A list of important terms that you will use throughout your critical analysis and when annotating and evaluating your own work and the work of others
Aliasing – The display of a digital image where a curved line appears jagged due to the square pixels.
Ambient light – The natural or artificial continuous light that exists before the additional lighting is introduced.
Analyse/Analysis – To examine detail.
Anti-aliasing – The process of smoothing the appearance of a curved line in a digital image.
Aperture – A circular opening in the lens that controls light reaching the sensor.
Aesthetics - the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
Backlit – A subject illuminated from behind.
Balance - A harmonious relationship between elements within the frame.
Bit – Short for binary digit, the basic unit of the binary language.
Blurred – An image or sections of an image that are not sharp. This can be caused through inaccurate focusing, shallow depth of field or a slow shutter.
Bounced light – Light that is reflected off a surface before reaching the subject.
Bracketing – Over and underexposure either side of a meter-indicated exposure.
Cable release – A cable that allows the shutter to be released without shaking the camera when using slow shutter speeds.
Camera shake – Blurred image caused by camera movement during the exposure.
Channels – A method of separating digital colour image into primary and secondary.
Cloning tool – A tool used to for replicating pixels in Photoshop.
Close down – A term referring to the action of making the lens aperture smaller.
Close up – Focus the lens close to the subject matter.
Colour – All colours are mixed from three primaries: red, blue and yellow.
Composition - The arrangement of shape, tone, line and colour within the boundaries of the image area.
Compression – A method of reducing the file size whan a digital image is closed.
Constrain proportions – Retain the proportional dimensions of an image when changing the image size.
Context – The circumstances relevant to something under consideration.
Contrast – The difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest areas of the image or subject.
Aliasing – The display of a digital image where a curved line appears jagged due to the square pixels.
Ambient light – The natural or artificial continuous light that exists before the additional lighting is introduced.
Analyse/Analysis – To examine detail.
Anti-aliasing – The process of smoothing the appearance of a curved line in a digital image.
Aperture – A circular opening in the lens that controls light reaching the sensor.
Aesthetics - the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
Backlit – A subject illuminated from behind.
Balance - A harmonious relationship between elements within the frame.
Bit – Short for binary digit, the basic unit of the binary language.
Blurred – An image or sections of an image that are not sharp. This can be caused through inaccurate focusing, shallow depth of field or a slow shutter.
Bounced light – Light that is reflected off a surface before reaching the subject.
Bracketing – Over and underexposure either side of a meter-indicated exposure.
Cable release – A cable that allows the shutter to be released without shaking the camera when using slow shutter speeds.
Camera shake – Blurred image caused by camera movement during the exposure.
Channels – A method of separating digital colour image into primary and secondary.
Cloning tool – A tool used to for replicating pixels in Photoshop.
Close down – A term referring to the action of making the lens aperture smaller.
Close up – Focus the lens close to the subject matter.
Colour – All colours are mixed from three primaries: red, blue and yellow.
Composition - The arrangement of shape, tone, line and colour within the boundaries of the image area.
Compression – A method of reducing the file size whan a digital image is closed.
Constrain proportions – Retain the proportional dimensions of an image when changing the image size.
Context – The circumstances relevant to something under consideration.
Contrast – The difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest areas of the image or subject.
Crop – Reduce the image size to enhance composition or limit information.
Curves – Control for adjusting tonality and colour in Photoshop.
Decisive moment – The moment when the arrangement of the moving subject matter in the viewfinder of the camera is composed to the photographer’s satisfaction.
Dedicated flash – A flash unit that is fully linked to the camera’s electronics and uses the camera’s own TTL light meter to calculate correct exposure.
Depth of field – The zone of sharpness variable by aperture, focal length or subject distance.
Diagonal – A slanting straight line that is neither horizontal nor vertical.
Differential focusing – Use of focus to highlight specific subject areas.
Diffuser – Material used to disperse light.
Digital image – A computer generated photograph composed of pixels rather than film grain.
Diminishing perspective – A sense of depth in a two dimensional image provided by the reduced size of subjects as they recede into the distance.
Dynamic tension – An image which lacks wither balance or harmony and where visual elements cause the eye to move out of the image.
Edit – To either reduce the number of images from a larger collection or to enhance or manipulate a digital image.
Evaluate – Assess the value or quality of a piece of work.
