Unraveling the Enigmatic World of Photography Jargon
Photography is a visual art that has its own unique language, filled with technical terms, acronyms, and slang that can sometimes leave beginners feeling a little bewildered. But fear not, as we take you on a journey through the lingo that photographers often use to communicate and express themselves within their craft.
So sit back, relax, and prepare to become fluent in the language of the lens.
Photography Slang
1. Digital Lasagne: No, it’s not a new Italian dish on the menu.
In the world of photography, digital lasagne refers to a Photoshop image file that has been heavily edited or manipulated. Layers upon layers of adjustments create a complex and visually tantalizing final product.
2. Dust Bunny: While this term might bring to mind a cuddly fluffball, in photography, dust bunnies are not so endearing.
They are the irritating specks that appear on images due to dust particles on the camera’s sensor. Regular sensor cleaning is essential to avoid these pesky intrusions.
3. Fast/Slow Aperture: Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening, which controls the amount of light that enters the camera.
A fast aperture has a wider opening, allowing more light to reach the sensor, ideal for low-light situations or achieving a shallow depth of field. On the other hand, a slow aperture has a narrower opening, resulting in reduced light and a greater depth of field.
4. Fill-in: In photography, fill-in refers to the use of a smaller light source to balance and reduce contrast.
It supplements the available natural or primary light, softening shadows and creating a more even illumination. 5.
Flag: No, this is not a reference to an event on a sports field. In the realm of photography, a flag is a device used to stop or block light from hitting certain areas of the frame.
This is commonly seen in studio photography setups, where precise control over lighting is essential. 6.
Flare: Although the term “flare” might conjure up images of cool sunglasses, in photography, it refers to the glare or streaks of light that appear in a photograph, often caused by strong light sources hitting the lens. While sometimes an unwanted artifact, lens flare can also be creatively used to add a dramatic effect to an image.
7. Frame: In photography, the frame refers to the edges of an image and the act of determining what to include or exclude within those limits.
A skilled photographer uses framing techniques to select the most compelling content and create visually captivating compositions. 8.
Fringing: When dark objects in an image have an unwanted purple or green outline, it is referred to as fringing. This optical phenomenon occurs due to chromatic aberration, and while undesirable, it can be corrected or minimized in post-processing.
9. Giffing: This slang term is often used by photographers to describe the act of creating animated images, known as GIFs. By compressing multiple frames into a single file, photographers can bring a still image to life, capturing attention and adding a touch of whimsy to their work.
10. Glass: No, photographers aren’t talking about drinking vessels here.
In their world, the term “glass” is shorthand for a lens. Glass, being a critical component of the camera, plays a significant role in determining image quality, sharpness, and overall visual impact.
11. Gobo: While it might sound more like the name of a friendly ghost, in photography, a gobo is a device used to cast patterns or shadows onto a subject.
Often seen in studio lighting setups, gobos add interest and visual intricacy by manipulating the light source. 12.
Golden Hour: Have you ever noticed the warm and magical glow in photos taken before sunset or after sunrise? That is the golden hour, a term photographers use to describe the period when the sun is low on the horizon, casting a stunning and flattering golden light.
It’s a favorite time for capturing breathtaking landscape and portrait shots. 13.
Grad: Short for “graduated neutral-density filter,” a grad is a filter commonly used in landscape photography. It has a dark section that gradually transitions to a clear section, allowing photographers to balance the exposure between a bright sky and a darker foreground.
14. Grafikking: While it might sound like a combination of graphics and hiking, grafikking is actually a slang term used to describe the excessive use of Photoshop filters and other techniques that can result in an overedited and unnatural-looking image.
It’s often seen as a bad practice and frowned upon by purists. 15.
Grip and Grin: This term, with its slightly mischievous tone, refers to a quick photo opportunity where the photographer gives minimal warning to the subject, resulting in a candid shot often characterized by a close-up grip of the camera and a big grin. 16.
