Basic Photography terms

photo of an alley

photo of an alley

The two photos above were taken using a different apeture setting which is why the lighting differs between the two.

These are just a few basic and common terms used in photography.

  • Aperture: the size of the lens opening that controls how much light comes in.
  • Composition: the positioning or arrangement of things in the photo.
  • Shutter Speed: the length of time the shutter is open when taking a photo. The more light that is let in the longer the shutter is left open and vice versa, and the more exposed the image is.
  • Exposure: the amount of light that enters through the lens.
  • ISO (Internal Organization for Standardization): the ISO is the film's speed. The higher the film speed, the less detailed photo due to the increase in grain or noise.

Another thing...

When learning photography it definitely helps to get familiar with these terms. Don't be afraid to research these terms more indepth along with other terms not mentioned here.