PH 100 Introduction to Photography Course Glossary
Terms
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- densitometer
- an instrument used for measuring the optical density of an area in a negative or print
- hyperfocal distance
- distance of the nearest object in a scene that is acceptably sharp when the lens is focused on infinity
- developer
- a solution used to turn the latent image into a visible image on exposed films or photographic papers
- close-up lens
- a lens attachment placed in front of a camera lens to permit taking pictures at a closer distance than the camera lens alone will allow
- flash
- a brief, intense burst of light from a flashbulb or an electronic flash unit, usually used when the lighting on the scene is inadequate
- stop bath
- an acid rinse, usually a weak solution of acetic acid, used as a second step when developing black and white film or paper; stops development and makes the hypo (fixing bath) last longer
- single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera
- a camera in which you view the scene through the same lens that takes the picture
- double exposure
- two pictures taken on one frame of film, or two images printed on one piece of photographic paper
- equivalency
- (see reciprocity)
- a positive picture, usually on paper, and usually produced from a negative
- thin negative
- a negative that is underexposed or underdeveloped (or both) and appears less dense than a normal negative
- exposure latitude
- the range of camera exposures from underexposure to overexposure that will produce acceptable pictures from a specific film
- base exposure time
- initial exposure time used for making a "straight" print
- normal lens
- a lens that makes the image in a photograph appear in perspective similar to that of the original scene; a normal lens has a shorter focal length and a wider field of view than a telephoto lens, and a longer focal length and narrower field of view than a wide-angle lens
- tint
- shades of white in a finished print, controlled by the color of the paper, varying from white to buff
- retouching
- altering a print or negative after development by use of dyes or pencils to alter tones of highlights, shadows, and other details, or to remove blemishes
- easel
- a device to hold photographic paper flat during exposure, usually equipped with an adjustable metal mask for framing
- DX data exchange
- electrical coding system employed in 35 mm format film that communicates film speed, type, and exposure length to the camera
- abrasion marks
- marks on the emulsion surface of a film, caused by scratching; can be due to traces of dirt trapped between layers of film as it is wound on the spool, or to grit on the pressure plate
- lens
- one or more pieces of optical glass or similar material designed to collect and focus rays of light to form a sharp image on the film, paper, or projection screen
- toning
- intensifying or changing the tone of a photographic print after processing; solutions called toners are used to produce various shades of colors
- fixed-focus lens
- a non-adjustable camera lens, set for a fixed subject distance
- perforations
- regularly and accurately spaced holes punched throughout the length of 35 mm film for still cameras
- negative holder
- a device designed to hold the negative in proper position in an enlarger
- transparency
- a positive photographic image on film, viewed or projected by transmitted light (light shining through film)
- background density
- density of any selection of a negative or print on which there is no image; also referred to as fog level
- graininess
- the sand-like or granular appearance of a negative, print, or slide, which becomes more pronounced with faster film and the degree of enlargement
- ASA
- original system of rating photographic materials, which was devised by the American Standards Association; now replaced by the ISO rating system devised by the International Standards Organization
- cropping
- printing only part of the image that is in the negative or slide, usually for a more pleasing composition; may also refer to the framing of the scene in the viewfinder
- background
- the part of the scene that appears behind the principal subject of the picture
- coated lens
- a lens covered with a very thin layer of transparent material that reduces the amount of light reflected by the surface of the lens; a coated lens is faster (transmits more light) than an uncoated lens
- aperture priority
- an exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that lets you set the aperture while the camera sets the shutter speed for proper exposure; if you change the aperture, or the light level changes, the shutter speed changes automatically
- LCD panel
- liquid crystal display on cameras that shows such information as remaining exposures, flash status, and aspect ratio selected
- variable-contrast paper
- photographic paper that provides different grades of contrast when exposed through special filters
- backlighting
- light coming from behind the subject, toward the camera lens, so that the subject stands out vividly against the background; sometimes produces a silhouette effect
- stopping down
- changing the lens aperture to a smaller opening
- panning
- moving the camera so that the image of a moving object remains in the same relative position in the viewfinder as you take a picture
- tone
