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GLOSSARY
Absorbed
Sucked into.
Aperture
A small hole near the lens of a camera that controls the amount of light reaching the film.
ASA
American Standards Association, a rating system for film speeds.
Beam of Light
Very narrow band of light.
Blurred
When something cannot be seen clearly.
Bright
When something is producing or scattering a lot of light.
Brightness
The amount of light being produced by or scattered by something.
Camera
A device for taking photographs.
Converging Lens
A lens which makes beams of light come together.
Darkroom
A room where photofinishing work is done, lights are kept off to protect exposed film.
Depth of Field
How far around the focus distance things appear to be reasonably in focus.
Diverging Lens
A lens which makes beams of light separate.
Enlargements
Larger-than-normal pictures produced from film. Usually anything larger than 4”x6”.
Exposure
When light reaches film, producing an image.
Field of View
What a camera (or your eyes) can see without moving.
Film
A material used to store images.
Film Speed
A measure of a film’s sensitivity to light.
Flash
A camera feature that provides a burst of light toward the subject just before a picture is taken.
Focal Length
The length between the lens and the film in a camera.
Focus
To concentrate all of the light from an object into one point so that an image of the object may be produced.
in-focus
When a clear image of an object is produced.
out-of-focus
When a blurred image of an object is produced.
Focus Point
The point where beams of light from a converging lens meet. Place the film here for the best image.
Image
The pattern of light which is formed after light from something passes through a lens.
Infrared Light
A type of invisible light.
ISO
International Standards Organization, a rating system for film speeds.
Lens
A piece (or multiple pieces mounted together) of polished glass used to bend light.
Lens Shutter
The part of a camera that is opened to allow light to reach the film. Similar to the window shutters in some
houses.
Magnifying Glass
A lens which is used to produce an enlarged image of something. Uses the same concepts as described here
for cameras.
Nearsighted
Someone who cannot see distant objects clearly.
Photo Developing
Same as photofinishing.
Photofinishing
The process in which images on film are converted into pictures on special paper.
Photography
Producing images on light-sensitive material.
Point and Shoot
Camera
Easy to use cameras that have a fixed focus setting or automatic focus adjustment.
Scattered
Spread around.
Shutter Speed
How quickly the lens shutter opens and closes, allowing light to reach the film.
Silver Compounds
A light-sensitive material used to make film.
Subject
What you are taking a picture of.
Telephoto
A close-up photograph, the same as zooming-in.
Time-Lapse
Photography
Using several exposures spread over time or one continuous exposure to show how something moves.
Viewfinder
The part of a camera that allows you to see what you are taking a photograph of.
Zoom
A lens in which the focal length may be adjusted while keeping focus on the subject.
Zooming-in
Increasing the focal length so that the subject appears larger.
Zooming-out
Decreasing the focal length so that the subject appears smaller.
