For beginners and amateurs, the hardest part of photography can be the daunting amount of confusing technical terms. Listed below are a few common terms with easy to understand explanations.
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.
Nomenclature is the most confusing part for beginning photographers. Essentially, this is quoted in what is commonly referred to as 'stops'. If there is a smaller f-stop number such as f/1.8, there will be a wider opening from the aperture. However, if there is a larger number such as f/22, there will only be a tiny opening from the aperture.
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
Your digital camera contains a light-sensitive panel that records the light that hits it when you press the button to take a photo. This performs the same function that film does in older cameras. The sensor remains hidden behind the closed shutter (see below) and is only exposed when a photo is taken. Your camera records the light hitting the sensor when you take a picture, and stores the result on the memory card in the camera.
Shutter Speed
A shutter on a camera is located just in front of the image sensor. This piece is always closed until the button to take a photo is pressed. Once the button is pressed, the shutter opens for a specific period 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 term 'exposure' refers to exposing the sensor or film to light in order to take a photograph. In addition, a photograph is referred to as an 'exposure' for this reason.
When you take a photograph, how much light the light-sensitive part of the camera is exposed to is determined by the aperture and shutter speed settings, as explained above. Darker conditions will require an exposure with a lager aperture setting, a slower shutter speed, or both.
The term 'correct exposure' refers to the approximation of what could be seen by the photographer's naked eye at the time of the photograph, however this is truly a matter of taste. It is possible however, to take a photo in the dark of night at a shutter speed so long that the photo appears to have been taken in the daytime.
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.
Nomenclature is the most confusing part for beginning photographers. Essentially, this is quoted in what is commonly referred to as 'stops'. If there is a smaller f-stop number such as f/1.8, there will be a wider opening from the aperture. However, if there is a larger number such as f/22, there will only be a tiny opening from the aperture.
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
Your digital camera contains a light-sensitive panel that records the light that hits it when you press the button to take a photo. This performs the same function that film does in older cameras. The sensor remains hidden behind the closed shutter (see below) and is only exposed when a photo is taken. Your camera records the light hitting the sensor when you take a picture, and stores the result on the memory card in the camera.
Shutter Speed
A shutter on a camera is located just in front of the image sensor. This piece is always closed until the button to take a photo is pressed. Once the button is pressed, the shutter opens for a specific period 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 term 'exposure' refers to exposing the sensor or film to light in order to take a photograph. In addition, a photograph is referred to as an 'exposure' for this reason.
When you take a photograph, how much light the light-sensitive part of the camera is exposed to is determined by the aperture and shutter speed settings, as explained above. Darker conditions will require an exposure with a lager aperture setting, a slower shutter speed, or both.
The term 'correct exposure' refers to the approximation of what could be seen by the photographer's naked eye at the time of the photograph, however this is truly a matter of taste. It is possible however, to take a photo in the dark of night at a shutter speed so long that the photo appears to have been taken in the daytime.
About the Author:
Tobias Sterling has been in love with photography for many years. He loves to write and share his knowledge with fellow enthusiast on Clivir.com where you can find his lessons including Photography basics and tips and Black White Photography Tips.
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