- the degree of lightness or darkness in any given area of a print; also referred to as value; cold tones (bluish) and warm tones (reddish) refer to the color of the image in both black and white and color photographs
- stain
- discolored areas on film or paper, usually caused by contaminated developing solutions or by insufficient fixing, washing, or agitation
- f-number
- a number that indicates the size of the lens opening on an adjustable camera; the common f-numbers (or f-stops) are f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, and f/22; the larger the f-number, the smaller the lens opening; works in conjunction with shutter speed to indicate exposure settings
- adapter ring
- circular mount, available in several sizes, enabling accessories such as filters to be used with lenses of different diameters
- tripod
- a three-legged supporting stand used to hold the camera steady, especially useful when using slow shutter speeds and/or telephoto lenses
- ball and socket
- swiveling mount used to attach a camera to a tripod, consisting of a large ball joint designed to move in a cup
- enlarger
- a device consisting of a light source, a negative holder, a lens, and means of adjusting these to project an enlarged image from a negative onto a sheet of photographic paper
- artificial daylight
- artificial light having a similar color temperature to daylight
- hypo
- the name for a fixing bath made from sodium thiosulfate, other chemicals, and water; often used as a synonym for fixing bath
- wide-angle lens
- a lens that has a shorter focal length and a wider field of view (includes more subject area) than a normal lens
- vignetting
- a fall-off in brightness at the edges of an image, slide, or print; can be caused by poor lens design, using a lens hood not matched to the lens, or attaching too many filters to the front of the lens
- slide
- a photographic transparency (positive) mounted for projection
- light meter
- (see exposure meter)
- latent image
- the invisible image left on photographic film or paper by the action of light, which changes the photosensitive salts to varying degrees depending on the amount of light striking them; when processed, the latent image becomes a visible image either in reversed tones (as in a negative) or in positive tones (as in a print)
- printing frame
- a device used for contact printing that holds a negative against the photographic paper, which is exposed by light from an external light source
- ISO speed
- the emulsion speed (sensitivity) of the film as determined by the standards of the International Standards Organization
- developing tank
- a light-tight container used for processing film
- telephoto lens
- a lens that makes a subject appear larger on film than does a normal lens at the same camera-to-subject distance; a telephoto lens has a longer focal length and narrower field of view than a normal lens
- push processing
- increasing the development time of a film to increase its effective speed (raising the ISO number for initial exposure ) for low-light situations
- depth of field
- the amount of distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear in acceptably sharp focus in a photograph; depends on the lens opening, the focal length of the lens, and the distance from the lens to the subject
- through-the-lens metering
- determining exposure for the scene by using a meter built into the camera to read light that passes through the lens during picture-taking
- angle of view
- the area of a scene that a lens covers or sees; determined by the focal length of the lens; a wide-angle lens (short-focal-length) includes more of the scene-a wider angle of view-than a normal (normal-focal-length) or telephoto (long-focal-length) lens
- lens shade
- a collar or hood at the front of a lens that keeps unwanted light from striking the lens and causing image flarel may be attached or detachable, and should be sized to the particular lens to avoid vignetting
- opening up
- changing the lens aperture to a larger opening
- sidelighting
- light striking the subject from the side relative to the position of the camera; produces shadows and highlights to create modeling on the subject
- aberration
- the inability of a lens to produce a perfect, sharp image, especially towards the edge of the lens field; can be reduced by compound lens constructions, and the use of small apertures
- ammonium thiosulfate
- highly active fixing agent used in rapid fixing solutions which works by converting unused silver halides to soluble complexes
- frame
- one individual picture on a roll of film; also, a tree branch, arch, etc., that frames a subject
- overexposure
- a condition in which too much light reaches the film, producing a dense negative or a very light print or slide
- unipod
- a one-legged support used to hold the camera steady
- focal-plane shutter
- an opaque curtain containing a slit that moves across in front of the film in a camera and allows image-forming light to strike the film
- polarizing screen (filter)
- a filter that transmits light traveling in one plane while absorbing light traveling in other planes; when placed on a camera lens or on light sources, it can eliminate undesirable reflections from a subject such as water, glass, or other objects with shiny surfaces; also darkens blue sky
- macro lens
- a lens that provides continuous focusing from infinity to extreme close-ups, often to a reproduction ratio of 1:2 (half life size) or 1:1 (life size)
- focus range
- the distance range within which a camera is able to focus on the selected picture subject
