Week 1 Vocabulary

AE: When the camera measures light and makes the adjustments and necessary to create proper image density om sensitized media.

AF: When the camera automatically focuses the lense.

Aperture: The opening in the lense that allows light to enter the camera. Aperture is usually described as an f/number. The higher the f/number, the smaller the aperture; and the lower the f/number, the higher the aperture.

Aperture Priority: A type of automatic exposure in which you manually select the aperture and the camera automatically selects the shutter speed.

Artificial Light: Usually refers to any light source that doesn't exist in nature, such as incandescent, fluorescent, and other manufactured lighting.

Available Light: The amount of illumination at a given location that applies to natural and artificial light sources but not those supplied specifically for photography. It is also called existing light or ambient light.

Back light: Light that projects toward the camera from behind the subject.

Bit/Byte: Binary digit. This is the basic unit of binary computation, while Byte is eight bits.

Bounce Light: Light that reflects off of another surface before illuminating the object.

Bulb: A camera setting that allows the shutter to stay open as long as the shutter release is depressed.

Card Reader : Device that connects to your computer and enables quick and easy download of images from memory card to computer.

Close-Up: A general term used to describe an image created by closely focusing on a subject. Often involves the use of of special lenses or extension tubes. Also, an automated exposure setting the that automatically selects a large aperture (not available with all cameras).

Compression: Method of reducing file size through removal of redundant data, as with the JPEG file format.

Contrast: The difference between two or more tones in terms of luminance, density, or darkness.

CPU: Central Processing Unit. This is the "brains" of a computer or a lens.

Cropping: The process of extracting a portion of the image area. If this portion of the image is enlarged, resolution is subsequently lowered.

Daylight: A white balance setting that renders accurate color when shooting mid-day sunlight.

Depth of Field: The image space in front of and behind the plane of focus that appears acceptably sharp in the photograph.

Download: The transfer of data from one device to another such as from camera to computer or computer to printer.

DPI: Dots per inch, referring to printing resolution.

Exposure: When light enters the camera and reacts with the sensitize medium. The term can also refer to the amount of light that strikes the light sensitive medium.