There are so many terms that float around pertaining to photography, so I thought I would put together a glossary of common terms, so that you will know what I am talking about when I post certain terms. Please bookmark this page (Ctrl+D in most browsers) for future reference. These are certainly not ALL of the terms you will come across; I have included the most common.
A
Aperture- Also referred to as depth of field. The aperture is the hole that the blades of the iris or diaphragm of the lens makes. In some smaller cameras, the diaphragm is incorporated into the shutter. Most cameras have a separate mechanism for this. These blades will form a hexagon or an octagon, unless the lens is at full aperture. Using a smaller aperture increases the depth of field. This will also sometimes degrade the performance of the lens. Most cameras are at optimum performance 2-3 stops (f stops) below their maximum aperture.
Ok, that’s the technical definition. Here’s the simpler one. The aperture changes the depth of field. The depth of field changes how your pictures look. Have you ever seen a photo where the subject is in sharp focus and the background is blurred? That’s what the aperture does. Here’s an example:
Aperture Priority- This is a setting on many cameras. It is usually marked by an “A.” This setting means you can choose the aperture, and the shutter speed will adjust accordingly. Make sure you know your camera. Some cameras will warn you about a shutter speed that is too slow. Some will warn you if the correct exposure can’t be reached with the aperture you selected. Others will just overexpose the photo. Read the manual.
TRY IT OUT! Go play with the aperture on your camera, if you can. Set up a simple subject (an inanimate object for this one folks!) and change the aperture to see what effects you can create. Lenses will usually say on the end what apertures they can work within. Aperture is usually marked on your lens, and on your camera’s menu, with an f and a number, for example, f 5.6.
In the next blog, obviously, I will continue with more terms and more letters.
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Part 2- B&C
Part 3: D&E
Part 4: F
Part 5: F (cont)
Part 6: G-L
Part 7: M-P
Part 8: Q-Z