Photography terminology starting with A
Aperture – Aperture is the opening through which light passes through the lens to enter the camera. Its size can be modified to control how much light reaches the sensor or negative film. The diameter of the aperture, also known as the F-stop, affects the exposure and depth of field.
Aspect ratio – Aspect ratio defines the relationship between an image’s lengths, represented as width: height. It is predetermined by the dimensions of the camera’s sensor but can be altered in post-processing. The most common aspect ratios are 3:2 (full-frame, mirrorless, 35mm film) and 4:3 (most DSLRs).
APS-C – The APS-C Sensor is smaller than a full-frame sensor but larger than what’s found in point-and-shoot cameras or smartphones. Typically, it’s around 22mm x 15mm in size. It’s often more affordable than cameras with full frame sensors but has a crop factor typically around 1.5x or 1.6x. If you want to know all about APS-c VS Full Frame cameras check out our blog.
Aperture priority mode (A/AV) – In this mode, the photographer sets the desired aperture value (f-stop), while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve the proper exposure based on the chosen aperture setting and the camera’s metering system.
Autofocus – Autofocus (AF) is a feature found in most modern cameras, both digital and film, that automatically adjusts the focus of the camera’s lens to ensure sharp and clear images. Instead of manually turning the focus ring on the lens to achieve focus, autofocus systems use various techniques to detect and lock onto the subject, making photography more convenient and accessible to users.
Auto mode – In auto mode, the camera takes control of various exposure parameters such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, white balance, and sometimes even focus, to produce a properly exposed image.
Adjustment Layer – An adjustment layer is a non-destructive editing tool commonly used in image editing software like Adobe Photoshop. It allows you to apply various adjustments and effects to an image without directly modifying the original pixel data. Instead, the adjustments are applied as separate layers on top of the image layer, allowing for flexibility and control over the editing process.
Analogue – Analogue photography is another way to describe Film photography – non-digital photographic processes.
Angle of view – It represents the angular extent of the scene visible through the lens, from one side to the other, as perceived by the camera.
Analogue Colours – The analogue colours are Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (black). By combining different percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in printing, a wide range of colours can be reproduced. This CMYK colour mixing process is subtractive, meaning that the colours subtract light as they are mixed, unlike the additive colour model used in digital displays, where colours are combined by adding light (such as in RGB, which stands for Red, Green, Blue). CMYK is the standard colour model used in most colour printing processes, including offset printing, digital printing, and commercial printing.
Abstract Photography – Abstract generally is a style that doesn’t attempt to represent an accurate depiction of visual reality. Instead, Abstract Photography uses shapes, forms, colours, and gestural marks to achieve its effect, often departing from recognizable imagery.
Ambient Light – Ambient light is the existing or available light in a scene that is not produced by any artificial light sources such as flashes or studio lights. It is also sometimes referred to as natural light, though it can include both natural outdoor light and indoor light from sources like windows, lamps, or overhead lighting.
Aerial Photography – Aerial photography is capturing photographs of the earth’s surface from an elevated perspective, typically from an aircraft, drone, or satellite. This elevated vantage point allows photographers to capture sweeping vistas, landscapes, urban areas, and other subjects that are not easily accessible from the ground. Aerial photography is used for various purposes, including cartography, urban planning, environmental monitoring, archaeology, filmmaking, and artistic expression.
Artefacts – Artefacts are undesired or unintended visual anomalies or distortions that appear in an image due to various factors such as equipment limitations, technical errors, or image processing.
Album – An album is a way to present photography in a printed manner.
Architecture Photography – Architecture Photography is a specialized genre of photography focused on capturing images of buildings, structures, and architectural spaces. It aims to showcase architectural subjects’ design, aesthetics, and spatial qualities while highlighting their form, function, and context.
Action Photography – Action photography is a genre of photography focused on capturing dynamic and fast-paced subjects or activities in motion. It involves freezing or capturing the movement of subjects such as athletes, wildlife, vehicles, dancers, or any other moving objects, often in challenging or unpredictable conditions.
Archiving – Archiving is organizing, storing, and preserving photographs and related materials for long-term access and preservation. Archiving ensures that photographs are properly managed, protected from damage or deterioration, and accessible for future generations to study, enjoy, and appreciate.
Auto White Balance – A feature found in digital cameras that automatically adjusts the colour balance of an image to represent white tones under different lighting conditions accurately. White balance is crucial in photography because different light sources, such as daylight, tungsten bulbs, fluorescent lights, or candlelight, have different colour temperatures, which can result in images with unnatural or off-colour casts if not properly adjusted.
Adapter – A device or accessory used to connect or attach camera equipment, accessories, or lenses that are not directly compatible with each other due to differences in mount types, thread sizes, or other specifications. Adapters enable photographers to expand the compatibility and versatility of their camera gear, allowing them to use lenses, filters, or accessories from different manufacturers or systems.
Albumen Print – An albumen print is a type of photographic print made using the albumen (egg white) of a chicken egg as the binding agent for light-sensitive photographic chemicals. Albumen prints were one of the most popular photographic processes in the 19th century, particularly during the mid-to-late 1800s, and were widely used for producing photographic prints from glass plate negatives.
Ambrotype – An ambrotype is a type of early photographic process popular in the mid-19th century, primarily during the 1850s and 1860s. It involves creating a positive photographic image on a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive emulsion. Ambrotypes were primarily used for producing one-of-a-kind portrait photographs, although they could also be used for other types of subjects.
Astrophotography – Astrophotography is a specialized genre of photography that focuses on capturing images of celestial objects and astronomical phenomena, including stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial bodies. Caught the bug for capturing the stars? Check out our Astrophotography Course with Ben Bush!
