing patches, but not from Europe or most of the USA. Module 51

Magnification

The size of the subject on the sensor compared with its real size. Life size is 1:1; many standard zooms reach roughly 1:4. Module 37

Mannerism

A style repeated so mechanically that it becomes a formula rather than a living way of seeing. Module 81

Manual focus override

Turning the focus ring to fine-tune after autofocus without switching to MF. Called DMF, M/A, full-time manual focus or AF+MF depending on brand. Module 13

Manual mode (M)

You choose aperture and shutter speed, and usually ISO; the meter only advises. Module 9

Mask

A greyscale map that controls where, and how strongly, an adjustment applies. Lightroom Module 5

Maximum magnification

The largest size ratio between a subject and its image on the sensor; 1× (1:1) is life size. Module 14

Mean stack

Averaging several aligned frames, pixel by pixel, to mimic a longer exposure and reduce random noise. Module 49

Mean stacking

Averaging many shorter exposures in software to simulate one long exposure with lower noise. Module 31

Media call

A session arranged by a company or venue for photographers and press to photograph a production. Module 44

Median stack

Combining several frames from a fixed camera so each pixel keeps its most typical value, removing people or cars that move between frames. Module 28

Memory colours

Colours viewers know well, such as skin, sky, grass and snow, which they use to judge whether a photo's colour looks right. Module 17

Merger

An unwanted overlap where background objects appear to join the subject, such as a pole growing from a head. Module 15

Metadata (EXIF/IPTC)

Information embedded in an image file: camera settings (EXIF) and descriptive or copyright details (IPTC). The Business of Photography Module 1

Metamerism

When two colours match under one light source but look different under another. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Middle grey

The average tone a meter aims to reproduce, halfway between black and white in perceived brightness. Module 10

Migration

Copying an archive onto new storage media, or into readable formats, before the old media or formats fail. Module 18

Minimum focus distance

The closest distance, measured from the sensor plane, at which a lens can focus. Module 14

Minimum shutter speed

An Auto ISO setting: the slowest speed the camera will use in P and A/Av before it raises ISO. Module 9

Mired

A unit equal to 1,000,000 ÷ kelvin, used because equal mired shifts look like equal colour changes. Module 17

Mired shift

The change a filter makes in mireds (1,000,000 ÷ kelvin). Positive values warm the light, negative values cool it. Module 17

Mirroring

Demonstrating a pose for the subject to copy, as if they are your reflection. Module 25

Mirrorless camera

An interchangeable-lens camera with no reflex mirror; the sensor feeds a live image to an electronic viewfinder and rear screen. Module 1

Mixed lighting

A scene lit by two or more sources of different colour, so no single white balance neutralises everything. Module 17

Model release

A signed agreement in which a person gives permission for images of them to be used in specified ways. Module 58

Modelling lamp

A continuous bulb in a strobe head that previews where the flash's light and shadows will fall. Module 54

Monopod

A single-legged camera support. It steadies vertical movement and carries the weight of long lenses while staying quick to move, roughly a stop or two steadier than handheld. Module 2

Moodboard

A collection of reference images that communicates the intended look and feel of a shoot to the team. Module 59

Moral rights

An individual creator's rights of attribution, against false attribution, and of integrity; they cannot be transferred. The Business of Photography Module 3

Motion blur

Smearing caused by a subject moving during the exposure. Module 7

MTF chart

A manufacturer's graph of how much contrast a lens keeps at set detail levels from the centre of the frame to the corner. Module 12

Multiple exposure

Combining two or more exposures into a single image, in camera or in editing. Module 70

N

N development

Normal film development; N+1 and N−1 expand or contract negative contrast by roughly one zone. Module 74

Nadir

A camera angle pointing straight down at the ground, 90° below the horizon, which flattens a scene into pattern and shape. Module 67

NAS

Network-attached storage: a box of drives on your home or office network that several computers can use and back up to. Module 18

Nautical twilight

The period while the sun is between 6° and 12° below the horizon; the sky deepens to dark blue. Module 48

Near-twin

Two almost identical frames. In a set, keep the stronger one so they don’t weaken each other. Module 19

Near–far composition

A landscape structure with a prominent foreground close to a wide lens, leading to a distant background. Module 29

Negative fill

A black card or flag placed beside the subject to absorb bounce light and deepen shadows. Module 24

Negative space

Empty or quiet areas around a subject that give it room and emphasis. Module 15

Neutral density (ND)

A filter that reduces the amount of light evenly across colours, allowing slower shutter speeds or wider apertures. Module 30

Neutral density (ND) filter

A grey filter that cuts light evenly across colours. An ND8 removes three stops, letting you use slower shutter speeds or wider apertures. Module 5