Exposure – Combined effect of volume of lighting hitting a sensor and its duration.
F-numbers – A sequence of numbers given to the relative sizes of aperture opening. F-numbers are all standard on all lenses. The largest number corresponds to the smallest aperture and vice versa.
Feather – The action of softening the edge of a digital selection.
Field of view – The area visible through the camera’s viewing system.
Fill – Use of light to increase detail in shadow area.
Filter – Either a treated or coloured piece of glass or plastic placed in front of the camera lens or a preset software action that applies an effect to a digital image.
Flare – Unwanted light, scattered or reflected within the lens assembly, creating patches of light and degrading image contrast.
Focal point – Point of focus at the image plane or point of interest.
Form – Form is a 3-dimensional object having volume and thickness. It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that can be implied with the use of light and shading techniques.
Frame – The act of composing an image.
Hard light – A light source which appears small to the human eye and produces directional light giving well-defined shadows, e.g. direct sunlight.
Highlight – Area of subject receiving highest exposure value.
Hot shoe – Plug-in socket for on-camera flash
ISO – International Standards Organisation. A numerical system for rating the speed or relative light sensitivity of an image sensor.
JPEG (.jpg) – Joint Photographic Experts Group. Image compression file format.
Juxtapose – Placing objects or subjects within a frame to allow comparison.
Key light – The main light casting the most prominent shadows.
Lasso tool – Selection tool used in Photoshop.
Layers - A composite digital image where each element is on a separate layer or level.
Lens – An optical device usually made from glass that focuses light rays to form an image on a surface.
Light meter – A device that measures the intensity of light so that the optimum exposure for the image sensor can be obtained.
Line – A line is the track made by a point moving in space.
Macro – Extreme close up.
Magic wand tool – Selection tool used in Photoshop.
Marquee tool – Selection tool used in Photoshop.
Multiple exposure – Several exposures made onto the same image frame.
Negative – An image where the tones are reversed, e.g. dark tones are recorded as light tones and vice versa.
Objective – A factual and non-subjective analysis of information.
Opaque – Not transmitting light.
Pan – To follow a moving subject.
Pattern – Pattern means the repetition of an element (or elements) in a work. An artist achieves a pattern through the use of colours, lines or shapes.
Perspective – The apparent relationship of distance between visible objects, thereby creating the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional image.
Polarising filter – A grey looking filter used to block polarised light. It can remove or reduce unwanted reflections from some surfaces and can increase the colour saturation and darken blue skies.
Reflector – A surface used to reflect light in order to soften harsh shadows.
Refraction – The change in direction of light as it passes through a transparent surface at an angle.
Resolution – A measure of the degree of definition, also called sharpness.
Rules of thirds – An imaginary grid that divides the frame into three sections vertically and horizontally. The lines and intersections of this grid are used to design an orderly composition.
Saturation – Intensity or richness of colour hue.
Scale – A ratio of size.
Shape – Wherever the ends of a continuous line meet, a shape is formed.
Sharp – In focus, not blurred.
Shutter – A mechanism that controls the accurate duration of the exposure.
Silhouette – The outline of a subject seen against a bright background.
SLR camera – Single Lens Reflex camera. The image in the viewfinder is viewed via a mirror behind the lens which moves out of the way when the shutter release is pressed.
Soft light – This is another way of describing diffused light which comes from a broad light source and creates shadows that are not clearly defined.
Space – Space can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, negative and/or positive.
Subjective analysis – Personal opinions or views concerning the perceived communication and aesthetic value of an image.
Symmetry – Duplication of information either side of a central line to give an image balance and harmony.
Texture – Everything, including works of art, has a texture or surface.
Thematic images – A set of images with a unifying idea.
Tone – Tone is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.
Transparent - Allowing light to pass through.
UV filter – A filter used to absorb ultraviolet radiation. The filter appears colourless and may be left on the lens permanently to protection.
Vantage point – A position in relation to the subject which enables the photographer to compose a good shot.
Visualise – To imagine how something will look once it has been completed.
Wide- angle lens – A lens with an angle of view greater than 60 degrees. Used when the photographer is unable to move further away or wishes to move closer to create steep perspective.
Zooming – This is a technique where the focal length of a zoom lens is altered during long exposure. The effect creates movement blur which radiates from the centre of the image.
