powerpoint defining photographic terms

Photographic Terms

Long shot / Extreme long shotA long shot is a view of a scene that is shot from a considerable distance, so that people appear as indistinct shapes. An extreme long shot is a view from an even greater distance, in which people appear as small dots in the landscape if at all.

Close up / Extreme close upA close-up or close up in filmmaking, television production, still photography and the comic strip medium is a type of shot, which tightly frames a person or an object. Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium shots and long shots.

Panning and TrackingA panning shot is sometimes confused with a tracking shot, and is a shot which shows the scene from the specific point of view of one of the characters. A tracking shot or zoom that moves back from the subject to reveal the context of the scene.

Artificial lightingLight from a man-made source, usually restricted to studio photo lamp and domestic lighting. When used to describe film (also known as Type A or Type B) invariably means these types of lighting.

Depth of fieldDepth of field is when the shot is prioritizing one thing in the scene, and is usually a character. It does this by adding a blurred background, helping the camera to focus on one entity.

Fill-in lightAdditional light from a lamp, flash, or reflector; used to soften or fill in the shadows or dark picture areas caused by the brighter main light. Called fill-in flash when electronic flash is used.

Back lightingLight coming from behind the subject, toward the camera lens, so that the subject stands out vividly against the background. Sometimes produces a silhouette effect.

Lighting ratioThe ratio of the brightness of light falling on the subject from the main key light and other fill lights. A ratio of about 3:1 is normal for color photography, greater ratios may be used for effect in black-and-white work.

Tripod / MonopodA three-legged supporting stand used to hold the camera steady. Especially useful when using slow shutter speeds and/or telephoto lenses. Another is the monopod, a single legged tripod.