Unit 1: What is Photography?

Viewfinder

A device on a camera showing the field of view of the lens, used in framing and focusing the picture.

Mode Dial

A dial that changes the exposure modes.

Finger wheel

A dial that controls the shutter speed, or aperture on your camera.

Pentaprism

A five-sided optical device that reflects the image from the viewing screen into the viewfinder.

Leading Lines

A photo composition technique in which real or imaginary lines in a photo lead the eye to the dominant element, primary subject or center of interest.

Unusual Vantage Point

Add interest by shooting from an unexpected place. Consider vantage points that aren't usually seen, and take viewers on a unique journey.

Repetition

An object or shape that repeats can create a dominant pattern. Capitalizing on these patterns can create a calm, rhythmic feeling or create complete abstractions with common objects.

Camera

An optical instrument that uses lenses to focus light, and a sensor to record an image of an object. A light-safe box.

Frame

Framing, especially in the photographic arts, is primarily concerned with the position and perspective of the viewer.

Exposure

In digital photography, this is the unit of measurement for the total amount of light permitted to reach the electronic sensor during the process of taking a photograph.

Juxtaposition

In many ways, this is the opposite of symmetry. In juxtaposition, you want to create contrast within your frame using non-symmetrical elements. The most common way to achieve this is to place or arrange objects in adjacent or opposing locations to highlight their differences.

Back LCD panel

Liquid crystal display - a tool used to view the captured image and to navigate through menu screens.

Zoom ring

Part of the lens of a camera that can be rotated to allow users to zoom in and out of the image.

Pixel

Short for "picture element" it is the fundamental unit of a digital image, typically a tiny square or dot which contains a single point of color of a larger image.

Symmetry

Symmetry is the all about finding balance in your image. There are two types: Formal (balanced) and informal (unbalanced).

Camera lens

The part of the camera that focuses light onto the sensor.

Focus

The position at which rays of light from a lens converge to form a clear and sharply defined image on a focal plane.

Composition

This is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or 'ingredients' in a work of art, as distinct from the subject.

Rule of Thirds

This is used to direct the viewer's eye around the picture. It also divides the frame into 9 sections, points of interest (or power points) should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 both horizontally and vertically.

LCD data screen

This is where you find information about the photograph. Not all cameras have this screen.

Triangles

Triangles have a strong visual impact and you don't need to photograph literal triangles to achieve this effect. All you need are three visual points that exist in a somewhat triangular formation.

Beyond the Edge

When an element of your subject is offstage, your viewers want to know more. Draw them into the deeper into the story with what they can't see outside of the frame.

Focus Ring

When in MF mode, turn this to adjust the focus.

leading space

giving your subject somewhere to go whether physically moving or looking.

Contrast

key to avoiding "flat" images that look dull and one-note. Contrasting colors can energize a photograph, but so can big differences in light and shadow or texture