The ABC of Photography – R
R Rangefinder A camera with a separate lens and viewfinder, linked by a rangefinder mechanism. When looking through the viewfinder, two separate images are shown, one of which moves when the…
The ABC of Photography – Q
Q Quick-release plate A facility for attaching and removing a camera from a tripod. A plate attaches to the camera using the traditional screw-in arrangement, then the plate slots into a…
The ABC of Photography – P
The ABC of Photography – P P Pack shot A short form for ‘packaging shot’, this is a photograph of a product with labeling clearly displayed and is usually taken…
The ABC of Photography – O
The ABC of Photography – O O OIS Optical image stabilization, the system used on Panasonic lenses to reduce camera shake. OLED Stands for organic light-emitting diode. OLED screens…
The ABC of Photography – N
N Naturalistic photography An approach put forward in the 1880s by the English photographer Peter Henry Emerson (1856-1936). He said that photographs should be direct and simple and reflect nature. He…
The ABC of Photography – M
M Macro The term generally used to describe equipment for taking pictures at a closer shooting distance than usual, to provide a bigger image of the subject. Historically speaking, the…
The ABC of Photography – JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
A file format used for digital images. A variable amount of compression can be used to vary the amount of detail stored and the resulting file size. It’s the standard…
The ABC of Photography – Joiner
A term coined by the artist David Hockney (born 1937) to describe his photo-collage work in the 1980s. Hockney’s joiners combined overlapping prints, made at slightly different times and from…
The ABC of Photography – Jack
A socket into which a plug is inserted to make a connection, also known as a ‘female’ connector. A jack on a camera is used for connecting an accessory such…
The ABC of Photography – ISO
Stands for International Organisation for Standardisation. In photography, it refers to a system for measuring and specifying the sensitivity of digital imaging systems and photographic films. The higher the ISO…