Browse All 840 Photography Terms A–Z

Focal Point Composition & Visual Design The element in a photograph that the eye is drawn to first and returns to.

Focal Reducer Optics, Lenses & Filters × reduction An adapter containing glass that compresses a lens's image circle onto a smaller sensor, shortening focal length and gaining light. f_new = f × reduction factor

Focal-plane Shutter Cameras, Formats & Systems seconds A shutter made of two curtains that travel across the sensor just in front of it, exposing the frame as a moving slit at high speeds.

Focus Focus & Depth of Field m The condition in which light from a point on the subject converges to a point on the sensor, rendering that part of the scene sharp. 1/f = 1/u + 1/v

Focus and Recompose Focus & Depth of Field The technique of focusing with a central point, locking, then shifting the camera to place the subject elsewhere in the frame.

Focus Bracketing Focus & Depth of Field count An in-camera function that automatically shoots a sequence of frames at incrementally different focus distances.

Focus Breathing Focus & Depth of Field % A change in a lens's angle of view as it is focused, so the framing appears to zoom slightly during a focus pull.

Focus Confirmation Focus & Depth of Field An indicator, usually a dot or the illumination of an AF point, showing that the camera considers focus achieved.

Focus Limiter Focus & Depth of Field m A switch that restricts a lens's focusing range, so autofocus does not search through distances the subject cannot occupy.

Focus Lock Focus & Depth of Field Holding the current focus distance so that further movement of the camera or subject does not trigger refocusing.

Focus Magnification Focus & Depth of Field × magnification A function that enlarges part of the live image so focus can be judged at a pixel level.

Focus Peaking Focus & Depth of Field A display aid that outlines the highest-contrast edges in the live image, marking what is currently in focus.

Focus Priority Focus & Depth of Field A setting that prevents the shutter from firing until the camera confirms focus has been achieved.

Focus Shift Focus & Depth of Field mm A movement of the plane of sharpest focus as a lens is stopped down, caused by residual spherical aberration.

Focus Stacking Focus & Depth of Field count Combining several frames focused at different distances into one image with depth of field no single exposure could achieve.

Focus Throw Focus & Depth of Field degrees The angle through which a focus ring must turn to travel from minimum distance to infinity.

Focus-by-wire Focus & Depth of Field A manual focus ring that sends an electronic signal to a motor rather than moving the optics mechanically.

Folder Structure Files, Metadata & Workflow The hierarchy of directories in which image files are physically stored.

Follow Focus Motion, Video & Creative Techniques degrees A geared mechanism that allows focus to be adjusted precisely and repeatably, usually by a second operator.

Food Photography Genres, Movements & Theory Photography of prepared food, for menus, packaging, editorial and cookbooks.

Foreground Interest Composition & Visual Design An element placed close to the camera to anchor the composition and establish depth.

Format Migration Files, Metadata & Workflow Converting archived files to a current format before the original becomes unreadable.

Foveon Sensor Sensors & Digital Capture A sensor that records all three colours at every location by stacking three photodiode layers at different depths in the silicon.

FPV Drone Motion, Video & Creative Techniques km/h A first-person-view drone flown through a headset showing the pilot's live camera feed, capable of fast, acrobatic movement.

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