New Topographics

A 1975 exhibition, and the style it named, showing ordinary built landscapes in a neutral, deadpan manner. Module 78

Night mode

A phone mode that captures many frames over one or more seconds and stacks them to reduce noise in dim light. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Night Sight

Pixel’s low-light mode, merging frames captured over a few seconds into a brighter, cleaner photo without flash. Smartphone Photography Module 4

No-parallax point

The lens's entrance pupil; rotating around it keeps near and far objects aligned between frames. Often called the nodal point. Module 34

Nodal rail

A sliding plate that lets the camera move back so the rotation axis passes through the no-parallax point. Module 34

Noise

Random variation in brightness or colour between pixels, most visible in dark areas and low-light images. Module 8

Non-destructive editing

Editing that stores adjustments as instructions and never alters the original file. Module 18

Normal lens

A focal length close to the sensor diagonal, about 43mm on full frame, giving natural-looking perspective. Module 22

NPF rule

A more precise trailing limit that includes aperture and pixel pitch, giving shorter times on high-resolution sensors. Module 51

O

OBAs

Optical brightening agents: additives that make paper look whiter by fluorescing blue under ultraviolet light. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Oblique

Any tilted aerial view between straight down and level. High oblique shows mostly ground; low oblique includes the horizon. Module 67

Observer effect

The way people change their behaviour because they know they are being photographed. Module 71

Offer

A clearly defined service with set inclusions, timing and delivery, which clients can understand and compare easily. The Business of Photography Module 4

One-point perspective

A view where receding lines meet at a single vanishing point, made by facing a wall squarely with a level camera. Module 35

Open shade

Shade lit by a large area of open sky rather than direct sun, giving soft, even light. Module 16

Opener

The first image in a sequence; it sets the visual terms and tells the viewer what kind of work follows. Module 83

Optical density

A logarithmic measure of filter strength where each 0.3 equals about one stop of light reduction. Module 30

Optical trigger

A system that fires a remote flash using light pulses from the camera's flash or a commander; it needs line of sight. Module 53

Optical zoom

Magnification from a lens rather than a crop. On phones it usually means switching to a separate telephoto camera. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Optical-quality zoom

Samsung’s term for high-resolution crops (2x, and 10x on Ultra) that keep near-optical quality in good light. Smartphone Photography Module 3

Output sharpening

Sharpening applied at the final size for a specific output, such as screen or print, after resizing. Module 85

Overlap

The shared area between neighbouring frames that stitching software uses to align them, usually about a third. Module 34

P

Pacing

The rhythm of a sequence, controlled by changes in scale, density and intensity from frame to frame. Module 72

Pairing

Placing two images together so they connect through form, colour, content or contrast. Module 72

PAL

A TV standard used in many countries with 50 Hz mains power; its frame rates are 25 and 50 fps. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Panning

Following a moving subject with the camera during a slow exposure so the subject stays sharp and the background streaks. Module 7

Panorama

An image made by stitching several overlapping photographs into one wider or larger picture. Module 34

Parallax

The apparent shift of near objects against far ones when the viewpoint moves, causing seam errors in panoramas. Module 34

Partial metering

A Canon mode that reads a central circle larger than spot, roughly 5–10% of the frame depending on the model. Module 10

Peak action

The brief moment when movement slows or reaches its height, such as the top of a jump or ball contact. Module 65

Penumbra

The partly shadowed band at a shadow’s edge, wider with larger light sources. Module 16

Perspective

The apparent size and spacing of objects at different distances, set by the camera’s position. Module 14

Perspective distortion

Exaggerated size differences caused by shooting close to a subject: nearer features look disproportionately large. Set by distance, not focal length. Module 25

Phase-detection AF

Autofocus that compares light from opposite sides of the lens to measure the direction and amount of defocus, then moves the lens directly. Module 13

Phi grid

A placement grid with lines at about 0.382 and 0.618 of the frame, based on the golden ratio; slightly nearer the centre than thirds. Module 15

Photo essay

A group of photographs edited and ordered so that meaning builds across the sequence, usually with a title and captions. Module 72

Photo pit

The space between the stage and the crowd barrier where credentialled photographers may work at some concerts. Module 44

Photo walk

A walk taken with the intention of making photographs, often with a planned route and theme. Module 19

Photographic Styles

Looks applied as you shoot that adjust colour and tone in different parts of the image; editable later on newer models. Smartphone Photography Module 2

Pictorialism

A movement of roughly 1885–1915 that used soft focus and handmade prints to establish photography as fine art. Module 78

