Glossary of
Photographic Terms
Contrast
The range of tonality in the print.
A high contrast photograph is one with not much middle tone but extremes
in blacks and whites. A low contrast picture is missing both the
bright highlights and dark shadows with only the middle tones
represented.
Crop
When taking a photograph or printing a
negative, there may be more visual information than the photographer
desires. In this case, the photographer will select the portion he
or she wants in the photograph, thereby cropping out the rest.
Enlarger
An enlarger in an optical device used to
send light through a negative and project an image using a lens onto
photographic paper for the purpose of producing a photographic print.
Film
Film refers to flexible plastic sheets or
rolls that are loaded into a camera. A light sensitive emulsion
coats the plastic. Film was introduced in the late 1880s as an
alternative to glass plates. It was much lighter and less fragile
than glass. A film canister is used to hold roll film. Film is
exposed in a camera and processed to produce a negative from which
positive prints can be made.
Glass Plate
Before the introduction of film,
photographers used glass plates covered with light- sensitive emulsion to
obtain negatives. Great care was necessary to prevent breakage.
Light-sensitive Emulsion
Glass plates, film and
photographic paper are covered with a coating that is sensitive to light.
Emulsion captures the image when a photograph is taken. Once exposed
to light, emulsion containing an image is invisible until developed. Once
developed, the image is reversed - light areas become dark and dark areas
appear clear on the developed negative. When a negative is placed in
contact with photographic paper and exposed or when a negative image is
projected onto photographic paper, the image is reverse again and becomes
a positive following processed.
Lens
A clear glass optical camera device used to
focus an image on film. Also use in an enlarger to project an image from a
negative onto photographic paper to make a print.
Light Source
Any source of visible light. The
sun, camera flash or lamp are examples of light sources.
Negative
Developed plates or film that contains a
reversed tone image of an original scene. Negatives are used to produce
prints.
Photographic Paper
Special paper for printing
photographs covered with a light sensitive emulsion.
Processing
Developing, fixing, and washing exposed
photographic plates or film to produce a negative or developing, fixing
and washing exposed photographic paper to produce a positive from a
negative.
Safe Light
A darkroom lamp fitted with a filter to
screen light rays to which paper is sensitive. Film must be handled in
darkness. A safe light provides just enough light to safely work in the
darkroom to produce prints.
Shutter
A camera device used to regulate the
duration of exposure. When open, the shutter allows light into a
camera to record an image onto film. The longer the shutter is open,
the more light gets into a camera.
Tone
A shade of colour. For example: light
grey, dark grey and medium grey.
Tripod
A tripod is a three-legged stand used to
keep a camera steady when taking a photograph. By using a tripod,
photographs will not be blurry due to camera movement.
| 
Print this information
sheet.