Every photography term,
clearly explained.
840 curated entries across 14 areas — each with a plain-English definition, the rule behind it and a real shooting example.
Laser Exposure Print
A chromogenic print exposed by red, green and blue lasers or LEDs scanning across photographic paper under digital control.
Browse by subject
Fourteen areas of photography, from exposure and optics to printing.
Cameras, Formats & Systems
120 Roll Film · 35 mm Format · Action Camera and more
60 termsColour & Colour Management
3D LUT · Adobe RGB (1998) · Analogous Colours and more
60 termsComposition & Visual Design
Aerial Perspective · Aspect Ratio · Asymmetrical Balance and more
60 termsExposure & Metering
Aperture · Aperture Priority · Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) and more
60 termsFiles, Metadata & Workflow
3-2-1 Backup Rule · Archive · AVIF and more
60 termsFilm, Darkroom & Historic Processes
Agitation · Albumen Print · Autochrome and more
60 termsFocus & Depth of Field
AF Microadjustment · AF-assist Illuminator · Animal and Bird Detection and more
60 termsGenres, Movements & Theory
Abstract Photography · Advertising Photography · Aerial Photography and more
60 termsLighting & Flash
Background Light · Backlighting · Barn Doors and more
60 termsMotion, Video & Creative Techniques
180-degree Shutter Rule · 360-degree Photography · Bitrate and more
60 termsOptics, Lenses & Filters
Acutance · Airy Disc · Anamorphic Lens and more
60 termsPost-Processing & Retouching
Added Grain · Adjustment Layer · AI Denoise and more
60 termsPrinting, Display & Output
Alpha-cellulose Paper · Baryta Paper · Black Point Compensation and more
60 termsSensors & Digital Capture
Aliasing · Amp Glow · Analogue Gain and more
The numbers behind the picture
One rule or formula worth memorising from each corner of the dictionary.
APS-C
A sensor format roughly 23.5 by 15.6 millimetres, giving a crop factor of about 1.5× against full frame.
Colour & Colour ManagementCIELAB
A device-independent colour model with one lightness axis and two opponent colour axes, designed so equal numerical steps look…
Composition & Visual DesignAspect Ratio
The proportional relationship between an image's width and its height.
Exposure & MeteringAperture
The adjustable opening inside a lens that controls how much light passes through to the sensor, and with it the depth of field.
Files, Metadata & Workflow3-2-1 Backup Rule
The guideline of keeping three copies of data, on two different media types, with one copy off-site.
Film, Darkroom & Historic ProcessesC-41 Process
The standardised chemical process for developing colour negative film.