Picture style

The in-camera look (contrast, saturation, sharpness) applied to JPEGs and the preview; called Picture Control, Film Simulation or Creative Look by some brands. Module 4

Pixel binning

Combining groups of neighbouring pixels into one, trading resolution for cleaner images in low light. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Pixel pitch

The width of one pixel on the sensor, such as about 0.006mm on a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor. Smaller pitch reveals blur more readily. Module 7

Pixels per inch (ppi)

How many image pixels are printed along each inch of paper. Print size equals pixel dimensions divided by ppi; 300 ppi is a common standard. Module 4

Placement

Deliberately choosing which zone a metered tone will occupy by adjusting exposure from its reading. Module 74

Plane of focus

The flat slice of the scene, parallel to the sensor, that is rendered sharpest. Module 12

Playback

Playing recorded bird calls to attract birds; it can disrupt feeding and breeding and is discouraged. Module 64

Playhead

The vertical line marking the moment shown in the preview; cuts and additions happen there. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Pointers

Alpha and Beta Centauri, two bright stars beside the Southern Cross used with it to locate the south celestial pole. Module 52

Polaris

The North Star, less than a degree from the north celestial pole, so it barely moves while other stars circle it. Module 52

Pop-out

The near-instant detection of an element that differs from its surroundings in one feature, such as colour or brightness. Module 76

Posing flow

A planned sequence of poses where each moves naturally into the next, so a session keeps moving without resets. Module 25

Posterisation

Visible steps or bands in smooth gradients, caused by too few tonal levels, often after heavy editing of 8-bit files. Module 11

ppi

Pixels per inch: how many image pixels are spread across each inch of the print. Determines print size and detail. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Pre-capture

A burst feature on some cameras that records frames from just before the shutter button is fully pressed, covering reaction time. Module 7

Pre-focus

Focusing in advance at the distance where you expect the subject to appear, reducing AF hunting. Module 64

Premise

A one-sentence statement of what a project shows, how and why; it guides shooting and editing and may evolve. Module 86

Previsualisation

Imagining the finished print's tones before exposure, so metering and processing decisions serve that vision. Module 74

Prime lens

A lens with one fixed focal length. Module 14

Pro mode

Galaxy mode with manual ISO, shutter speed, exposure value, focus and white balance. Smartphone Photography Module 3

Process version

The edition of Lightroom's processing engine used to render a photo. Older edits keep their version so their look does not change. Lightroom Module 1

Processional

The entrance of the wedding party and couple at the start of the ceremony. Module 61

Profile

The starting interpretation of colour and tone applied to a RAW file before you move any sliders. Lightroom Module 1

Profiling

Measuring a device's actual colour behaviour and recording it in an ICC profile. Printing & Colour Management Module 1

Program mode (P)

A mode where the camera sets aperture and shutter speed, while you control ISO, exposure compensation and other settings. Module 9

Program shift

Turning a dial in P to choose a different aperture and shutter speed pair that gives the same exposure. Module 9

Project brief

A working document stating a project's question, scope, rules, research, ethics and intended output. Module 82

Project rules

Fixed visual decisions, such as lens, light or distance, that make a series cohere. Module 82

Projected digital image (PDI)

A competition entry judged on a projector or screen rather than as a print, usually supplied as an sRGB JPEG within set pixel limits. Module 85

Projection

The mathematical method used to flatten a wide view, such as perspective, cylindrical or spherical. Module 34

Prompt

A question or action given to a subject to provoke a genuine expression rather than a fixed pose. Module 25

Property release

Written permission from the owner of recognisable private property, often required when an image is used commercially. Module 28

ProRAW

Apple’s RAW format on Pro iPhones, combining sensor data with iPhone processing in a DNG file for flexible editing. Smartphone Photography Module 2

Provenance

The documented history of an image: who made it, when and where, and how it has been published, edited and shared since. Module 77

Proximity

The tendency to group elements that are close together. Module 76

Public interest

A benefit to the public in knowing something, such as exposing wrongdoing. In journalism it can justify publication without consent; it is not the same as public curiosity. Module 80

Public liability insurance

Cover for claims if someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your business activities. The Business of Photography Module 4

Pulse-width modulation

Driving an LED with very fast on-off pulses to set brightness; moving pulsed lights can record as dashed trails. Module 50

Punctum

Barthes's term for a detail that personally strikes or pierces an individual viewer. Module 77

Push processing

Rating film at a higher ISO and extending development to compensate, increasing contrast and grain. Module 73

Q

Quick Collection

A single temporary collection in the Catalog panel; press B to add or remove photos. Lightroom Module 3