- blocked up
- a portion of an overexposed and/or overdeveloped negative so dense with silver halides that texture and detail in the subject are unclear
- soft lighting
- lighting that is low or moderate in contrast, such as on an overcast day
- diffusing
- softening detail in a print with a diffusion disk or other material that scatters light
- autofocus (AF)
- system by which the camera lens automatically focuses the image of a selected part of the picture subject
- bleed
- term used to describe a picture with no borders, which has been printed to the edge of the paper
- acutance
- objective measurement of image sharpness
- blotter
- sheet or sheets of absorbent material made expressly for photographic prints; wet prints dry flat and quickly when placed between blotters
- contrast grade
- numbers (usually 1-5) and names (soft, medium, hard, extra-hard, and ultrahard) of the contrast grades of photographic papers, used to enable you to get good prints from negatives of different contrasts
- fill light (see bounce light)
- additional light from a lamp, flash, or reflector used to soften or fill in the shadows or dark picture areas caused by the brighter main light; called fill (or fill-in) flash when electronic flash is used
- backing
- dark coating, normally on the back of a film, but sometimes between emulsion and base, to reduce halation; the backing dye disappears during processing
- agitation
- method by which fresh solution is brought into contact with the surface of sensitive materials during photographic processing
- saturation
- an attribute of perceived color, or the percentage of hue in a color; saturated colors are called vivid, strong, or deep while desaturated colors are called dull, weak, or washed out
- underexposure
- a condition in which too little light reaches the film, producing a thin negative, a dark slide, or a muddy-looking print
- panorama
- a broad view, usually scenic
- processing
- developing, fixing, and washing exposed photographic film or paper to produce either a negative image or a positive image
- exposure
- the quantity of light allowed to act on a photographic material; a product of the intensity (controlled by the lens opening) and the duration (controlled by the shutter speed or enlarging time) of light striking the film or paper
- lens-shutter camera
- a camera with the shutter built into the lens; the viewfinder and picture-taking lens are separate
- viewfinder
- (see finder)
- color balance
- how a color film reproduces the colors of a scene; also refers to the reproduction of colors in color prints, which can be altered during the printing process
- zoom lens
- a lens in which you can adjust the focal length over a wide range, in effect providing lenses of many focal lengths
- contact print
- a print made by exposing photographic paper while it is held tightly against the negative, producing images in the print the same size as those in the negative
- candid pictures
- unposed pictures of people, often taken without the subject's knowledge; these usually appear more natural and relaxed than posed pictures
- condenser enlarger
- an enlarger with a sharp, undiffused light that produces high contrast and high definition in a print; emphasizes scratches and blemishes in the negative
- program exposure
- an exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that automatically sets both the aperture and the shutter speed for proper exposure
- bounce light (see fill light)
- flash or tungsten light bounced off a reflective surface (such as the ceiling or walls) to give the effect of natural or available light
- fixing bath
- a solution that removes any light-sensitive silver-halide crystals not acted upon by light or developer, leaving a black and white negative or print unalterable by further action of light; also referred to as hypo
- balance
- placement of colors, light and dark masses, or large and small objects in a picture to create harmony and equilibrium
- definition
- the clarity of detail in a photograph
- shutter priority
- an exposure mode on an automatic or autofocus camera that lets you select the desired shutter speed; the camera sets the aperture for proper exposure; if you change the shutter speed, or the light level changes, the camera adjusts the aperture automatically
- camera angles
- various positions of the camera (high, medium, or low; and left, right, or straight on) with respect to the subject, each giving a different viewpoint or effect
- enlargement
- a print that is larger than the negative or slide; blowup
- close-up
- a picture taken with the subject close to the camera, usually less than two or three feet away but as close as a few inches
- contrasty
- higher-than-normal contrast including very bright and dark areas; the range of density in a negative or print is higher than it was in the original scene
- acuity
- subjective term for the visual sharpness of an image
- artificial light film
- color film balanced for use ion tungsten artificial light, usually 3200 K
- spotting
- retouching a processed print with a pencil or brush (with watercolors or dyes) to eliminate spots left by dust or scratches on the negative
- air bells
- bubbles of air clinging to the emulsion surface during processing
- dodging
- holding back the image-forming light from a part of the image projected on an enlarger easel during part of the basic exposure time to make that area of the print lighter