Grip and Rip: A close cousin of grip and grin, grip and rip refers to the act of taking a multitude of pictures without any particular purpose or intention. It’s like going on a photographic shooting spree, capturing anything and everything without much thought or deliberation.
17. Gump: Named after the beloved character Forrest Gump, a Gump in photography is someone who is an all-rounder.
They are skilled in multiple areas of photography and can adapt to different styles and genres with ease. 18.
Halos: No, we’re not talking about the angelic rings that surround heavenly beings. In photography, halos are artifacts that appear as bright or dark outlines around edges in an image, often caused by aggressive photo editing or excessive sharpening.
19. Lossy Vs. Lossless: When it comes to file formats, photographers often discuss the differences between lossy and lossless compression.
In a nutshell, lossy compression sacrifices some image quality to achieve smaller file sizes, while lossless compression retains all the original image information without any degradation. 20.
Machine Gunner: No, this isn’t someone on a shooting spree with actual firearms. In the world of photography, a machine gunner is someone who takes multiple shots of the same subject rapidly.
It’s a technique often used to capture fast action or moments where timing is crucial. 21.
Marching Ants: You might have seen those dotted lines that appear when selecting an image file in Photoshop. Known as marching ants, they indicate the area that has been selected and are a handy visual aid for photographers during post-processing.
22. Moir: Derived from the French word for “watered silk,” moir in photography refers to an art effect where ruled patterns, such as those found in fabrics or grillwork, create an optical interference that leads to a loss of clarity.
It can sometimes be a challenging issue to tackle during the editing process. 23.
Muddy: When colors lack definition or stand out, appearing dull, similar, or lacking vibrancy, photographers describe them as muddy. Achieving vibrant and well-separated colors is a goal for photographers who want their images to pop.
24. Nifty Fifty: Don’t be fooled by the playful name – the nifty fifty is a popular 50mm lens that is both fast and affordable.
It’s a go-to lens for many photographers due to its versatility and ability to capture sharp images with a pleasing bokeh (blurred background). 25.
NoFilter: In the era of Instagram filters and Photoshop presets, the term NoFilter has emerged as a declaration that an image has not been edited or enhanced in any way. It’s a nod to the purity of the original shot and a testament to the photographer’s skill.
26. Noise: When you encounter unwanted specks or a granular effect in an image, especially in low-light situations, you’re dealing with noise.
It is caused by the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor and can degrade the overall image quality. 27.
Noisy: Just as it sounds, a noisy image is one that has excessive noise, giving it a grainy or pixelated appearance. It usually happens when the camera’s sensor struggles to capture enough light for a proper exposure, resulting in a compromised image quality.
28. Photobomb: Whether it’s an accidental or intentional appearance of an unexpected individual in a photograph, a photobomb injects an element of surprise and often humor into the composition.
It can be a delightful or unfortunate circumstance, depending on the situation. 29.
Pixel Peeping: Have you ever found yourself zooming in closely on an image to see every tiny detail, like examining the individual pixels? That’s what photographers call pixel peeping.
It’s the act of scrutinizing an image at a pixel level to assess sharpness, noise, and other technical aspects. 30.
Prime: A prime lens has a fixed focal length and does not zoom. It’s a lens loved by many photographers for its exceptional image quality, wide maximum aperture, and compact size.
Prime lenses are renowned for their sharpness, making them a favorite choice for portraiture, street photography, and many other genres. 31.
Raw: As a file format, raw captures all the information from the camera’s sensor without in-camera processing. Unlike JPEG, which applies compression and lossy optimization, raw files are larger and contain a wealth of data that allows for more flexibility and greater creative control during post-processing.
32. Scheimpflug Principle: Named after its creator, Theodor Scheimpflug, the Scheimpflug principle explains the relationship between the focus plane, image plane, and the lens in technical terms.
