PH 100 Introduction to Photography Course Glossary

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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)
print: 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

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