Here’s a glossary of photography terms and abbreviations, covering cameras, lenses, exposure, lighting, and post-processing. This is designed as a master reference for hobbyists, professionals, and retailers.
📸 PHOTOGRAPHY GLOSSARY
A
Aperture – Lens opening controlling light and depth of field.
AE (Auto Exposure) – Camera automatically sets shutter speed and aperture.
AF (Autofocus) – Automatic lens focusing system.
AF-S / AF-C – Single vs continuous autofocus modes.
Aspect Ratio – Image width-to-height proportion (3:2, 4:3, 16:9).
AWB (Auto White Balance) – Automatic adjustment of color temperature.
Analog Photography – Using film instead of digital sensors.
Angle of View – Scene captured by lens, measured in degrees.
B
Bokeh – Aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas.
Bracketing – Taking multiple exposures with different settings.
Burst Mode – Continuous shooting at high frame rate.
Buffer – Temporary storage for images before writing to memory card.
Backlighting – Light source behind the subject.
Battery Grip – Extended battery accessory for DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.
C
CMOS / CCD – Image sensor types in digital cameras.
Crop Factor – Sensor size effect on field of view.
Crop Sensor – Smaller sensor than full-frame, e.g., APS-C.
Composition – Arrangement of elements within a frame.
Continuous Shooting – Rapid sequential image capture.
Contrast – Difference between darkest and lightest parts of an image.
Chromatic Aberration – Lens color fringing.
Colour Space (sRGB / AdobeRGB) – Range of reproducible colors.
D
DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) – Camera using mirror for optical viewfinder.
Depth of Field (DOF) – Range of focus in an image.
Diffuser – Material softening light from a flash or lamp.
Dynamic Range – Range of light intensities a sensor can capture.
Drive Mode – Camera shooting mode (single, continuous, timer).
E
Exposure – Total light reaching the sensor.
EV (Exposure Value) – Combination of aperture and shutter speed.
Exposure Compensation – Adjusting brightness manually.
EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) – Digital display inside the viewfinder.
Extension Tube – Accessory for macro photography.
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) – Metadata stored in images.
F
F-Stop – Numerical representation of aperture (f/2.8, f/8).
Flash Sync – Timing flash with shutter.
Focal Length – Lens distance determining magnification and angle of view.
Focus Peaking – Highlighting in-focus areas for manual focus.
Full Frame – Sensor size equivalent to 35mm film.
Fill Light – Light source reducing shadows.
G
Gimbal – Stabilization device for video or handheld photography.
Golden Hour – Period shortly after sunrise or before sunset with soft light.
Gradient Filter – Lens filter darkening part of the scene.
Ghosting – Image artifact from lens reflections or flare.
H
HDR (High Dynamic Range) – Combining multiple exposures for balanced light.
Histogram – Graph showing tonal distribution in an image.
High-Speed Sync (HSS) – Flash operation at high shutter speeds.
Hyperfocal Distance – Focusing distance maximizing DOF.
Hot Shoe – Mount for flash or accessories.
I
ISO – Sensor sensitivity to light.
Intervalometer – Device controlling timed or repeated shooting.
Image Stabilization (IS / VR) – Reduces motion blur.
Inkjet Printer – Printer using liquid ink for photography.
Infrared Photography – Capturing light beyond visible spectrum.
J
JPEG – Compressed image format.
JPG – File extension for JPEG.
Joystick Control – Camera control for focus points or menus.
K
Kelvin (K) – Unit for color temperature.
Kit Lens – Standard lens bundled with camera.
L
Light Meter – Device measuring scene illumination.
Long Exposure – Slow shutter speed to capture motion or light trails.
Lens Hood – Shield blocking unwanted light to reduce flare.
Lens Mount – Connection system between lens and camera.
Live View – Using LCD screen as viewfinder.
M
Macro Lens – Lens optimized for close-up photography.
Manual Mode – User sets shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
Mirrorless Camera – Digital camera without reflex mirror.
Monopod – Single-legged support for cameras.
Metadata – Information about image capture stored in file.
N
Neutral Density (ND) Filter – Reduces light entering the lens.
Noise / Grain – Digital artifacts or film texture in low light.
Normal Lens – Lens with focal length approximating human vision (50mm full-frame).
O
Overexposure – Too much light captured.
Optical Zoom – Magnification via lens optics.
On-Camera Flash – Built-in or attached flash unit.
Open Shade – Shooting in shaded areas to avoid harsh sunlight.
P
Prime Lens – Lens with fixed focal length.
Pixel – Smallest unit of an image.
Polarizing Filter – Reduces reflections and glare.
Post-Processing – Editing images after capture.
Portrait Mode – Mode optimized for shallow depth-of-field portraits.
Preset White Balance – Predefined color temperature settings.
Panorama – Wide, stitched image of a scene.
Panning – Moving camera to follow subject motion.
Q
Quick Release Plate – Mounting plate for tripod heads.
Quadruple Exposure – Multiple exposure image with four layers.
R
RAW – Uncompressed image file with full sensor data.
Rangefinder – Camera type with separate viewfinder for focusing.
Ring Light – Circular light for even illumination in portraits.
Resolution – Image size measured in pixels.
Red-Eye – Eye reflection caused by flash.
Reflector – Surface bouncing light onto subject.
Remote Shutter Release – Device triggering shutter without touching camera.
S
Shutter Speed – Time sensor or film is exposed to light.
Softbox – Light modifier producing soft illumination.
Spot Metering – Exposure measurement in small area.
Stabilizer – Device reducing camera shake.
Studio Lighting – Controlled artificial lighting for photography.
Saturation – Color intensity.
Sensor Size – Physical size of camera sensor (Full-frame, APS-C, Micro Four Thirds).
Sequence Shooting – Continuous capture of multiple frames.
T
Time-Lapse Photography – Capturing frames at intervals to show change over time.
Tilt-Shift Lens – Lens for perspective control and miniaturization effects.
Telephoto Lens – Long focal length lens for distant subjects.
Tripod – Three-legged support for camera stability.
TTL (Through-The-Lens) – Metering method for flash exposure.
U
Underexposure – Too little light captured.
Ultra-Wide Lens – Lens with very short focal length capturing wide field.
UV Filter – Lens filter blocking ultraviolet light.
V
Viewfinder – Optical or electronic window to compose image.
Vignette – Darkened edges of an image.
VR / IS (Vibration Reduction / Image Stabilization) – Reduces motion blur.
Video Mode – Camera setting for recording motion footage.
W
White Balance – Adjusting color to render white correctly.
Wide-Angle Lens – Short focal length lens capturing more scene.
Wireless Flash – Flash unit triggered remotely without cables.
Watermark – Overlay on images for copyright or branding.
X
X-Sync – Maximum shutter speed compatible with flash.
Y
YUV – Color encoding format for video.
Z
Zoom Lens – Variable focal length lens.
Zero Compression – Lossless image format preserving full data.
Published 17th Feb 2026