Quick menu

A one-press screen of frequently changed settings, called Q, i or Fn depending on the brand; most cameras let you customise it. Module 1

QuickTake

Recording video from Photo mode by holding the shutter or a volume button. Smartphone Photography Module 2

R

Radiation fog

Fog that forms on clear, calm nights when the ground loses heat, cooling the air above it until moisture condenses, often pooling in valleys. Module 32

Radio trigger

A transmitter and receiver pair that fires a remote flash by radio signal, working without line of sight and in bright sun. Module 53

Raking light

Light skimming almost parallel to a surface, so every small bump casts a shadow and texture is emphasised. Module 16

RAW

A file that keeps much of the sensor’s original data, leaving white balance, tone and sharpening decisions to the editor. Smartphone Photography Module 5

RAW file

A file holding minimally processed sensor data plus camera settings as notes, finished later in editing software. Module 4

Raw verification

A check in which organisers ask shortlisted entrants for original raw files to confirm an image meets the editing rules. Module 85

Rayleigh scattering

Scattering of light by air molecules, much stronger for blue wavelengths; it makes the sky blue and low sun warm. Module 16

Re-encoding

A platform recompressing an uploaded image, which can introduce banding, smearing or loss of fine detail. The Business of Photography Module 2

Re-scoping

Deliberately narrowing a project to fit changed time, access or circumstances so it can still be finished. Module 86

Reach

The number of unique accounts that saw a post, as reported by a platform's insights. The Business of Photography Module 2

Read noise

Noise added by the sensor's electronics when the signal is read, mostly visible in the deepest shadows. Module 8

Rear-curtain sync

A flash mode that fires at the end of the exposure, so ambient motion trails appear behind a moving subject rather than in front. Module 7

Recessional

The couple and wedding party leaving together at the end of the ceremony. Module 61

Reciprocal

In dynamic symmetry, a line from a corner meeting the opposite main diagonal at a right angle. Module 75

Reciprocal rule

A handheld guideline: use a shutter speed of at least 1 ÷ (focal length × crop factor) seconds. Module 2

Reciprocity

The principle that halving the light and doubling the time give the same exposure. Digital sensors follow it; film failed at long exposures. Module 5

Reciprocity failure

Film's loss of sensitivity in very long exposures, needing extra time; digital sensors do not suffer from it. Module 30

Rectilinear lens

A lens that renders straight lines as straight, placing each ray at focal length × tan(angle). Wide versions stretch objects near the frame edges. Module 14

Recycle time

The time a flash needs to recharge before it can fire again at the chosen power. Module 42

Refine Photos

A command that turns unflagged photos into rejects and picks back into unflagged, for a second culling round. Lightroom Module 2

Reflected-light meter

A meter that measures light bouncing off the scene towards the camera. Every built-in camera meter works this way. Module 10

Reflector

A surface, often white, silver or gold, used to bounce light into shadows to reduce contrast. Module 24

Relative humidity

How much water vapour the air holds compared with the most it could hold at that temperature, shown as a percentage. Module 3

Release priority

An AF-C setting that lets the shutter fire as soon as you press it, even if focus is not yet confirmed. Module 13

Relief displacement

The outward lean of tall objects away from the centre of a top-down frame, because their tops are closer to the lens. Module 67

Relinking

Telling catalogue software where moved or renamed files now live, so it can find them again. Module 18

Rembrandt lighting

Key about 45 to 60 degrees to the side and higher, leaving a triangle of light on the shadow-side cheek. Module 55

Rendering intent

The rule for handling colours a printer or paper cannot reproduce, such as perceptual or relative colorimetric. Printing & Colour Management Module 2

Rephotography

Photographing a scene again from the exact position of an earlier photograph, so the pair shows what has changed. Module 78

Representation

How people or groups are portrayed in images, and the ideas those portrayals build over time. Module 80

Resolution

The number of pixels in each video frame, such as 1920 × 1080 (1080p) or 3840 × 2160 (4K). Smartphone Photography Module 6

Responsive design

A layout that adapts to different screen sizes, rearranging and resizing content for phones, tablets and desktops. The Business of Photography Module 1

Retouching disclosure

A label stating that an image has been digitally altered; some countries require it on certain advertising images where a body has been reshaped. Photoshop Module 2

Retrospective licence

A licence granted after an image has already been used without permission, usually for a fee, as an alternative to removal or legal action. The Business of Photography Module 3

Return to home (RTH)

An automatic function that flies the drone back to its recorded home point, at a set altitude, when triggered or when signal or battery runs low. Module 67

Reverse grad

A graduated ND that is darkest along its centre line and lighter towards the top, for a sun sitting on the horizon. Module 30

