A Glossary of Photographic Terms

Photography is associated with a seemingly endless and ever-changing list of jargon and technical terms. A glossary is an essential reference for someone new to photography, and also for those like myself who have both forgotten old meanings and are bewildered by new definitions.

Anastigmatic – To have been publicly disgraced for using an automatic camera.

Anti-halation layer – A chicken used to reduce flare on an image.

ASA – As Slow As. See box speed.

Bokeh – The part of a photograph that no-one looks at.

Box speed – The time taken from ordering to delivery, always too slow. See ASA.

Burning – Analogue delete button.

Camera – A period in history when photography was the pursuit of eccentrics.

Data back – Vertebral discomfort from intensive captioning and keywording.

DOF – The sound made on seeing a photograph with nothing in focus.

Flashbulb – Illegal planting of daffodils in a public space, not a photographic term at all.

Folding camera – To sit on ones iPhone.

F-stop – Stop whatever it is you’re doing right now and don’t start again.

Metadata – To give away copyright to a billionaire.

Ortho-Chromatique – Pioneering early 20th Century French street photographer. Painted cameras red to make them less conspicuous.

Pop – The sound of a film canister opening.

Screw mount – Xx xxxx x xxxxx (term censored).

Security camera – A camera carried as a protection against anxiety.

Sheet film – A film that turned out really badly.

Slōgas – Type of photographic paper, ideal for contact printing negatives by gaslight.

Viewfinder – Instagram.

Wide-angle – When it is better to use a shorter strap instead.

X-synch – To load photos automatically onto the internet site formerly known as Twitter.

Please feel free to suggest more in the comments…

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