Photography Glossary

Learn essential photography terms and discover how to recreate these effects with AI image generators and prompts

Showing all photography terms
Aperture
Technical Concepts

Aperture

The opening in a lens through which light passes to enter the camera, affecting depth of field and exposure.

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Aspect Ratio
Technical Concepts

Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between an image's width and height.

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Bokeh
Lighting & Effects

Bokeh

The aesthetic quality of the blur in out-of-focus areas of an image.

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Composition
Composition

Composition

The arrangement of visual elements within a photograph to create a pleasing or effective image.

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Depth of Field
Technical Concepts

Depth of Field

The zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind the subject on which the lens is focused.

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Exposure
Technical Concepts

Exposure

The amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, determined by aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

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Framing
Composition

Framing

A composition technique that uses elements within the scene to create a frame around the main subject.

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Focal Length
Technical Concepts

Focal Length

The optical distance from the lens to the image sensor when focused at infinity, measured in millimeters.

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Golden Hour
Lighting & Effects

Golden Hour

The period shortly after sunrise or before sunset when daylight is redder and softer.

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High Key
Lighting & Effects

High Key

A style of photography featuring bright, well-lit images with minimal shadows and contrast.

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ISO
Technical Concepts

ISO

A measure of the camera sensor's sensitivity to light, with higher numbers indicating greater sensitivity.

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JPEG
Technical Concepts

JPEG

A compressed image file format that reduces file size by discarding some image data.

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Kinetic Typography
Post-Processing

Kinetic Typography

Animated text that creates movement and visual interest in photos or design.

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Leading Lines
Composition

Leading Lines

Lines within an image that guide the viewer's eye toward the main subject.

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Long Exposure
Technical Concepts

Long Exposure

A photography technique using slow shutter speeds to capture motion over time.

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Macro Photography
Photographic Styles

Macro Photography

Extreme close-up photography of small subjects, usually with life-size or greater magnification.

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Monochrome
Photographic Styles

Monochrome

Images rendered in varying shades of a single color, including but not limited to black and white.

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Neutral Density Filter
Equipment

Neutral Density Filter

A filter that reduces the amount of light entering the lens without affecting color.

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Off-Camera Flash
Lighting & Effects

Off-Camera Flash

A lighting technique where the flash is separated from the camera for more creative control.

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Panorama
Techniques

Panorama

An image with an elongated field of view, typically wider than what the human eye can see at once.

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Perspective
Composition

Perspective

The spatial relationship between objects in a photograph, creating the illusion of depth and dimension.

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Portrait
Photographic Styles

Portrait

A photograph of a person or group focusing on the face and its expression.

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Rule of Thirds
Composition

Rule of Thirds

A compositional guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines.

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Silhouette
Lighting & Effects

Silhouette

A dark shape or outline of a subject against a brighter background.

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Telephoto
Equipment

Telephoto

A type of lens with a long focal length that magnifies distant subjects.

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Tilt-Shift
Equipment

Tilt-Shift

A specialized lens or effect that selectively focuses parts of an image, often creating a miniature appearance.

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Underexposure
Technical Concepts

Underexposure

When an image has received too little light, resulting in dark shadows and loss of detail.

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Vanishing Point
Composition

Vanishing Point

The point in a perspective drawing or photograph where parallel lines appear to converge.

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Vignetting
Lighting & Effects

Vignetting

A reduction in brightness or saturation toward the edges of an image compared to the center.

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Wide Angle
Equipment

Wide Angle

A lens with a short focal length that captures a broad field of view.

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X-Sync
Technical Concepts

X-Sync

The maximum shutter speed at which a camera can synchronize with a flash for proper exposure.

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Zoom
Equipment

Zoom

A lens with variable focal length that allows photographers to change magnification without changing position.

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