Reverse image search

Searching the web with an image instead of words, to find earlier or other copies of it and where they appeared. Module 77

Reverse view

Turning around to photograph what your subject is looking at, often the strongest frame when working a scene. Module 19

RGB histogram

Separate histograms for the red, green and blue channels, revealing colour clipping a brightness histogram can hide. Module 11

Rights grab

Competition terms that take ownership of entries or grant the organiser broad, often perpetual, use of every image submitted. Module 85

Rim light

A bright outline on a subject’s edge, made by light from behind and to one side. Module 16

Rolling shutter

Distortion or banding caused when a sensor is read row by row rather than all at once. Module 7

Rough edit

An early, generous selection of images used to test the shape of a project before the final cut. Module 86

Rubber lens hood

A soft, collapsible hood that can be pressed against glass to block reflections and protect the lens. Module 45

Rule of thirds

A guideline that divides the frame into nine equal parts and places key elements on the lines or their intersections. Module 15

Run sheet

The written timeline of the wedding day, listing each event, its time and location. Module 61

Rush fee

An extra charge, stated in your terms, for delivering faster than your standard turnaround. The Business of Photography Module 5

S

Saddle stitch

A binding method where folded sheets are nested and stapled through the spine fold. Module 84

Saturation

The intensity or purity of a colour, from grey (none) to fully vivid. Module 41

Save

When a viewer bookmarks a post to return to later; usually a stronger interest signal than a like. The Business of Photography Module 2

Scene mode

An automatic mode biased towards one subject type, such as portrait, landscape or sport. Module 9

Scene optimiser

Automatic adjustment of exposure, contrast and white balance based on the detected scene (rear camera). Smartphone Photography Module 3

Scope

The agreed boundaries of a job: what will be shot, delivered, revised and licensed. The Business of Photography Module 5

Scope creep

Gradual growth in what a client expects without a matching change in price. The Business of Photography Module 5

Screen blend

An editing blend, 1 − (1 − A)(1 − B), that brightens overlaps without clipping beyond white. Module 70

Scrim

A translucent panel placed between a light and a subject to diffuse and soften the light. Module 16

Second shooter

An additional photographer who covers other angles and moments alongside the lead photographer. Module 61

Section-sewn binding

A binding in which folded signatures are sewn through the fold, so the book opens flatter than a glued, perfect-bound one. Module 84

Select

A frame marked during review as strong enough to go forward into the edit. Module 86

Self Assessment

The UK system for reporting untaxed income, including self-employment, to HMRC; registration is required once gross trading income exceeds £1,000 in a tax year. The Business of Photography Module 4

Sensor

The grid of light-sensitive photosites inside the camera that converts light into an electrical signal to form the image. Module 1

Sequence

The chosen order of images. It shapes how each frame is read in relation to its neighbours. Module 72

Series

A smaller group of images, often 10 to 30, sharing visual rules and exploring one idea. Module 82

Set piece

A predictable restart in sport, such as a free kick, centre pass, line-out or serve. Module 65

Set-up sheet

A written record of every distance, height and setting in a lighting set-up, used to recreate it exactly. Module 57

Shape

A flat, two-dimensional area defined by an edge, outline or change in colour or tone. Module 69

Shelf cloud

A low, wedge-shaped cloud along the leading edge of a thunderstorm, often with a bright band of clear sky beneath it. Module 32

Shift lens

A lens that moves its optics parallel to the sensor, so the frame can include more above or beside without tilting the camera. Module 35

Short lighting

Lighting the side of the face turned away from the camera, which narrows and sculpts the face. Module 25

Shortlist

The images kept after early judging rounds for closer inspection and discussion. Module 85

Shot list

A short planned list of the frames you must get, used when access is brief, such as three songs in a photo pit. Module 44

Shot noise

Random variation in the number of photons each pixel receives. It equals roughly the square root of the count, so more light gives a cleaner image. Module 5

Shutter

The mechanism, mechanical or electronic, that controls how long light is allowed to reach the sensor. Module 1

Shutter count

The number of times a camera’s mechanical shutter has fired, compared against the maker’s tested rating. Module 3

Shutter priority (S/Tv)

You choose the shutter speed; the camera chooses the aperture for correct exposure. Module 9

Shutter shock

Vibration from the mechanical shutter that can soften images at moderate speeds, especially with long lenses on a tripod. Module 2

Shutter speed

The length of time the sensor is exposed to light for one picture, written in seconds or fractions of a second. Module 7

Side-back light

Light coming from behind and to one side of the subject, about 10 to 11 o’clock with the camera at 6. Module 38

