One of the most confusing things about photography for amateurs and beginners is the abundance of technical terms. Read on for more explanations of some of the most common and useful terms.
Aperture
This refers to a diaphragm inside all cameras which change size to admit more or less light. This structure is very similar to how the human eye works in that a circular opening becomes enlarged or smaller dependent upon how much light there is.
For many, the most confusing part about aperture is the nomenclature used. This is quoted in what are commonly referred to as 'f-stops'. To better explain, a smaller f-stop number such as f/1.8 means the aperture will open wider while a larger f-stop number such as f/22 means the aperture will open very slightly.
Your camera will have a large range of f-stops unless it is an SLR camera. For example a range of f/2.8 to f/8 means the widest the aperture of the camera can open is 2.8 and the narrowest it can open is 8.
Sensor
At the moment you press the button to take a photo, a light sensitive sensor records the light present. This is the function in a digital camera which is the same in as film in an older camera. This sensor is hidden behind the shutter (see below) and records light when a photo is taken and stored on a memory card.
Shutter Speed
The shutter on a camera sits just in front of the image sensor. The shutter is normally closed until the button is pressed to take a photo. Once the button is pressed, the shutter opens for a specific length of time, exposing the sensor to light.
Most shutters are actually comprised of two curtains. At a fast shutter speed, the first curtain opens only a tiny gap between it and the second curtain, and travels across the sensor with the second curtain following close behind. For longer exposures the whole sensor might be exposed for a period of time before the second curtain closes it.
The speed of the shutter is expressed in whole seconds as well as fractions of a second. A shutter speed of 1/640 means the shutter will open and the sensor exposed for only one-six-hundred-and-fortieth of a second.
Exposure
The word or term 'exposure' means exposing the sensor or film to light in order to take a photograph. For this reason, a photograph is also referred to as an 'exposure'.
When a photograph is taken, how much light is exposed to the sensor is determined by the shutter speed settings and the aperture. For darker photos, a larger aperture setting and slower shutter speed may be needed or utilizing both.
The term 'correct exposure' refers to the approximation of what a photographer actually saw with his/her naked eye at the time the photo was taken. This is purely a matter of a taste. However, it is entirely possible to take a photo at night or in the dark with such long shutter speed that it actually appears as if it was taken in the daylight.
Aperture
This refers to a diaphragm inside all cameras which change size to admit more or less light. This structure is very similar to how the human eye works in that a circular opening becomes enlarged or smaller dependent upon how much light there is.
For many, the most confusing part about aperture is the nomenclature used. This is quoted in what are commonly referred to as 'f-stops'. To better explain, a smaller f-stop number such as f/1.8 means the aperture will open wider while a larger f-stop number such as f/22 means the aperture will open very slightly.
Your camera will have a large range of f-stops unless it is an SLR camera. For example a range of f/2.8 to f/8 means the widest the aperture of the camera can open is 2.8 and the narrowest it can open is 8.
Sensor
At the moment you press the button to take a photo, a light sensitive sensor records the light present. This is the function in a digital camera which is the same in as film in an older camera. This sensor is hidden behind the shutter (see below) and records light when a photo is taken and stored on a memory card.
Shutter Speed
The shutter on a camera sits just in front of the image sensor. The shutter is normally closed until the button is pressed to take a photo. Once the button is pressed, the shutter opens for a specific length of time, exposing the sensor to light.
Most shutters are actually comprised of two curtains. At a fast shutter speed, the first curtain opens only a tiny gap between it and the second curtain, and travels across the sensor with the second curtain following close behind. For longer exposures the whole sensor might be exposed for a period of time before the second curtain closes it.
The speed of the shutter is expressed in whole seconds as well as fractions of a second. A shutter speed of 1/640 means the shutter will open and the sensor exposed for only one-six-hundred-and-fortieth of a second.
Exposure
The word or term 'exposure' means exposing the sensor or film to light in order to take a photograph. For this reason, a photograph is also referred to as an 'exposure'.
When a photograph is taken, how much light is exposed to the sensor is determined by the shutter speed settings and the aperture. For darker photos, a larger aperture setting and slower shutter speed may be needed or utilizing both.
The term 'correct exposure' refers to the approximation of what a photographer actually saw with his/her naked eye at the time the photo was taken. This is purely a matter of a taste. However, it is entirely possible to take a photo at night or in the dark with such long shutter speed that it actually appears as if it was taken in the daylight.
About the Author:
Tobias Sterling is life long fan of photography. He is an experience photographer who loves to share his knowledge. His articles including Basic Camera Settings for Photography and Male Body and Physique Photography can be found on Clivir.com.
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