The Language of Photography (and how it can help you take better pictures!)

The Language of Photography
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Reprinted with permission from the Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com)

Multiple Choice Quiz: After You’ve Read the Quiz, Answer These Multiple Choice Questions

What is the purpose of learning all of the vocabulary concerning photography?
1. For technical reasons (that way you can learn all of the more intricate uses of the camera that non-professionals might not know about)
2. For practical reasons (it allows you to know the best way to use a camera and what to look for when buying)
3. For financial reasons (the better you understand the technology the better you will know what to look for and what to avoid when buying)
4. All of the above
The terms in this article have been picked because of their:
1. practicality: they are the most useful terms in photography.
2. commonality: these terms are the most used in photography.
3. beauty: these words have been picked because the techniques they refer to are some of the more visually appealing.
4. ease: they are accessible and easy terms to apply for beginners.
What does the term “golden hour” refer to?
1. The most appropriate time in the day for taking photographs.
2. The time of the day with the brightest lighting.
3. There is nothing vibrant about the light during the “golden hour”
4. Because the light from the sun during these hours helps to wash out the colors.
Why are pictures taken during the “golden hour” more vibrant than at other hours?
1. Because the light from the sun is less harsh during these hours
2. Because the light from the sun is harsher than normal during these hours
3. There is nothing vibrant about the light during the “golden hour”
4. Because the light from the sun during these hours helps to wash out the colors.
What is the “blue hour” also known as?
1. Midnight
2. Twilight
3. Early Morning
4. A Cloudless Day
Which of the following two elements are required to make full use of the lighting during “blue hour”?
1. A steady camera
2. A camera with a blue-light filter
3. A camera with a fish-eye lens
4. A fast camera
How is the “bokeh” effect achieved?
1. By using a camera with a very slow shutter speed.
2. By taking pictures with a light, light-permeable lens cap still on.
3. By changing the “focus” setting on your camera.
4. By using the large aperture of your lens, which gives the picture a shallow depth of field.
What is “contre jour” normally translated as?
1. “Against the light”
2. “Against the day”
3. “Against the sun”
4. “Into the light”
What is the disadvantage of a “contre jour” shot?
1. Such shots are normally too bright.
2. These shots are often drained of color.
3. “Contre jour” shots are often very unrealistic.
4. These shots have too much atmosphere.
What does the author identify “panning” as?
1. The easiest of all the techniques
2. The most enjoyable of all the techniques.
3. The most rare of all the techniques.
4. Not really a proper technique.
Vocabulary: Match the word with its appropriate definition!

Jargon
1. a type of alphabet that is purposefully hard to understand
2. the vocabulary particular to a special field
3. an older kind of language that is out of date
4. fictional languages used to confuse outsiders
Esoteric
1. things that are blatantly obvious and widely understood
2. anything relating to older photography
3. speculative vocabulary that hints at possible developments in a field.
4. something understandable only to those with a specific, obscure knowledge
Altitude
1. atmosphere
2. escalation
3. height
4. depth
Atmosphere
1. the tone; feeling or sense surrounding event
2. one’s feelings
3. the sky
4. a new idea
Blur
1. to become clearer
2. to become indistinct
3. to become invisible
4. to be exaggerated
Dynamism
1. unchanging
2. static structure
3. energy
4. predictability