Browse All 840 Photography Terms A–Z

Metadata Preset Files, Metadata & Workflow A saved template of creator, copyright and contact fields applied automatically on import.

Metamerism Colour & Colour Management The phenomenon in which two samples match under one light source but differ visibly under another.

Meter Calibration Constant Exposure & Metering cd·s/m² The factor K in the exposure equation that ties a measured luminance to a recommended camera setting. N² / t = L × S / K

Metering Mode Exposure & Metering The pattern a camera uses to sample scene brightness when calculating an automatic exposure.

Micro Four Thirds Cameras, Formats & Systems mm An open sensor and mount standard using a 17.3 by 13 millimetre sensor with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 2× crop factor. Crop factor = 2.0

Microlens Array Sensors & Digital Capture A layer of tiny lenses, one above each photosite, that gathers light which would otherwise fall on the gaps between them.

Microprism Collar Focus & Depth of Field A ring of tiny prisms around a focusing screen's centre that shimmers when the image is out of focus and clears when it is sharp.

Middle Grey Exposure & Metering % reflectance The reference tone, reflecting about 18 per cent of the light that strikes it, that every reflected-light meter is calibrated to reproduce. L* ≈ 50

Minimalism Composition & Visual Design A compositional approach built on very few elements, large areas of empty space and simple graphic forms.

Minimum Focus Distance Focus & Depth of Field m The closest a subject can be to the sensor plane and still be brought into focus.

Mired Colour & Colour Management mired A unit of reciprocal colour temperature that makes colour shifts uniform in perceptual terms, used to specify filters and gels. mired = 1,000,000 / K

Mirror Lock-up Cameras, Formats & Systems A function that raises an SLR's mirror in a separate step before the shutter fires, so its vibration has time to settle.

Mirrorless Camera Cameras, Formats & Systems An interchangeable-lens camera with no reflex mirror, where the sensor feeds an electronic viewfinder or rear screen directly.

Mixed Lighting Colour & Colour Management K A scene illuminated by two or more sources of different colour temperature, which cannot all be neutralised at once.

Model Release Files, Metadata & Workflow A signed agreement in which a recognisable person consents to the commercial use of their image.

Modelling Light Lighting & Flash W A continuous lamp built into a flash head that previews where the shadows will fall.

Modulation Transfer Function Optics, Lenses & Filters % contrast A measurement of how faithfully a lens transfers the contrast of fine detail from subject to image, plotted against position in the frame. MTF = (I_max − I_min) / (I_max + I_min)

Moiré Sensors & Digital Capture A false pattern of wavy bands or colour that appears when fine repeating detail in a subject interferes with the sensor's pixel grid.

Monitor Calibration Colour & Colour Management K, cd/m², gamma Measuring a display with an instrument and building a profile so its output matches known standards for white point, brightness and tone response.

Monolight Lighting & Flash Ws (watt-seconds) A self-contained studio flash with its power supply, controls and modelling lamp built into a single head.

Monopod Cameras, Formats & Systems kg (load rating) A single-legged support that removes vertical camera shake while leaving the photographer free to move and pan.

Motion Blur Motion, Video & Creative Techniques px The smearing of a moving subject across the frame during exposure.

Mounting Printing, Display & Output Attaching a print to a rigid backing so it stays flat and can be handled or framed.

Moustache Distortion Optics, Lenses & Filters % A complex distortion combining barrel and pincushion in the same frame, so lines curve one way near the centre and back the other near the edge.

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