- negative
- the developed film that contains a reversed tone image of the original scene
- silver halides
- salts used in making most light-sensitive materials; silver halide crystals are suspended in an emulsion, usually gelatin, and exposed to light to expose images
- aperture
- the opening in a camera lens through which light passes to expose the film; size is usually calibrated in f-numbers -- the larger the number, the smaller the lens opening
- blur
- unsharp image areas, created or caused by subject or camera movement, or by selective or inaccurate focusing
- emulsion side
- the side of the film coated with emulsion; usually placed toward photographic paper when making prints
- filter
- a colored piece of glass or other transparent material used over the lens to emphasize, eliminate, or change the color or density of the entire scene or certain areas within a scene
- rangefinder
- a device included on many cameras as an aid in focusing
- focus
- adjustment of the distance setting on a lens to define the subject sharply
- existing light
- (see available light)
- albumen paper
- printing paper invented by Louis Desire Blanquart-Evrard in the mid-19th century where egg whites were used to coat the paper base prior to sensitization; the albumen added to the brightness of the white base and substantially improved printed highlights
- diffusion enlarger
- an enlarger that scatters light before it strikes the negative, distributing light evenly on the negative; detail is not as sharp as with a condenser enlarger; negative blemishes are minimized
- parallax
- with a lens-shutter camera, parallax is the difference -- caused by the separation between the viewfinder and the picture-taking lens -- between what the viewfinder sees and what the camera records, especially at close distances; there is no parallax with single lens reflex cameras because when you look through the viewfinder, you are viewing the subject through the picture-taking lens
- f-stop (see f-number)
- (see f-number)
- diffusion-condenser enlarger
- an enlarger that combines diffuse light with a condenser system, producing more contrast and sharper detail than a diffusion enlarger but less contrast and blemish emphasis than a condenser enlarger
- density
- the blackness of an area in a negative or print that determines the amount of light that will pass through it or reflect from it
- film
- a photographic emulsion coated on a flexible, transparent base that records images or scenes
- antihalation backing
- dye used on the back of most films capable of absorbing light which passes straight through the emulsion; reduces the amount of extraneous light that can be reflected from the camera back through the emulsion
- allegory
- work of art that treats one subject in the guise of another; an allegoric photograph usually illustrates a subject that embodies a moral "inner meaning"
- soft focus
- soft outlines (slight blurring) in an image, produced by use of a special lens
- aspect ratio
- the ratio of width to height in photographic prints, 2:3 in 35 mm pictures to produce photographs most commonly measuring 3.5 x 5 inches or 4 x 6 inches
- diaphragm
- a perforated plate or adjustable opening mounted behind or between the elements of a lens used to control the amount of light that reaches the film; openings are usually calibrated in f-numbers
- composition
- the pleasing arrangement of the elements within a scene -- the main subject, the foreground and background, and supporting subjects
- emulsion
- micro-thin layers of gelatin on film in which light-sensitive ingredients are suspended; triggered by light to create a chemical reaction resulting in a photographic image
- contact printer
- a device used for contact printing that consists of a light-tight box with an internal light source and a printing frame to position the negative against the photographic paper in front of the light
- burning-in
- giving additional exposure to part of the image projected on an enlarger easel to make that area of the print darker; accomplished after the basic exposure by extending the exposure time to allow additional image-forming light to strike the areas in the print you want to darken while holding back the image-forming light from the rest of the image; sometimes called printing-in
- contrast
- the range of difference in the light to dark areas of a negative or its resulting print (dark areas in negatives translate to light areas in prints); high contrast = bright highlights and dark shadows; low contrast = minimal difference between highlights and shadows
- high contrast
- a wide range of density in a print or negative
- dedicated flash
- a fully automatic flash that works only with specific cameras; automatically sets the proper flash sync speed and lens aperture, and electronic sensors within the camera automatically control exposure by regulating the amount of light from the flash
- artificial light
- all light not originating from a natural source, normally the sun
- reciprocity failure
- inability of film to properly capture an image when exposed significantly outside the typical exposure range of 1/15 second to 1/1000 second, often resulting in loss of effective film speed, contrast changes, and (with color films) color shifts
- available light
- term applying to light normally occurring in a scene, not supplemented by illumination intended specifically for photography
- lens speed