Ambient light – The natural or artificial continuous light that exists before the additional lighting is introduced.
Analyse/Analysis – To examine detail.
Anti-aliasing – The process of smoothing the appearance of a curved line in a digital image.
Aperture – A circular opening in the lens that controls light reaching the sensor.
Aesthetics - the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
Backlit – A subject illuminated from behind.
Balance - A harmonious relationship between elements within the frame.
Bit – Short for binary digit, the basic unit of the binary language.
Blurred – An image or sections of an image that are not sharp. This can be caused through inaccurate focusing, shallow depth of field or a slow shutter.
Bounced light – Light that is reflected off a surface before reaching the subject.
Bracketing – Over and underexposure either side of a meter-indicated exposure.
Cable release – A cable that allows the shutter to be released without shaking the camera when using slow shutter speeds.
Camera shake – Blurred image caused by camera movement during the exposure.
Channels – A method of separating digital colour image into primary and secondary.
Cloning tool – A tool used to for replicating pixels in Photoshop.
Close down – A term referring to the action of making the lens aperture smaller.
Close up – Focus the lens close to the subject matter.
Colour – All colours are mixed from three primaries: red, blue and yellow.
Composition - The arrangement of shape, tone, line and colour within the boundaries of the image area.
Compression – A method of reducing the file size whan a digital image is closed.
Constrain proportions – Retain the proportional dimensions of an image when changing the image size.
Context – The circumstances relevant to something under consideration.
Contrast – The difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest areas of the image or subject.
Aliasing – The display of a digital image where a curved line appears jagged due to the square pixels.
Ambient light – The natural or artificial continuous light that exists before the additional lighting is introduced.
Analyse/Analysis – To examine detail.
Anti-aliasing – The process of smoothing the appearance of a curved line in a digital image.
Aperture – A circular opening in the lens that controls light reaching the sensor.
Aesthetics - the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
Backlit – A subject illuminated from behind.
Balance - A harmonious relationship between elements within the frame.
Bit – Short for binary digit, the basic unit of the binary language.
Blurred – An image or sections of an image that are not sharp. This can be caused through inaccurate focusing, shallow depth of field or a slow shutter.
Bounced light – Light that is reflected off a surface before reaching the subject.
Bracketing – Over and underexposure either side of a meter-indicated exposure.
Cable release – A cable that allows the shutter to be released without shaking the camera when using slow shutter speeds.
Camera shake – Blurred image caused by camera movement during the exposure.
Channels – A method of separating digital colour image into primary and secondary.
Cloning tool – A tool used to for replicating pixels in Photoshop.
Close down – A term referring to the action of making the lens aperture smaller.
Close up – Focus the lens close to the subject matter.
Colour – All colours are mixed from three primaries: red, blue and yellow.
Composition - The arrangement of shape, tone, line and colour within the boundaries of the image area.
Compression – A method of reducing the file size whan a digital image is closed.
Constrain proportions – Retain the proportional dimensions of an image when changing the image size.
Context – The circumstances relevant to something under consideration.
Contrast – The difference in brightness between the darkest and lightest areas of the image or subject.
Crop – Reduce the image size to enhance composition or limit information.
Curves – Control for adjusting tonality and colour in Photoshop.
Decisive moment – The moment when the arrangement of the moving subject matter in the viewfinder of the camera is composed to the photographer’s satisfaction.
Dedicated flash – A flash unit that is fully linked to the camera’s electronics and uses the camera’s own TTL light meter to calculate correct exposure.
Depth of field – The zone of sharpness variable by aperture, focal length or subject distance.
Diagonal – A slanting straight line that is neither horizontal nor vertical.
Differential focusing – Use of focus to highlight specific subject areas.
Diffuser – Material used to disperse light.
Digital image – A computer generated photograph composed of pixels rather than film grain.
Diminishing perspective – A sense of depth in a two dimensional image provided by the reduced size of subjects as they recede into the distance.
Dynamic tension – An image which lacks wither balance or harmony and where visual elements cause the eye to move out of the image.
Edit – To either reduce the number of images from a larger collection or to enhance or manipulate a digital image.
Evaluate – Assess the value or quality of a piece of work.
Exposure – Combined effect of volume of lighting hitting a sensor and its duration.
