Basic Techniques | Photography Terminology

Today I am going to write a glossary to cover all key photographic terms briefly. This can be used to find a quick description of the word you're unfamiliar with. I have arranged the terms alphabetically so that it's easy to find what you're looking for. I hope this list will help you to get to a better understanding of your dslr camera.

Accessory Shoe - located on top of the camera, used to place attachments, such as flash guns, to it

Aperture - controls the focus range

Built-In Flash - the flash which is built into your camera

Camera Shake - means that the camera is moving too much to capture a sharp image

Control Dial -  can be used to change camera settings

Diopter Adjustment Dial -  this alters the focus of the viewfinder to suit your eyesight

Exposure - the length of time that light is let onto the camera sensor

Depth of Field - the range that is in focus within the photograph

Focus- when "in focus" your picture will be sharp and clear, when "out of focus" it will be blurry and unclear

Focus Mode Switch - used to switch between auto and manual focus modes, these switches are usually found on both the lens and camera body

Focus Ring - rotate this to achieve different focal lengths.

Histogram - a graph which is used to display the colour distribution and exposure of the scene you're shooting/have shot

ISO - measures sensitivity of image sensor

Lens Release Button - used to remove lens from camera body

Live View - view the picture your taking on the LCD monitor

Live View/OVF switch - use this to switch between viewing modes

Memory Card - stores the photographs that you take

Menu Button - opens up camera menu

Mirror - enables you to view the scene through the viewfinder

Monitor - displays all camera information

Mode Dial - used to switch between camera modes

Playback Button - press this to view the pictures you've taken

Power Switch - turns camera on/off

Self-Timer - puts a number of seconds between the shutter button being pressed and the picture being taken

Sensor - the part of the camera which captures the image

Shutter Button - press this to take a picture, push half way down to focus (in autofocus mode), push down fully to take the shot

Smart Teleconverter Button -

Subject - whatever it is that you're photographing

Tripod - used to attach camera onto and give extra support

Viewfinder - you can view the picture your taking through here

White Balance - analyses the temperature of the light in the scene you're shooting

Zoom In Button - used to zoom into pictures you've taken

Zoom Ring - can be turned to zoom into and out of areas of 

If I have missed any key terms of this list please let me know :)