Photography Glossary
Learn essential photography terms and discover how to recreate these effects with AI image generators and prompts
Aperture
The opening in a lens through which light passes to enter the camera, affecting depth of field and exposure.
Aspect Ratio
The proportional relationship between an image's width and height.
Bokeh
The aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image.
Composition
The arrangement of visual elements within a photograph to create a pleasing or effective image.
Depth of Field
The zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the subject on which the lens is focused.
Exposure
The amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, determined by aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Framing
A composition technique that uses elements within the scene to create a frame around the main subject.
Focal Length
The optical distance from the lens to the image sensor when focused at infinity, measured in millimeters.
Golden Hour
The period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when daylight is redder and softer.
High Key
A style of photography featuring bright, well-lit images with minimal shadows and contrast.
ISO
A measure of the camera sensor's sensitivity to light, with higher numbers indicating greater sensitivity.
JPEG
A compressed image file format that reduces file size by discarding some image data.
Kinetic Typography
Animated text that creates movement and visual interest in photos or design.
Leading Lines
Lines within an image that guide the viewer's eye toward the main subject.
Long Exposure
A photography technique using slow shutter speeds to capture motion over time.
Macro Photography
Extreme close-up photography of small subjects, usually with life-size or greater magnification.
Monochrome
Images rendered in varying shades of a single color, including but not limited to black and white.
Neutral Density Filter
A filter that reduces the amount of light entering the lens without affecting color.
Off-Camera Flash
A lighting technique where the flash is separated from the camera for more creative control.
Panorama
An image with an elongated field of view, typically wider than what the human eye can see at once.
Perspective
The spatial relationship between objects in a photograph, creating the illusion of depth and dimension.
Portrait
A photograph of a person or group focusing on the face and its expression.
Rule of Thirds
A compositional guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines.
Silhouette
A dark shape or outline of a subject against a brighter background.
Telephoto
A type of lens with a long focal length that magnifies distant subjects.
Tilt-Shift
A specialized lens or effect that selectively focuses parts of an image, often creating a miniature appearance.
Underexposure
When an image has received too little light, resulting in dark shadows and loss of detail.
Vanishing Point
The point in a perspective drawing or photograph where parallel lines appear to converge.
Vignetting
A reduction in brightness or saturation toward the edges of an image compared to the center.
Wide Angle
A lens with a short focal length that captures a broad field of view.
X-Sync
The maximum shutter speed at which a camera can synchronize with a flash for proper exposure.
Zoom
A lens with variable focal length that allows photographers to change magnification without changing position.