| Aberration | Optical imperfection in a lens causing distortion or blurring. |
| Aerial Photography | Photos taken from elevated platforms or drones. |
| Ambient Light | The natural or existing light in a scene. |
| Anamorphic Lens | A lens that compresses the image horizontally for cinematic effects. |
| Angle of View | The area visible through a lens, determined by its focal length. |
| Anti-Aliasing Filter | A filter reducing moiré patterns in digital photos. |
| Aperture | The opening in a lens through which light passes, controlling depth of field. |
| Aperture Blades | Metal leaves inside a lens that control the aperture opening. |
| Artefact | Unwanted distortions or irregularities in an image caused by lens or sensor limitations. |
| Artificial Light | Non-natural light sources like flash or studio lighting. |
| Aspect Ratio | The proportional relationship between width and height of an image. |
| Autofocus | Camera system that automatically adjusts the focus. |
| Backlighting | Light coming from behind the subject, creating a silhouette effect. |
| Bit Depth | The number of bits used to define each pixel’s color in an image. |
| Blue Hour | The period of twilight with cooler light tones. |
| Bokeh | Aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas in a photograph. |
| Bracketing | Taking multiple shots at different exposure levels for optimal results. |
| Chromatic Aberration | Color fringing caused by a lens failing to focus all colors to a single point. |
| Clipping | Loss of detail in the darkest or brightest parts of an image. |
| Color Grading | Post-processing to adjust colors for creative effects. |
| Color Temperature | The warmth or coolness of light, measured in Kelvin. |
| Composition | The arrangement of visual elements in a photograph. |
| Continuous Shooting | Taking a series of photos in rapid succession. |
| Crop Sensor | A smaller camera sensor than full-frame, affecting field of view. |
| Depth of Field | The range of distance in focus in an image. |
| Diffuser | Material used to spread light evenly, reducing harsh shadows. |
| DSLR | Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera with interchangeable lenses. |
| Dodge and Burn | Editing technique to selectively lighten or darken areas of an image. |
| Dynamic Range | The range of light intensities a camera can capture in a single shot. |
| Exposure | The total amount of light reaching the camera sensor or film. |
| Exposure Compensation | Adjusting exposure settings to brighten or darken a photo. |
| Exposure Triangle | The interplay of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve correct exposure. |
| Extension Tubes | Hollow lens accessories placed between a camera lens and body to reduce the minimum focus distance, allowing closer focusing for macro or close-up photography. |
| Fill Light | A secondary light to reduce shadows and balance the scene. |
| Flash Sync | Coordination of the flash with the shutter to properly light the subject. |
| Focal Length | Distance between the lens and the image sensor when focused, measured in mm. |
| Focal Plane | The surface inside the camera where light converges to form a sharp image, typically aligned with the camera’s sensor or film. |
| Focus Stacking | Combining multiple images with different focus points for sharpness. This is mostly used in photographs with very narrow depth of field, like Macro Photographs. |
| Full-Frame Sensor | A camera sensor equivalent in size to 35mm film. |
| Golden Hour | The time shortly after sunrise or before sunset, known for soft light. |
| Golden Ratio | A compositional tool based on the Fibonacci sequence. |
| Gobo | A stencil or cutout used to shape light in photography. |
| HDR (High Dynamic Range) | Combines multiple exposures to enhance tonal range. |
| High-Key Lighting | Bright and minimal shadows, often used for cheerful images. |
| Histogram | A graph representing the tonal range in an image. |
| Image Stabilization | Technology reducing blur caused by camera movement. |
| ISO | Measures the camera’s sensitivity to light; higher values capture more light. |
| JPEG | A compressed image file format that reduces file size. |
| Key Light | The main light source illuminating the subject. |
| Landscape Photography | Capturing natural scenery or environments. |
| Leading Lines | Lines in an image that guide the viewer’s eyes to the subject. |
| Lens Distortion | Optical aberration causing straight lines to appear curved. |
| Lens Flare | Light scattering in a lens, creating artifacts or streaks. |
| Lens Hood | A device attached to a lens to block stray light and prevent flare. |
| Long Exposure | A photograph with a slow shutter speed to capture motion over time. |
| Low-Key Lighting | Dark and moody lighting with strong shadows. |
| Macro Photography | Close-up photography of small subjects, showing fine details. |
| Manual Mode | Camera setting allowing full control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. |
| Metadata | Information embedded in a photo file, including settings and copyright info. |
| Metering | The process of measuring light to determine exposure settings. |
| Minimum Focus Distance | The minimum distance at which a lens can focus on a subject |
| Mirrorless Camera | A camera without a reflex mirror, often smaller and lighter than DSLRs. |
| Monopod | A single-legged support for the camera. |
| ND Filter | Neutral density filter reduces light entering the lens without affecting color. |
| Noise | Random variation of brightness or color in an image, often in low light. |
| Panoramic Photography | Creating wide-angle images by stitching multiple photos. |
| Panning | Moving the camera with a subject to create a motion blur effect. |
| Perspective | The sense of depth and spatial relationships in a photograph. |
| Photojournalism | Using photography to tell news stories. |
| Pixels | The smallest units of a digital image. |
| Polarizing Filter | Filter reducing reflections and enhancing colors in an image. |
| Portrait Photography | Focused on capturing a person’s expression and personality. |
| Prime Lens | A lens with a fixed focal length. |
| Product Photography | Showcasing products in an attractive way for advertising. |
| RAW | Uncompressed image file format preserving all data captured by the sensor. |
| Reflector | A surface used to redirect light onto a subject. |
| Resolution | The amount of detail an image holds, measured in pixels. |
| Rim Light | Light placed behind a subject to create a glowing outline. |
| Rule of Thirds | A compositional guideline dividing the frame into thirds for balanced images. |
| Shutter Release | A button or cable used to release the shutter without touching the camera. |
| Shutter Speed | The length of time the camera’s shutter remains open during exposure. |
| Softbox | A light modifier diffusing light for softer shadows. |
| Split Lighting | A lighting technique dividing the subject’s face into light and shadow halves. |
| Sports Photography | Capturing action in sports and athletic events. |
| Street Photography | Capturing candid moments in public spaces. |
| Telephoto Lens | A lens with a long focal length for distant subjects. |
| Tilt-Shift Lens | A lens that adjusts the perspective and depth of field independently. |
| Timelapse | Capturing frames at intervals to create a sped-up video effect. |
| Tripod | A three-legged stand to stabilize the camera for long exposures. |
| Vignetting | Darkening of the edges of an image compared to its center. |
| Viewfinder | The device through which you compose and frame your shot. |
| Watermark | A mark added to photos to identify ownership. |
| White Balance | Adjusts color tones to ensure accurate whites under various lighting. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | A lens with a short focal length for capturing wide scenes. |
| Wildlife Photography | Photographing animals in their natural habitats. |
| Wrap Around Light | Diffused lighting that partially or fully encircles a subject, reducing shadows and creating a smooth, even illumination. |
| Zoom Lens | A lens with a variable focal length. |