- the largest lens opening (smallest f-number) at which a lens can be set; a fast lens transmits more light and has a larger opening than a slow lens
- ambrotype
- mid-19th century photographic process, introduced in 1851-52 by Frederick Scott Archer and Peter Fry, that used weak collodion negatives which were bleached and backed by a black background which produced the effect of a positive image
- motor drive
- a mechanism for advancing the film to the next frame and recocking the shutter, activated by an electric motor usually powered by batteries; popular for action-sequence photography and for recording images by remote control
- positive
- the opposite of a negative, an image with the same tonal relationships as those in the original scenes, for example, a finished print or a slide
- through-the-lens focusing
- viewing a scene to be photographed through the same lens that admits light to the film; through-the-lens viewing, as in a single lens reflex (SLR) camera, while focusing and composing a picture, eliminates parallax
- autochrome
- early commercial color photography process in which the principles of additive color synthesis were applied
- frontlighting
- light shining on the area of the subject facing the camera
- clearing agent
- a chemical that neutralizes hypo in film or paper, reducing wash time and helping to provide a more stable image
- foreground
- the area between the camera and the principal subject
- tungsten light
- light from common (not fluorescent) room lamps and ceiling fixtures
- reflector
- any device used to reflect light onto a subject
- safelight
- an enclosed darkroom lamp fitted with a filter to screen out light rays to which film and paper are sensitive
- ortho (orthochromatic)
- denotes film sensitive to blue and green light
- exposure meter
- an instrument with a light-sensitive cell that measures the light reflected from or falling on a subject; used as an aid for selecting the exposure setting; also known as a light meter
- time exposure
- a comparatively long exposure made in seconds or minutes
- diffuse lighting
- lighting that is low or moderate in contrast, such as on an overcast day
- hot shoe
- the fitting on a camera that holds a small portable flash; it has an electrical contact that aligns with the contact on the flash unit's "foot" and fires the flash when you press the shutter release
- flat lighting
- lighting that produces very little contrast or modeling on the subject and a minimum of shadows
- highlights
- the brightest areas of a subject and the corresponding areas in a negative, print, or slide
- shutter
- blades, a curtain, a plate, or some other movable cover in a camera that controls the time during which light reaches the film
- B (bulb) setting
- a shutter-speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for time exposures; when set on b, the shutter will stay open as long as the shutter release button remains depressed
- fogging
- darkening or discoloring of a negative or print or lightening or discoloring of a slide caused by exposure to nonimage-forming light to which the photographic material is sensitive, too much handling in air during development, over-development, outdated film or paper, or storage of film or paper in a hot, humid place
- background density
- density of any selection of a negative or print on which there is no image; also referred to as fog level
- darkroom
- a light-tight area used for processing films and for printing and processing papers; also for loading and unloading film holders and some cameras
- reticulation
- cracking or distorting of the emulsion during processing, usually caused by wide temperature or chemical-activity differences between the solutions
- additive printing
- color printing method which produces an image by giving three separate exposures, each filtered to one of the three primary color wavelengths, blue, green and red
- focal length
- the distance between the film and the optical center of the lens when the lens is focused on infinity; usually measured in millimeters
- mini-lab
- photofinishing operation that operates on a retail level, serving consumers directly and processing film on site
- film speed
- the sensitivity of a given film to light, indicated by a number such as ISO 200; the higher the number, the more sensitive, or faster, the film
- acetate base
- non-flammable base support for film emulsions which replaced the highly flammable cellulose nitrate base
- flat
- too low in contrast; the range in density in a negative or print is too short
- finder
- a viewing device on a camera to show the subject area that will be recorded on the film; also known as viewfinder and projected frame
- batch numbers
- set of numbers printed on packages of sensitive materials to indicate common production coating
- ambient light
- the available light completely surrounding a subject; light already existing in an indoor or outdoor setting that is not caused by any illumination supplied by the photographer
- bracketing
- taking additional pictures of the subject through a range of exposures, both lighter and darker, when unsure of the correct exposure
- pan (panchromatic)
- designation of films that record all colors in tones of about the same relative brightness as the human eye sees in the original scene, sensitive to all visible wave-lengths
- selective focus
- choosing a lens opening that produces a shallow depth of field, usually to isolate a subject by causing most other elements in the scene to be blurred