Unit 57 Photography Terminology

By Liam Belch

Shutter speed Is how long the camera shutter stays open changing the amount of exposure and light the image will get.

Shutter Speed

The ISO number is the sensitivity to light, the lower the number the less sensitive to light your camera will be

ISO

The aperture is the Opening on the camera lens that Determines the amount of light that goes into the image. The Depth of field is the amount of space that an image is sharpest. A Large depth of field will leave the entire image sharp where as if you would like to focus on a certain part of the image a lower depth of field would be better.

Aperture & Depth of field (F stop)

Putting a Camera on Automatic exposure will Do everything for you determined on the picture you are trying to get

Automatic Exposure

Manual Exposure is the photographer will have to Choose all settings themselves allowing them to create their desired image on their own.

Manual Exposure

The colour balance is choosing the intensity of chosen colours for example you could have Whites more intense than yellows making that colour stand out more in the image changing it dramatically. This can be used to Create pictures that invoke emotions such as a picture heavily relying on blue could be used to portray sadness

Colour Balance

Composition is basically where everything in your photograph is placed and can alter the final outcome of your image greatly. If the background is not an issue you can use Photoshop to crop and fix any issues regarding placement of the central subject.

Composition

The rule of thirds is a guideline where the image is cut into 9 equal squares with lines and the most important features of a photograph must rest or be on these lines. The rule of thirds is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section. The main reason for observing the rule of thirds is to discourage placement of the subject at the centre, or prevent a horizon from appearing to divide the picture in half

Rule of Thirds

Complementary colours are colours that are opposite to each other on the colour wheel and can be used to create striking images

Complementary Colours

Analogous colours are groups of colours that are together and blend from each other on the colour wheel (orange, orange-yellow, Yellow)

Analogous colours