F-numbers – A sequence of numbers given to the relative sizes of aperture opening. F-numbers are all standard on all lenses. The largest number corresponds to the smallest aperture and vice versa.
Feather – The action of softening the edge of a digital selection.
Field of view – The area visible through the camera’s viewing system.
Fill – Use of light to increase detail in shadow area.
Filter – Either a treated or coloured piece of glass or plastic placed in front of the camera lens or a preset software action that applies an effect to a digital image.
Flare – Unwanted light, scattered or reflected within the lens assembly, creating patches of light and degrading image contrast.
Focal point – Point of focus at the image plane or point of interest.
Form – Form is a 3-dimensional object having volume and thickness. It is the illusion of a 3-D effect that can be implied with the use of light and shading techniques.
Frame – The act of composing an image.
Hard light – A light source which appears small to the human eye and produces directional light giving well-defined shadows, e.g. direct sunlight.
Highlight – Area of subject receiving highest exposure value.
Hot shoe – Plug-in socket for on-camera flash
ISO – International Standards Organisation. A numerical system for rating the speed or relative light sensitivity of an image sensor.
JPEG (.jpg) – Joint Photographic Experts Group. Image compression file format.
Juxtapose – Placing objects or subjects within a frame to allow comparison.
Key light – The main light casting the most prominent shadows.
Lasso tool – Selection tool used in Photoshop.
Layers - A composite digital image where each element is on a separate layer or level.
Lens – An optical device usually made from glass that focuses light rays to form an image on a surface.
Light meter – A device that measures the intensity of light so that the optimum exposure for the image sensor can be obtained.
Line – A line is the track made by a point moving in space.
Macro – Extreme close up.
Magic wand tool – Selection tool used in Photoshop.
Marquee tool – Selection tool used in Photoshop.
Multiple exposure – Several exposures made onto the same image frame.
Negative – An image where the tones are reversed, e.g. dark tones are recorded as light tones and vice versa.
Objective – A factual and non-subjective analysis of information.
Opaque – Not transmitting light.
Pan – To follow a moving subject.
Pattern – Pattern means the repetition of an element (or elements) in a work. An artist achieves a pattern through the use of colours, lines or shapes.
Perspective – The apparent relationship of distance between visible objects, thereby creating the illusion of depth in a two-dimensional image.
Polarising filter – A grey looking filter used to block polarised light. It can remove or reduce unwanted reflections from some surfaces and can increase the colour saturation and darken blue skies.
Reflector – A surface used to reflect light in order to soften harsh shadows.
Refraction – The change in direction of light as it passes through a transparent surface at an angle.
Resolution – A measure of the degree of definition, also called sharpness.
Rules of thirds – An imaginary grid that divides the frame into three sections vertically and horizontally. The lines and intersections of this grid are used to design an orderly composition.
Saturation – Intensity or richness of colour hue.
Scale – A ratio of size.
Shape – Wherever the ends of a continuous line meet, a shape is formed.
Sharp – In focus, not blurred.
Shutter – A mechanism that controls the accurate duration of the exposure.
Silhouette – The outline of a subject seen against a bright background.
SLR camera – Single Lens Reflex camera. The image in the viewfinder is viewed via a mirror behind the lens which moves out of the way when the shutter release is pressed.
Soft light – This is another way of describing diffused light which comes from a broad light source and creates shadows that are not clearly defined.
Space – Space can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, negative and/or positive.
Subjective analysis – Personal opinions or views concerning the perceived communication and aesthetic value of an image.
Symmetry – Duplication of information either side of a central line to give an image balance and harmony.
Texture – Everything, including works of art, has a texture or surface.
Thematic images – A set of images with a unifying idea.
Tone – Tone is the degree of light and dark in a design. It is the contrast between black and white and all the tones in between.
Transparent - Allowing light to pass through.
UV filter – A filter used to absorb ultraviolet radiation. The filter appears colourless and may be left on the lens permanently to protection.
Vantage point – A position in relation to the subject which enables the photographer to compose a good shot.
Visualise – To imagine how something will look once it has been completed.
Wide- angle lens – A lens with an angle of view greater than 60 degrees. Used when the photographer is unable to move further away or wishes to move closer to create steep perspective.
Zooming – This is a technique where the focal length of a zoom lens is altered during long exposure. The effect creates movement blur which radiates from the centre of the image.