Photography is full of terms that might sound technical or confusing to beginners, but they’re often simple concepts once explained. Let’s break down some commonly used photography jargon in easy-to-understand language, complete with examples to help you grasp their meaning.
1. Fast Lens
A “fast lens” doesn’t mean it’s speedy at capturing images! This term refers to lenses with a wide maximum aperture, like f/1.4 or f/2.0. These lenses let in more light, allowing you to shoot in low-light conditions without increasing your ISO (which can add noise). They’re also great for achieving a shallow depth of field, where the subject is sharp, and the background is beautifully blurred. They’re particularly useful for photographing fast-moving subjects, as the wide aperture allows for faster shutter speeds, freezing motion effectively.
2. Shooting Wide
“Shooting wide open” refers to using your lens at its widest aperture setting (like f/1.8 or f/2.0). This allows the maximum amount of light to enter the camera, making it excellent for low-light conditions or creating a beautifully blurred background (bokeh). It’s especially useful for isolating a subject by keeping it sharp while the rest of the image appears soft and dreamy.
This technique is ideal for portraits or artistic shots where you want the subject to stand out dramatically from the background.
3. Bokeh
Pronounced “boh-kay,” this term describes the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image. Good bokeh appears soft and pleasing, often resembling circular light spots, and is usually achieved with fast lenses at wide apertures. It’s the original “portrait mode” effect seen in smartphone cameras, where the subject is sharp, and the background is artistically blurred.
4. Focus Peaking
Focus peaking is a feature in many modern cameras that highlights the edges of objects in focus with a bright color (like red or yellow) on the screen. This is especially useful when using manual focus, helping you quickly see what part of your image is sharp.
5. Spray and Pray
This playful term refers to taking a burst of photos in quick succession, hoping one of them turns out well. It’s common when capturing fast-moving subjects, like kids, pets, or sports.
6. Dragging the Shutter
Dragging the shutter means using a slower shutter speed to intentionally blur parts of the image while keeping the subject sharp. This technique is often used in low light or for creative motion effects.
7. Hard Light
Hard light creates sharp shadows and strong contrast in your images. It’s often the result of direct sunlight or a bare light bulb. While it’s dramatic and bold, it can be challenging to work with compared to softer, diffused light.
Photography terms may sound intimidating at first, but understanding them can elevate your skills and confidence. Next time you hear someone talk about bokeh or dragging the shutter, you’ll know exactly what they mean—and maybe even impress them with your newfound knowledge!