Signature

A large printed sheet folded into a group of pages, often 16, which is sewn or glued into a book. Module 84

Similarity

The tendency to group elements that share colour, tone, shape, size or texture. Module 76

Simultaneous contrast

The way a colour appears to shift in hue or brightness depending on the colours surrounding it. Module 41

Single take

A Galaxy mode that captures a few seconds and produces photos, crops, collages and short clips. Smartphone Photography Module 3

Slow motion

Recording at a high frame rate and playing back at normal speed so action appears slower. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Smart collection

A collection that fills itself automatically from rules you set, such as rating, keyword or capture date. Lightroom Module 1

Smart object

A container that preserves original image data so filters and transforms stay editable. Photoshop Module 1

Smart Preview

A compact, lossy DNG proxy, 2560 pixels on the long edge, that allows editing when originals are offline. Lightroom Module 1

Soft light

Light from a source that is large relative to the subject, producing gentle shadows with gradual edges. Module 16

Soft proofing

Previewing on screen how an image will look on a particular paper and printer, using that paper's profile. Module 40

Sole trader

The simplest business structure, where you and the business are legally the same and business income is personal income. The Business of Photography Module 4

Solstice

The two days each year when the noon sun is highest or lowest: December is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, June in the Northern. Module 32

South celestial pole

The point in the southern sky around which all stars appear to rotate; its height above the horizon equals your latitude. Module 52

Space Zoom

Samsung’s digital zoom beyond the optical range, up to 100x on Galaxy S26 Ultra; quality falls past 10x. Smartphone Photography Module 3

Specular highlight

A bright, mirror-like reflection of the light source on a shiny surface. Module 16

Specular reflection

A mirror-like reflection of a light source or surroundings on a shiny surface. Module 39

Speed curve

A speed change that varies within a clip, such as slowing at the peak and speeding up again; also called a speed ramp. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Spill

Light that reaches areas you did not intend to light, such as the background in a low-key setup. Module 56

Split

Cutting one clip into two at the playhead. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Split lighting

Key at 90 degrees to the face, lighting one half and leaving the other in shadow. Module 55

Split toning

Giving shadows and highlights different hues, such as cool shadows with warm highlights. Lightroom Module 6

Spot meter

A meter reading a very small area, often 1° for handheld meters, used to measure individual tones. Module 74

Spot metering

A mode that reads only a small circle, typically a few per cent of the frame, for precise control of one tone. Module 10

Spread

Two facing pages in a book or magazine, designed and judged as one visual unit. Module 79

sRGB

The standard colour space for screens and the web, and the usual requirement for digitally judged competitions. Module 85

Stack

A group of similar photos shown under one thumbnail, such as a burst, opened and closed with S. Lightroom Module 2

Stack mode

A Photoshop smart object setting, such as Median or Mean, that combines aligned frames pixel by pixel. Photoshop Module 1

Stacking

Aligning and averaging several identical frames so random noise falls by the square root of the number of frames. Module 51

Stand-in

A substitute plate or prop used to set light and composition before the real food arrives. Module 38

Star rating

A score from one to five stars showing how strong a photo is. Lightroom Module 2

Star tracker

A motorised mount that rotates the camera with the sky, allowing exposures of minutes without star trailing. Module 51

Star trails

Arcs recorded by stars as the Earth rotates, about 15° of arc per hour of exposure. Module 52

Starburst

Points of light radiating from a bright source, produced by diffraction at small apertures; the number depends on aperture blades. Module 33

Still life

A photograph or painting of arranged inanimate objects, where the photographer controls subject, light and composition. Module 68

Stop

A doubling or halving of light; for shutter speed, each stop doubles or halves the exposure time. Module 2

Straight photography

An approach valuing sharp focus, full tonal range and minimal manipulation, rendering what only a camera can. Module 78

Stranger test

Asking whether you would still choose a frame if someone else had taken it, to expose attachments the viewer cannot see. Module 79

Strobe

A studio flash powered by mains or battery, more powerful than a speedlight, usually with a modelling lamp. Module 54

Studium

Barthes's term for a viewer's general, cultural interest in a photograph. Module 77

Style

The visible, recognisable pattern of a photographer's choices in subject, light, colour, distance, composition, moment and edit. Module 81

Style audit

A structured tally of the choices shared by your favourite images, used to identify defaults and decisions. Module 81

Subject detection

Camera recognition of faces, eyes, animals, birds or vehicles that guides autofocus to the right target. Module 13

Sun glint

The bright reflection of the sun on water, appearing at the same angle from straight down as the sun is from straight overhead. Module 67

Sunny 16 rule

A daylight guide: in bright sun at f/16, a shutter speed of about 1 ÷ ISO gives a correct exposure. Module 5

