Photography terminology starting with M
Macro – extreme close-up photography, used to capture very small subjects or detail. Click here for some Macro photography ideas.
M or Manual Mode – mode that most DSLR and Mirrorless cameras have which allow for full control over all of the camera’s settings. Learn how to master your camera’s settings in our Beginner’s Course.
Megapixel – 1 million pixels
Metering Modes – modes in your camera which control how the light meter measures light.
Metadata – specific details of a picture hidden within the file. Details could including camera used, lens used, camera settings, copyright information etc. To get the metadata information of an image, right click on the file and select ‘Properties’ on a PC or ‘Get Info’ on a Mac. Learn how to add your copyright details to your metadata in our Lightroom course.
Manual Focus – This is when you manually adjusts the lens focus ring to achieve sharpness and clarity in the desired area of the image. Unlike autofocus, which relies on the camera’s autofocus system to automatically focus on the subject, manual focus gives you full control over the focusing process, allowing for precise adjustments and creative control.
Micro Four Thirds (MFT) – Micro Four Thirds (MFT) is a digital camera system and lens mount standard developed jointly by Olympus and Panasonic, characterized by a smaller sensor size and lens mount compared to traditional DSLR systems. MFT cameras feature a sensor size of approximately 17.3 × 13 mm and a lens mount with a flange focal distance of 19.25 mm, allowing for compact, lightweight camera bodies and a wide selection of interchangeable lenses optimized for the smaller sensor format. MFT cameras are known for their portability, versatility, and advanced features, making them popular among photographers and videographers for a wide range of applications.
Mirrorless Camera – A mirrorless camera, also known as a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC), is a type of digital camera that uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF) or the camera’s LCD screen to preview and compose images, rather than an optical viewfinder and reflex mirror system found in traditional DSLR cameras. We’ve done a whole video about Canon’s mirrorless range; you can check that out here!
Metering – Metering in photography refers to the process of measuring the intensity of light in a scene to determine the optimal exposure settings for capturing a well-exposed image.
Medium Format – A film or digital camera format that uses larger-than-standard film or sensor sizes, typically larger than 35mm (full frame) but smaller than large format. Medium format cameras produce high-resolution images with superior detail, dynamic range, and image quality compared to smaller formats, making them popular for professional photography applications such as studio portraiture, fashion photography, and landscape photography.
Megapixel – One megapixel is equivalent to one million pixels, representing the total number of individual picture elements (pixels) that make up the image. Higher megapixel counts generally result in higher-resolution images with greater detail and clarity when viewed or printed at larger sizes.
Monopod – A monopod is a single-legged camera support device used by photographers to stabilize and steady their cameras while shooting handheld. Monopods are lightweight, portable, and easy to set up, providing additional support and reducing camera shake during long exposures, telephoto shooting, or situations where tripods are impractical or prohibited.
Multiple Exposure – Multiple exposure is a photographic technique that involves exposing the same frame of film or image sensor to multiple successive exposures, resulting in a single composite image that combines elements from each exposure. Multiple exposures can be created in-camera using multiple exposures mode or by manually overlaying and blending multiple images during post-processing to create artistic and surreal effects.
Motion Blur – Motion blur is a photographic effect caused by the relative motion between the camera, subject, and/or background during a long exposure or panning movement. Motion blur appears as streaks or smudges in the image, conveying a sense of movement, speed, or dynamic action. Motion blur can be intentional or unintentional, depending on the desired creative effect and shooting conditions.
Monochrome – Monochrome, also known as black and white or grayscale, refers to images composed of varying shades of a single colour, typically black, white, and shades of grey. Monochrome photography eliminates colour information from the image, emphasizing form, texture, contrast, and composition, and evoking a timeless, classic aesthetic with a focus on tonal values and luminance.
Moon Rise – Moonrise is the event where the moon becomes visible above the horizon as it ascends into the night sky. Moonrise presents unique photographic opportunities, allowing photographers to capture the moon against various natural or urban landscapes, silhouetted against colourful sunsets or twilight skies, or framed by architectural elements or scenic landmarks.
Metadata – Metadata, also known as EXIF, is the essential information about the image. This includes dimensions, resolution, keywords, camera settings, focal length, copyright owner, etc. Most of this information is automatically added to the photos, but some fields can be added or modified in post-processing.
