Aperture
Controls the opening in the lens, affecting light and depth of field. Crucial for managing background blur and exposure.
Basic Concepts
Shutter Speed
Determines how long the shutter is open, impacting motion blur.
ISO
Measures sensor sensitivity to light, with higher values for low light.
Depth of Field
The range in which objects appear sharp, controlled by aperture and distance.
Exposure Triangle
Balances aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for optimal exposure.
Histogram
Graphically represents tonal distribution in your image.
Composition & Color
Composition
Arranging elements to guide the viewer’s eye and create balance.
Color Theory
Understanding color interactions to create harmony or contrast.
White Balance
Adjusts color temperature so that whites appear neutral.
Lighting
Defines the mood with quality, direction, and intensity of light.
Dynamic Range
Measures the span from darkest shadows to brightest highlights.
Contrast
Enhances differences between light and dark elements for impact.
Lenses & Filters
Prime Lens
A fixed focal length lens known for its sharpness and wide apertures.
Bokeh
The aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas in a photograph.
Chromatic Aberration
Lens distortion that causes color fringing around edges.
Polarizing Filter
Reduces glare and reflections while enhancing colors.
Neutral Density Filters
Limits light entry to allow longer exposures in bright conditions.
Lens Flare
Creates artistic light effects via internal lens scattering.
Advanced Techniques
Bracketing
Takes multiple exposures to blend for HDR or optimal brightness.
Focus Peaking
Highlights in-focus areas to assist with manual focusing.
Focus Stacking
Combines images at different focus distances for extended depth of field.
Detail Enhancement
Uses sharpening and clarity techniques to boost fine details.
Masking
Applies selective edits to target specific areas during post-processing.
Resolution
Defines the clarity and detail of an image, measured in pixels.
Vignette
Darkens or lightens the edges to focus attention toward the center.
HDR Processing
Combines exposures to create a high dynamic range image.
Photographic Styles
Street Photography
Candidly capturing everyday life in public spaces.
Wildlife Photography
Photographing animals in their natural habitats with patience and proper gear.
Minimalistic Photography
Emphasizes simplicity and negative space for a striking visual impact.
Macro Photography
Close-up photography that captures fine details of small subjects.
Portrait Photography
Focuses on capturing personality and expression through the subject’s face.
Landscape Photography
Captures expansive outdoor scenes and natural beauty.
Time & Light
Golden Hour
Warm, soft light shortly after sunrise or before sunset, ideal for portraits.
Time Lapse
Captures frames at intervals to depict the passage of time.
Astrophotography
Uses long exposures to capture stars, planets, and night skies.
Sunset
Captures vibrant colors and fading light at dusk.
Sunrise
Highlights the soft emerging light at the start of a day.
Night Photography
Techniques for capturing images in low-light or nighttime conditions.
Blue Hour
Embraces creative blur to capture movement and mood during twilight.