Glossary

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is the length of time a camera’s shutter remains open to let light hit the sensor or film. In simple terms, it controls how long your camera “sees” the scene.

Focus

Focus is the process of adjusting the lens so that a subject appears sharp and clear in the image. 

Aperture (f stop)

A space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera.

Focal Length

Focal length is the distance (measured in millimeters) between a lens’s optical center and the camera’s sensor or film when the subject is in focus. It determines how much of a scene is captured and how magnified subjects appear.

ISO

ISO refers to the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor to light. A lower ISO (like 100) means less sensitivity and cleaner images, while a higher ISO (like 1600 or above) increases sensitivity, allowing brighter photos in low light but introducing more noise or grain.

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range is the ratio between the brightest highlights and the darkest shadows a camera can capture in a single image while still retaining detail. 

Depth of Field

Depth of field is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear sharp in an image. 

Shutter

A shutter is the device in a camera that opens and closes to control how long light reaches the sensor or film.

Bokeh

Bokeh refers to the aesthetic quality of the blur in the out-of-focus areas of an image. 

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a compositional guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines and suggests placing key elements along these lines or at their intersections to create balance and visual interest. 

Post Process

The process in which photographer take an image, transfers it into an image editing software, and then changes/enhances qualities of the image.