Survey view

A Lightroom Classic view (N) that shows several selected images together for side-by-side comparison. Module 79

Sweep

A sheet of paper or card curved from a vertical surface onto the table so the background has no visible corner or horizon line. Module 39

Swell period

The time in seconds between successive waves. Longer periods carry more energy and set the rhythm for timing exposures. Module 31

Sync speed

The fastest shutter speed at which the whole sensor is uncovered at once, so a normal flash burst lights the full frame. Module 42

Sync with Lightroom

A collection option that sends it to the cloud-based Lightroom on phone, tablet and web as an album. Lightroom Module 3

T

T-stop

A lens brightness rating measured from the light actually transmitted, used on cinema lenses. f-numbers are geometric and ignore losses in the glass. Module 5

Target collection

A regular collection chosen to receive photos when you press B, in place of the Quick Collection. Lightroom Module 3

Targeted Adjustment Tool

A Lightroom tool that adjusts the relevant colour-mix sliders when you click and drag directly on an area of the photo. Lightroom Module 7

Taste gap

The stage where you can recognise good work but your own work doesn't yet meet your standard. Module 81

Teleconverter

An optical accessory fitted between camera and compatible lens that multiplies focal length (commonly 1.4× or 2×) at the cost of one or two stops of light. Module 23

Temporary feature

Something on the face that won't be there next week, such as a pimple, nick or pillow crease. Photoshop Module 2

Terminator

The line between the lit and dark parts of the moon, where low-angle light shows the strongest crater relief. Module 52

Tethering

Connecting the camera to a computer or tablet so frames appear on a larger screen as you shoot. Module 39

Texture

A control that enhances or softens medium-fine detail while leaving smooth areas mostly untouched. Lightroom Module 4

The gaze

The point of view an image imposes on its viewer, shaping who looks, who is looked at and with what power. Module 80

Thematic essay

A photo essay linked by an idea, mood or motif rather than by time or cause and effect. Module 72

Third of a stop

The default step on most camera dials: about 1.26 times the light. Three clicks make one full stop. Module 5

Thumbnail test

Reviewing candidate images as small previews to judge which have instant visual impact. Module 85

Tilt-shift lens

A lens that can shift its optics relative to the sensor, correcting verticals while the camera stays level. Module 62

Time blending

Combining frames taken from one fixed position at different times, such as a blue-hour sky with later, fully lit buildings. Module 48

Time-lapse

Recording frames at intervals and playing them back quickly so slow changes appear fast. Smartphone Photography Module 6

Timeline

The strip in an editor where clips, text and audio sit in order from left to right. Smartphone Photography Module 7

Tint

The green–magenta axis of white balance, used to correct casts from fluorescent and some LED lights. Module 17

Tintype

A collodion image on a thin, dark-coated iron plate, so a magnet sticks to it. Introduced in 1856 and used into the twentieth century. Module 78

Tonal key

The overall brightness range where most of an image’s tones sit, separate from its contrast. Module 56

Tonal range

The spread of tones in an image from its darkest black to its brightest white. Module 40

Tone curve

A graph mapping original tones to output tones; steeper sections increase contrast. Lightroom Module 4

Tone mapping

Compressing a high dynamic range image into a range a screen or print can display. Module 47

Toning

Adding a subtle colour tint to a black and white image, such as warm sepia-like or cool tones. Lightroom Module 7

Top Shot

Pixel feature that captures a burst around your press and picks the best frame. Smartphone Photography Module 4

Tracking sensitivity

An AF-C setting that controls how quickly the camera switches to a new subject when something briefly blocks the one it is tracking. Module 13

Treatment

A signature edit or preset applied across images. It can support a style but becomes a substitute for one when the work depends on it. Module 81

Trim

Shortening a clip by moving its start or end point. Smartphone Photography Module 7

TTL

Through-the-lens flash metering: a pre-flash is measured by the camera, which then sets the flash power automatically. Module 42

Two-point perspective

A level, corner-on view in which horizontal lines recede to two vanishing points on the horizon while verticals stay parallel. Module 35

Typology

A body of work repeating one kind of subject under fixed conditions so that comparison creates meaning. Module 82

U

Unplugged ceremony

A ceremony where guests are asked not to use phones or cameras. Module 61

Unsharp masking

A sharpening method that boosts contrast across edges by adding a dark undershoot and a light overshoot. Lightroom Module 4

User Order

A custom sort order you create by dragging photos; regular collections have it, smart collections do not. Lightroom Module 3

V

V-flat

A pair of large hinged panels, usually white on one side and black on the other, used to add or block fill. Module 54