It’s a concept that comes into play when photographers use tilt-shift lenses to achieve a selective and exaggerated depth of field. 33.
Scrim: When you want to reduce the intensity of light hitting a subject, you can use a scrim. It’s a translucent material that can be positioned between the light source and the subject, diffusing and softening the light for a more flattering and controlled illumination.
34. Selfie: You’ve probably taken a selfie or two yourself.
A selfie is a self-portrait, usually captured by holding a smartphone or camera at arm’s length. It has become a cultural phenomenon, allowing individuals to express themselves, share experiences, and connect with others visually.
35. Sharp: In photography, sharpness refers to the degree of focus and clarity in an image.
A well-focused image with well-defined lines and edges is considered sharp. Achieving sharpness is a fundamental goal for photographers who want their images to have impact and clarity.
36. Shoot and Burn: This term harks back to the era of film photography when photographers would shoot a roll of film and then burn the entire series onto a CD or DVD without much selection or editing.
The clients would receive all the images, for better or worse. 37.
Shutter Nutter: Do you know someone who plunges into crazy photography projects or goes to extreme lengths to capture the perfect shot? Well, they might be considered a shutter nutter – someone with a high level of enthusiasm and an unwavering dedication to the craft.
38. Shutter-bug: Implying a sense of beginner-level enthusiasm, a shutter-bug refers to someone who has recently embarked on their photography journey and is eager to capture anything and everything that catches their eye.
While the term is often used affectionately, it emphasizes the initial stages of learning and exploration. 39.
Soft: When an image, or a specific area within an image, appears slightly out of focus, it is described as soft. While sharpness is often sought after in photography, there are instances where a softer, dreamlike effect can enhance the mood and create a more ethereal ambiance.
40. Spray and Pray: If you’ve ever witnessed a photographer rapidly clicking their camera’s shutter with little thought or intention, then you’ve witnessed spray and pray in action.
It involves taking multiple shots quickly and without great consideration, hoping that at least one will turn out well. 41.
Stop: When photographers refer to a stop, they are referring to the incremental changes made to aperture, shutter speed, or ISO settings to control the exposure. A stop can either double or halve the amount of light entering the camera, depending on whether it’s being increased (going up a stop) or decreased (going down a stop).
42. Tog/Photog: These are simply abbreviations for photographer – tog for photographer and photog for street photographer.
In the fast-paced world of communication, these concise shorthand terms have become quite popular among those in the know. 43.
Touching up: After capturing an image, photographers often enhance it during post-processing to optimize colors, contrast, and other aspects. This process is commonly referred to as touching up, allowing photographers to bring out the best in their images and achieve the desired visual impact.
44. Uncle Bob: At almost every wedding around the world, you’ll find an Uncle Bob – a relative or family friend who fancies themselves a photographer and insists on taking photos throughout the event.
While it’s well-intentioned, it can sometimes disrupt the professional photographer’s work. 45.
Xpro: Derived from “cross processing,” Xpro refers to the act of developing a C-41 roll of film with E-6 chemicals or vice versa. This results in unexpected and often vibrant color shifts, creating a unique and visually captivating effect.
Photography Acronyms
1. ACR
In this article, we explored the fascinating world of photography jargon, delving into both slang terms and acronyms commonly used by photographers.
We covered everything from the digital lasagne of heavily edited images to the irritating dust bunnies caused by camera sensor dust. We demystified terms like fast aperture and slow aperture, and explained the purpose of flags, gobos, and scrims in manipulating light.
We also discussed the significance of the golden hour and the creative possibilities of giffing. Throughout the article, we highlighted the importance of understanding photography language to effectively communicate within the community and enhance one’s photography skills.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, being fluent in photography jargon can expand your knowledge, improve your techniques, and deepen your appreciation for the art of capturing moments. So go forth and experiment with your nifty fifty, avoid those noise-filled images, and always strive for sharpness in your shots.
Happy shooting!