A flexible cable with a push-button on one end that, when depressed, forces a wire through the cable to depress a camera’s shutter release button. The cable release attaches to the camera directly over the shutter release button. A cable release has minimal effect on camera movement, and is therefore especially handy for the photographer who wishes to avoid blur in time exposures.

Same as “shooting angle” or “viewpoint”. The position of the camera relative to the position of the subject.

Candid pictures (sometimes referred to simply as "Candids") are unposed and often (but not necessarily) taken without the subject's knowledge.

Film container, generally one that is factory-loaded, that is light-proof, enabling it to be handled in light without exposing the film. (See "Cassette.") A metal cartridge for 35 mm film is sometimes known as a "Magazine."

The reflection of a light in the subject’s eyes in a portrait.

A digital camera records an image on a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) - a chip containing a grid-like field of extremely small, light-sensitive cells (photodiodes), each of which emits an electrical signal in proportion to the intensity of the light striking it.

A process used to make color prints directly from transparencies.

Points of light from a scene being photographed formed by the lens into discs of light. The smaller the discs (“circles of confusion”) are, the sharper the image appears. When the circles of confusion can be seen as discs rather than points of light, that portion of the image is considered to be unsharp.

(1) An attachment lens that fits on the front of a camera lens, allowing photography at closer distances than than normal for that lens. (2) Also refers to a "Macro lens" - a camera lens that permits macrophotography.

Generally, a picture of a subject that fills the frame, usually with the subject looking particularly close to the camera.

See Also: RGB

A lens that has a thin layer of transparent substance applied to its surface to reduce light reflection from the surface.

(1) The manner in which color film reproduces a scene's colors under different types of lighting (daylight or tungsten). (2) The adjustment of colors in making color prints.

Refers to film designed to produce a reverse color image that requires subsequent printing onto photo-sensitive material (generally paper used in making photographic prints) in order to view the true colors as a positive image.

Refers to film designed to make a positive image when exposed in the camera (slide film or transparency film). Light must be transmitted through such film in order to view it, whether it is lit from behind when viewing or the light is projected through the film’s image onto a viewing screen.

The light spectrum is scientifically described in terms of color temperature, and is measured in degrees Kelvin (° K). Photographers use three standard light color temperatures. The first is called "daylight" for natural outdoors light, while the other two are incandescent (artificial light) color temperature standards: 5500° K (daylight); 3200° K (tungsten studio lamps) and 3400° K (photo lamps or photofloods).

Commonly refers to a point-and-shoot camera.

A complementary color is one of a pair of primary or secondary colors that are in opposition to each other on a color wheel. For pigmented colors, like paint, complementary color pairs include: orange opposed to blue, green opposed to red, and violet opposed to yellow. For the colors of light, complementary colors include: blue opposed to yellow, green opposed to magenta, and red opposed to cyan.

The arrangement of the elements (subject and other objects) in a scene or photograph.

A contact print made from several negatives at one time.

The difference between the darkest and lightest areas of a subject, stated in a mathematical ratio.

1)The range of difference between highlights and shadow areas in an image. Many factors affect an image’s contrast, including the degree of development and the contrast grade of the paper on which an image is printed. 2) The range of brightness in a scene or in the light striking a subject. (Sometimes contrast is also referred to as "Density.")

1) Removal of parts of an image in order to improve the image’s composition. Cropping occurs when an area that is smaller than the entire image frame is printed or reproduced. 2) Cropping is sometimes also used in reference to a photographer moving closer to a subject, thereby eliminating (cropping) unnecessary surrounding elements from the composition.