Photography terminology starting with P
P – P is a semi-automatic camera mode. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t stand for “professional,” but for “programmed automatic”. This mode allows photographers to control a few settings such as the use of flash, ISO, EV, and WB. The rest of the settings are automatically selected by the camera.
Pixel – Pixel is the smallest unit of programmable colour represented on a digital display. Despite common photography myths, the number of pixels is not the determining factor on how good a camera is.
Portfolio – A portfolio is, basically, a collection of work. Over the last years, online portfolios have become an absolute must and have grown to become full professional photographer websites. In addition to showcasing their work, photographers can now communicate with clients, constantly update their projects, and even book their services, all from a single platform.
Prime Lens – Prime lenses are those with a fixed focal length. These lenses are usually smaller and faster, as they have a smaller number of moving parts and a less complicated lens formula. Their maximum apertures are usually lower than f2.8.
Photoshop – Photo editing Software. Photoshop offers a comprehensive suite of tools and features for retouching, colour correction, layer-based editing, masking, and special effects, allowing users to create and enhance digital images with precision and creativity.
Portrait Photography – A genre of photography focused on capturing the likeness, personality, and expressions of individuals or groups through carefully composed and posed images. Portrait photographers use various techniques, lighting setups, and compositions to create flattering and engaging portraits that highlight the subject’s features, character, and emotions.
Perspective – The spatial relationship between objects in a scene and their representation in a photograph, influenced by the photographer’s viewpoint, focal length, and composition. Perspective affects the perceived depth, scale, and three-dimensional quality of images, creating a sense of space, distance, and proportion that can be manipulated for creative or documentary purposes.
Parallax Error – Parallax error is a visual distortion or misalignment that occurs when the viewfinder or framing system of a camera does not accurately represent the perspective or framing of the final image captured by the camera lens. Parallax error is most pronounced in cameras with separate viewfinders or electronic viewfinders, where the viewing angle and framing may differ from the actual lens perspective, particularly in close-up or macro photography.
Pixel Peeping – Pixel peeping is a colloquial term used to describe the practice of closely examining digital photographs at high magnification or 100% zoom level to scrutinize individual pixels for sharpness, detail, noise, or other image quality attributes.
Panorama – A panorama is a wide-angle or panoramic photograph that captures a broad field of view, typically spanning horizontally or vertically across a scene, landscape, or cityscape. Panoramas are created by stitching together multiple overlapping images using specialized software or panoramic techniques, resulting in a seamless, high-resolution composite image with expansive views.
Polarizer – A photographic filter that selectively blocks or reduces polarized light reflections, glare, and atmospheric haze from non-metallic surfaces such as water, glass, or foliage. Polarizers enhance colour saturation, contrast, and clarity in outdoor photography, particularly landscapes and architectural scenes, by eliminating unwanted reflections and enhancing blue skies and natural textures.
Post-processing – Also known as image editing or digital editing, refers to the manipulation and enhancement of digital photographs using software tools and techniques to improve image quality, correct imperfections, and achieve desired artistic effects.
Polaroid – Polaroid refers to instant film photography and instant print technology developed by the Polaroid Corporation, allowing photographers to capture and develop prints within minutes of exposure. Polaroid cameras use self-contained film cartridges containing light-sensitive chemicals that are automatically processed and developed by the camera, producing unique, tangible prints with distinctive colour and texture characteristics.
Photojournalism – Photojournalism is a form of journalism that uses photography as a primary means of storytelling, documenting news events, social issues, and human-interest stories through visual imagery. Photojournalists capture candid, unscripted moments with journalistic integrity and ethical standards, conveying information, emotion, and social commentary through powerful, evocative photographs published in newspapers, magazines, and online media.
Pinhole Camera – A pinhole camera is a simple, lensless camera device that uses a small aperture or pinhole to project an inverted image of the scene onto a light-sensitive film or image sensor. Pinhole cameras produce soft-focus, ethereal images with infinite depth of field and long exposure times, relying on the principles of light diffraction and the camera obscura phenomenon to create unique, artistic photographs.
Print – In photography, a print refers to a physical copy or reproduction of a photographic image produced on paper, canvas, or other print media using traditional or digital printing methods.
Parabolic Reflector – A parabolic reflector is a specialized lighting accessory used in photography and studio lighting setups to focus and direct light from a light source, such as a studio strobe or flash, into a concentrated beam with controlled intensity and directionality. Parabolic reflectors feature a curved, parabolic shape that efficiently reflects and concentrates light rays, producing strong, directional illumination with minimal spill and soft, natural falloff.
Push/Pull Processing – Push/pull processing is a film-developing technique used in analogue photography to adjust the effective sensitivity or ISO rating of photographic film by varying the developing time or chemical concentrations during processing. Push processing increases film speed and contrast, allowing photographers to compensate for underexposure or achieve higher sensitivity in low-light conditions, while pull processing decreases film speed and contrast for finer grain and increased shadow detail.
Preset – A preset is a pre-defined set of editing adjustments or image processing settings saved within digital image editing software, such as Lightroom, to apply consistent, stylized effects or corrections to photographs with a single click. Presets can include adjustments to exposure, colour balance, contrast, saturation, and other parameters, allowing photographers to streamline their editing workflow and achieve desired looks or styles efficiently. Check out our free presets here.
