Basic Photography Terms Explained for Beginners (VIDEO)
Every new photographer is forced to confront a bewildering array of unfamiliar terminology from camera settings, features like exposure control, and physical buttons, to odd-sounding technical methods and post-processing nomenclature. So pull up a chair and let’s get you up to speed.
This tutorial from instructor Ed Verosky is designed to quickly expand your photographic vocabulary. He’s a professional portrait photographer who promises that “this is all good stuff that every shooter should know”—regardless of the type of images they shoot most. So if you think the acronym “HHS” refers to History of Science Society, this seven-minute video will set you straight.
Ed begins with the most common terms for controlling exposure; namely ISO, aperture, and shutter speed that are essential to understand for achieving photos with balanced tones. Put simply, ISO describes your camera’s sensitivity to light, and you’ll learn the nuances of raising or lowering this essential setting depending on your subject, prevailing conditions, and the specific effect you want to achieve.
Aperture refers to the opening of a lens that determines how much light hits the camera’s sensor. It’s measured in f/stops, with a lower f-number translating to a “wider” aperture. The setting you choose also enables you to “control depth of field”—another critical aspect of impactful images.
Shutter speed rounds out the components of the Exposure Triangle and simply describes the length of time the sensor is exposed to light while capturing a shot. This attribute is measured in seconds, or fractions of a second, and it’s a good indicator of whether your handheld photos will be sharp, or if a sturdy tripod is necessary to prevent camera shake.
Ed moves on to terminology that’s equally important but slightly more obscure. Once you understand all the nomenclature you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the creative aspects of photography with confidence.
And don’t miss the earlier primer we featured with another successful pro who explains four outdoor photography situations that will confuse even the best cameras and cause them to miss focus—with a simple solution for each.