Vanishing point

The point where parallel lines receding from the camera appear to meet; with a level camera, horizontal lines meet on the horizon line at camera height. Module 35

Vanitas

A 17th-century still life tradition using objects such as skulls, candles and decaying fruit to symbolise the passing of time. Module 68

Vantage point

The position you photograph from; its height and distance shape perspective more than any lens. Module 36

Variable aperture

A zoom whose maximum aperture narrows as you zoom in, shown as two f-numbers such as f/3.5–5.6. Module 23

Variable ND

Two polarising filters, one rotating against the other, giving adjustable light reduction; strong settings can produce an uneven X pattern. Module 30

Variation

A written, priced change to an agreed job, also called a change order, approved by the client before the extra work starts. The Business of Photography Module 5

Versioned backup

A backup that keeps earlier versions of files for a period, so you can restore from before a mistake. Module 18

Vibrance

A saturation control that boosts muted colours more than saturated ones and protects skin tones. Lightroom Module 4

Video speed class (V30)

A memory card rating guaranteeing a minimum sustained write speed; V30 means at least 30 MB/s. Module 1

Vignetting

Darkening of image corners, which can be caused by stacked or thick filters on wide lenses. Module 30

Virtual copy

An extra version of a photo stored only in the catalogue, letting you try different edits without duplicating the file on disk. Lightroom Module 1

Virtual image

An image that appears to be behind a mirror or water surface, from where the reflected light seems to come. Module 36

Visual hierarchy

The order in which a viewer notices elements, from primary subject to supporting areas. Module 75

Visual literacy

The ability to read, interpret and question images, including how they are constructed and how context shapes their meaning. Module 77

Visual weight

How strongly an element attracts attention, driven by brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness, size and faces. Module 15

VLOS

Visual line of sight: keeping the drone in direct view with your own eyes, not only through the screen. Module 67

Voice

The point of view, concerns and motivations that drive a photographer's choices and give the work its meaning. Module 81

Voiceover

Narration recorded separately and laid over the pictures. Smartphone Photography Module 7

W

Watt-hour (Wh)

A battery’s energy capacity: volts multiplied by amp-hours. Airline battery rules are set in watt-hours. Module 3

Weather sealing

Gaskets and seals at a camera’s or lens’s seams, buttons, doors and mount that resist dust and splashes, but are not waterproofing. Module 3

Wet collodion

An 1851 process using glass plates coated, exposed and developed while still wet, giving sharp negatives. Module 78

White balance

A camera or editing setting that removes colour casts so neutral objects appear neutral. Module 17

White balance fine-tune

A camera control, often called WB shift, that nudges a preset along the amber–blue and green–magenta axes. Module 17

Wide-angle close-up

Using a wide lens very close to a near subject so it appears large while the wider setting remains visible behind it. Module 37

Window pull

A separate frame, often flash-lit, exposed for the view through a window and blended into an interior photo. Module 62

Work print

A small, inexpensive print made only for editing and sequencing decisions, not for display or sale. Module 83

Working distance

The distance between camera and subject; it changes with focal length for the same framing. Module 58

Working set

A provisional selection used to assess a project in progress, before the final edit. Module 82

Working statement

A short draft text describing what a project is about and why, revised as the work develops. Module 82

Working the scene

Photographing one subject from several distances, heights and angles, and over time, instead of taking a single frame. Module 19

X

XMP sidecar

A small file saved beside a RAW file that stores metadata and editing instructions. Module 18

Z

Zebras

Striped overlay on the live view marking areas brighter than a chosen level, used to warn of clipping. Module 10

Zero padding

Adding leading zeros so numbers have a fixed length, such as 0007, so they sort in true order as text. Module 18

Zero shutter lag

A phone camera technique that records frames continuously into a buffer, so the picture can include frames captured just before you pressed the button. Smartphone Photography Module 1

Zine

A small, self-published booklet, usually printed in short runs and stapled, used to share work quickly and cheaply. Module 84

Zone focusing

Pre-setting focus, often at or near the hyperfocal distance, so everything within a chosen distance range is sharp without refocusing. Module 6

Zone map

A sketch or note of a scene with each key area labelled by the zone it will fall on, made before shooting. Module 74

Zone System

A method formalised by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer for controlling tone by placing metered values on an eleven-step scale. Module 74

Zone V

Middle grey, conventionally an 18% grey card: how a reflected-light meter renders any area it reads. Module 74

Zoom burst

Zooming the lens during an exposure so lights and edges streak outward from the centre of the frame. Module 50

Zoom lens

A lens whose focal length can be varied across a range, such as 24–70mm. Module 14