Technical terms in film photography
1. Aperture
The lens opening that controls how much light reaches the film, measured in f-stops. Lower f-stop numbers (like f/2.8) mean larger openings that allow more light in, while higher numbers (like f/16) mean smaller openings. Aperture directly affects depth of field—wider apertures create shallow focus with blurred backgrounds, while narrower apertures keep more of the scene sharp.
2. Shutter Speed
The length of time the camera's shutter stays open to expose film to light, measured in fractions of a second (like 1/500 or 1/30). Faster shutter speeds freeze motion and let in less light, while slower speeds capture motion blur and allow more light to reach the film.
3. ISO (Film Speed)
A measurement of how sensitive film is to light. Lower ISO films (like ISO 100) require more light but produce finer grain and sharper images. Higher ISO films (like ISO 3200) work well in dim conditions but show more visible grain in the final photograph.
4. Exposure
The total amount of light that reaches the film, determined by the combination of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Proper exposure creates an image that isn't too dark (underexposed) or too bright (overexposed).
5. Depth of Field
The in-focus area of a photograph, extending from the nearest to the farthest objects that appear in focus. This is influenced by aperture size, focal length, and the distance between camera and subject.
6. Focal Length
The distance from the optical center of the lens to the film plane when focused at infinity, measured in millimeters. This determines the lens's magnification and field of view – shorter focal lengths (like 28mm) capture wider scenes, while longer ones (like 200mm) magnify distant subjects.
7. Light Meter
A tool that measures the brightness of a scene to help determine correct exposure settings. Light meters can be built into cameras or used as separate handheld devices for more precise readings.
8. Film Format
The physical size and dimensions of the film used, such as 35mm (the most common), medium format (120 film), or large format (4x5 inches and larger). Larger formats generally provide higher image quality and resolution.
9. Developing
The chemical process that converts the latent image on exposed film into a visible photograph. Film is immersed in developer solution, which reacts with exposed silver halide crystals to create the image.
10. Grain
The visible texture in film photographs created by clumps of silver halide crystals in the emulsion. Grain becomes more noticeable with higher ISO films and can be influenced by film type and development methods.
11. Negative
The developed film strip containing inverted tones and colors of the photographed scene. Negatives serve as the source material for making prints or creating digital scans.
12. Composition
The intentional arrangement of visual elements within the frame. Strong composition uses techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and balance to create engaging photographs that guide the viewer's eye.
13. Viewfinder
The window or screen on a camera that shows what will be captured in the photograph. Different camera types use optical viewfinders, rangefinders, or ground glass screens to preview the composition.
14. Darkroom
A light-tight space where film is developed and prints are made. The room must be completely dark or lit only with specific safelights that won't expose light-sensitive materials.
15. Developer
The chemical solution used in the first stage of film processing to reveal the latent image. Different developer formulas affect contrast, grain structure, and overall image characteristics.
16. Stop Bath
An acidic solution used between developing and fixing that immediately halts the developing process, preventing overdevelopment and extending the life of the fixer.
17. Fixer
A chemical solution that removes unexposed and undeveloped silver halide crystals from film, making the image permanent and no longer sensitive to light.
18. Enlarger
An optical device that projects a magnified image from a negative onto light-sensitive paper to create prints larger than the original negative size.
19. Contact Sheet
A reference print made by placing negatives directly on photographic paper and exposing them to light, creating same-size positive images of every frame on a roll for easy review.
20. Dodging
A printing technique where light is blocked or reduced from specific areas during exposure to make those sections lighter in the final print, adding detail to shadows.
21. Burning
A printing technique where additional light is given to specific areas during exposure to make those sections darker in the final print, adding detail to highlights or adjusting tonal balance.
22. Push Processing
A development technique where film is processed for longer than standard times to compensate for underexposure, effectively increasing the film's ISO rating. This increases contrast and grain but allows shooting in lower light.
23. Pull Processing
A development technique where film is processed for less time than standard to compensate for overexposure, effectively decreasing the film's ISO rating. This reduces contrast and can produce finer grain.
24. Zone System
An exposure and development method created by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer that divides a scene's tonal range into eleven zones from pure black to pure white. Photographers meter specific zones and adjust exposure and development for precise tonal control.
25. Spot Metering
A metering mode that reads light from a very small area of the frame, typically 1-5% of the total scene. This allows precise exposure measurement of specific subjects regardless of surrounding brightness.
26. Bokeh
The aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas in a photograph, particularly how points of light are rendered. Bokeh characteristics depend on lens design, aperture blade shape, and optical quality.
27. Reciprocity Failure
A phenomenon where film doesn't respond to light as expected during very long exposures (typically longer than one second) or extremely short ones. This requires exposure compensation and can cause color shifts in color film.
28. Film Advance
The mechanism that moves film forward to the next unexposed frame after each shot. This can be a manual lever, thumb wheel, or motor drive depending on the camera.
29. Light Leak
Unwanted light entering the camera through deteriorated light seals, damaged body parts, or an improperly closed back, causing streaks, fogging, or unwanted exposure on the film.
30. Contact Printing
A method of making prints by placing a negative in direct contact with photographic paper and exposing it to light, producing a same-size print without enlargement.
31. View Camera
A large-format camera with independent movements of the lens and film planes, allowing precise control over perspective, focus plane, and depth of field. Commonly used for architecture, product photography, and fine art work.
32. Film Scanner
A device that converts film negatives or slides into digital files by capturing high-resolution images of the film with sensors and specialised light sources.
33. Split Toning
A technique that applies different colours to highlights and shadows of an image, either during printing using multiple toning baths or in post-processing. This creates distinctive moods and visual separation.
34. Cyanotype
An alternative printing process using iron-based chemistry that produces characteristic cyan-blue images when exposed to UV light. Popular for its simplicity and distinctive aesthetic.
35. Platinum Printing
An alternative printing process using platinum or palladium salts that creates prints with exceptional tonal range, archival permanence, and a distinctive matte surface quality.
36. Positive
A print or slide that shows tones and colours as they appeared in the original scene, as opposed to a negative, where tones are inverted.
37. Grain Focus Scope
A focusing technique and equipment used when enlarging prints, where the photographer can look closely at the negative and focus on the visible grain structure of the negative rather than the image itself, ensuring maximum sharpness.
38. Film Emulsion
The light-sensitive coating on film containing silver halide crystals suspended in gelatin. When exposed to light and developed, these crystals form the photographic image.
39. Film Base
The transparent plastic support material that carries the light-sensitive emulsion. It provides physical stability and typically includes an anti-halation backing to prevent light reflection.
40. Safelight
A darkroom light source that uses specific wavelengths or filters that don't expose certain photographic materials, such as red-wavelength. This allows photographers to see while working with some specific film or paper in the darkroom, without exposing the film or paper to light.