Camera and Photography Tips and Terminology

Whether you are a beginner who has just purchased your first camera or a seasoned professional looking to refresh your knowledge, the Internet offers a wealth of information to help you better understand how to use a camera to capture the best possible images. Photography can serve a range of purposes, from recording memories to creating works of art, and with a digital camera in hand and a few helpful pointers, anyone can be well on their way to achieving the results they desire.

Camera: A tool used to record or capture images
Burst Mode: A setting allowing the rapid capturing of images for as long as the shutter button is pressed. This is also known as continuous frame capture.
Tripod: A three-legged support that holds a camera steady with zero movement
Flash: An artificial light used to illuminate a scene or subject, typically used in dark settings
Calibration: The act of adjusting the color of one device relative to another or adjusting the color of one device to an established standard
Viewfinder: A preview window used for framing and focusing
Intervalometer: A device that attaches to a camera and automatically captures an image or series of images at programmed intervals. These are frequently used in security camera systems.
Focus: The position at which rays of light in the lens converge, creating a sharp image
Color Balance: How accurate the proportions of colors in an image are compared to the original scene
Foreground: Part of the frame nearest to the camera
PPI: Pixels per inch, a measurement that describes the resolution of a printed image. The higher the number, the more detailed a print will be.
Background: An area located behind the subject of the photograph, farthest away from the camera
RGB: Red, green, and blue, the three primary colors of light
Panorama: A photograph with a wide frame of view
Continuous Autofocus: When engaged, this system works all the time, even before the shutter button is pressed.
Macro Photography: Extreme close-up photography of a subject. In DSLR photography, the term refers a photograph with a 1:1 or higher magnification.
Contrast: The measured change in brightness between the darkest and lightest tones in an image
Pixels: The smallest pieces of information that make up a digital picture
Compression: The act of minimizing the size of a graphics file in bytes
Lens: The part of the camera that light travels through to record or store an image. A lens may be attached permanently or may be interchangeable.
Backlit: A technique that lights the subject from behind
Aperture: A unit of measurement defining the size of the opening in a lens, which can be manipulated to control the amount of light passing through the lens. The size of the aperture is measured in F-stops.
Digital Zoom: Digital magnification of an image. This tool is crucial when using security camera systems for surveillance.
Depth of Field: The measurement of the distance between the closest and farthest-away objects that are in focus in a photo or image
DSLR: Digital single-lens reflex, a type of camera with interchangeable lenses
Shutter: A device allowing light to pass through it for a specific amount of time, exposing film or an electronic sensor to light to capture an image
Dynamic Range: The range of tones of an image in color or grayscale. The higher the dynamic range is, the more gradations are preserved in a photograph.
Exposure: The amount of light reaching the film or the image sensor. Exposure is based on the aperture, shutter speed, and brightness of the particular setting or scene.
Fixed Aperture: The aperture value remains constant regardless of focal length.
Noise: A term that describes visual distortion in a photograph. It can look like film grain but may also show up as a blotch of discoloration. Noise can ruin a photograph and gets worse when shooting in low light.
Focus Lock: The act of pre-focusing the camera at a certain distance, then moving to compose the image in frame before taking the photo. This is accomplished by half-pressing the shutter button, then composing the photo, and then pressing it in all the way.
Focal Length: The distance, measured in millimeters, between the lens and the image sensor
Gamma: The amount of contrast found in an image
ISO: The ISO control changes how sensitive the light sensor is when taking a photo. In bright lighting, a low sensitivity is used, and in dark lighting, a higher sensitivity is required.
Gradation: A smooth transition between black and white, from one color to another, or from color to no color
Disposable Camera: Also known as a single-use camera, a disposable camera is a point-and-shoot camera meant to be disposed of once the film has been used. It uses 35 mm film and commonly has a fixed-focus lens and a built-in flash. Waterproof versions can be used for underwater photography.
Hot Shoe: A connector found on the top of the camera allowing for the attachment of a flash unit
Filters: These accessories are used to change the light entering the camera is some way. The filter is a glass or plastic disk placed in a metal or plastic ring attached to the camera's lens. Filters can be used to keep out ultraviolet light coming from the sun, reduce light, or change the color balance.
Image Resolution: The density of pixels in an image

Camera and Photography Tutorials