Photography Technical Registry
80-Species Terminological Archive
01 — Exposure & Physics
The variable lens opening that controls light volume and depth of field.
Duration of sensor exposure; governs motion blur and light accumulation.
Electronic amplification of the sensor signal; increases noise at higher values.
Logarithmic unit representing the doubling or halving of light.
A single number representing settings combinations for a specific luminance.
The relationship between intensity and duration to achieve a specific exposure.
The intensity of light emitted or reflected from a surface.
Light intensity decreases by the square of the distance from the source.
The ratio between the sensor’s maximum and minimum measurable light levels.
Exposing to the right: maximizing signal to minimize shadow noise.
The distance from the optical center of the lens to the sensor plane.
The zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the focal point.
The rendering of out-of-focus highlights and background texture.
Failure of a lens to focus different wavelengths on the same plane.
Image softening caused by light bending around small aperture edges.
The maximum diameter a point can blur before it is perceived as unsharp.
Focus distance yielding maximum depth of field for landscape work.
Light reduction at the frame periphery relative to the center.
Lens curvature that causes straight lines to bow outward.
The actual light throughput of a lens, accounting for glass absorption.
The RGB mosaic pattern over a sensor that allows for color reconstruction.
Uncompressed sensor data before any image processing is applied.
Interference patterns occurring when fine textures exceed sensor resolution.
The amount of color information available per pixel (8, 10, 14, 16-bit).
The ratio of sensor size compared to a 35mm full-frame reference.
Reading all pixels simultaneously to eliminate rolling shutter distortion.
The algorithm that converts raw sensor mosaic into a full-color image.
The ratio of clean image data to unwanted electronic noise.
An optical low-pass filter used to reduce moire at the cost of sharpness.
Sensor design placing wiring behind pixels to increase light capture.
Removing color casts by adjusting the red/blue channel balance.
The numerical scale (e.g. 5600K) representing color temperature.
The total range of colors reproducible by a specific device or space.
Standardized data ensuring color consistency across workflow stages.
When two different color samples look identical under certain lights.
Look-Up Table: A mathematical map used to transform color values.
The purity or intensity of a color relative to neutral grey.
Color Filter Array: the physical layer on the sensor for color filtering.
The brightness of a color independent of its hue or saturation.
Standardized color spaces for broadcast and high-definition video.
Hard light reflecting directly off a surface, creating bright spots.
Scattered light that creates soft shadows and gentle transitions.
“Goes Before Optics”: A physical object used to block or shape light.
Black panels used to prevent light spill or to create negative fill.
A translucent fabric used to reduce light intensity without changing its quality.
The maximum shutter speed compatible with full flash illumination.
Firing the flash in pulses to allow sync at ultra-fast shutter speeds.
Firing the flash at the end of exposure for trailing motion effects.
High-intensity discharge lighting used for still photography.
Secondary light source used to reduce the intensity of shadows.
AF system that splits light to determine the distance of the subject.
AF system that moves the lens until pixel contrast is maximized.
In-Body Image Stabilization: physical sensor shifting to counter shake.
Electronic Viewfinder: a digital display showing the sensor output.
A shutter located directly in front of the sensor, using two curtains.
A circular shutter inside the lens; allows flash sync at all speeds.
How the camera measures light (Spot, Evaluative, Center-weighted).
Temporary storage for photos before they are written to the card.
Highlighting sharp edges in the viewfinder to assist manual focus.
The distance between the lens mount and the sensor plane.
A chart showing the distribution of shadows, midtones, and highlights.
Loss of detail in pure black or pure white areas beyond sensor range.
Techniques to selectively lighten or darken parts of an image.
Splitting texture and color onto different layers for skin editing.
Merging multiple focus planes to achieve infinite depth of field.
Selecting pixels based on their brightness for precise editing.
Jagged edges or patterns caused by insufficient sampling frequency.
Embedded text data detailing camera settings and capture time.
Measurement of pixel density for digital displays vs. physical prints.
Adding new pixels to an image by averaging surrounding pixel values.
Mapping scene luminance to a scale of 11 values for print control.
Geometric guide placing subjects at the intersections of a 3×3 grid.
Visual pathways that guide the viewer’s eye into the frame.
The unoccupied area surrounding the primary subject.
A composition guide based on the mathematical spiral (1.618).
The study of signs and symbols within a photographic image.
The visual effect of telephoto lenses making objects look closer together.
The shift in subject position when viewed from different optical points.
When neutral colors shift toward green or magenta under different lights.
The point directly above the camera/observer in astronomical photography.
