Mixed Deck — All Photography and Media Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real Photography and Media practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All Photography and Media Topics flashcards as text
What is 'frequency separation' used for in portrait retouching?
Answer: Splitting texture (high frequency) from color/tone (low frequency) for independent retouching
Frequency separation splits an image into texture detail (high frequency) and color/tone (low frequency) layers, allowing skin retouching without destroying natural texture.
What is 'tone mapping' in HDR photography?
Answer: The process of compressing a very wide HDR tonal range into a displayable range for standard monitors or prints
Tone mapping compresses the extremely wide dynamic range of an HDR image into a range that standard displays can show, deciding how bright and dark extremes are represented.
What is 'noise' in digital photography?
Answer: Random variation in brightness or color information, appearing as grain-like artifacts
Digital noise is the random luminance or color variation in an image, similar to grain in film, caused primarily by high ISO settings or long exposures.
What is 'negative space' in photography?
Answer: Empty or minimally detailed areas surrounding the main subject
Negative space is the empty or uncluttered area around the main subject that gives the subject room to breathe and can enhance overall composition.
What is 'photo syndication' in the media industry?
Answer: The licensing or distribution of photographs to multiple outlets or publications
Photo syndication is the process of licensing the same photograph to multiple media outlets or publications, typically through a wire service or photo agency.
What color temperature (in Kelvin) approximates direct midday sunlight?
Answer: 5500K
Direct midday sunlight has a color temperature of approximately 5500K, which is considered a neutral daylight standard.
What is 'wet plate collodion' photography, popular in the 1850s–1880s?
Answer: A photographic process using glass or metal plates coated with collodion and silver salts, prepared and exposed while wet
The wet plate collodion process required coating a glass or metal plate with collodion, sensitizing it with silver nitrate, exposing it while still wet, and developing it immediately — all within minutes.
What is 'high-key' lighting in photography?
Answer: A bright, low-contrast lighting style with minimal shadows and a light or white background
High-key lighting uses bright, even illumination with minimal shadows to create a light, airy, and often upbeat mood, common in commercial and beauty photography.
What is the 'Golden Ratio' (or Golden Spiral) as used in photographic composition?
Answer: A mathematical proportion (~1:1.618) found in nature that guides aesthetically pleasing composition
The Golden Ratio (phi ≈ 1.618) describes a proportion found throughout nature and art that photographers use as a guide for placing subjects and compositional elements.
What does 'sRGB' vs 'Adobe RGB' refer to in digital photography?
Answer: Two different color spaces with different gamut (range of reproducible colors)
sRGB and Adobe RGB are color spaces defining different gamuts; Adobe RGB encompasses a wider range of colors, particularly in greens and cyans, suited for print workflows.
In photography, what does 'cropping' achieve in composition?
Answer: Removing unwanted areas from the edges of an image to improve framing
Cropping removes distracting or unnecessary elements from the edges of a photograph, tightening the composition and better directing the viewer's attention.
What is the function of a hair light in a portrait studio setup?
Answer: To separate the subject from the background by lighting the hair
A hair light is placed above and behind the subject to add definition and separation between the hair and background, giving depth to the portrait.
What is the 'Exposure Triangle' composed of?
Answer: Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
The Exposure Triangle consists of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO — the three camera settings that together control the exposure of an image.
What does 'clipping' mean when it appears on a photo histogram?
Answer: Tonal values that have been pushed beyond the recoverable range — pure black or pure white with no detail
Clipping occurs when shadow or highlight values exceed the sensor's range, resulting in areas of pure black or pure white with no recoverable detail.
What is the recommended approach to achieve a 'blown-out white' background in a studio portrait?
Answer: Light the background separately with enough power to overexpose it by 1–2 stops
To achieve a blown-out white background, it must be lit separately with lights powerful enough to overexpose the background by at least one stop relative to the subject exposure.
What is 'portrait photography' and what is its primary focus?
Answer: Capturing the likeness, personality, and emotion of individuals or groups through carefully composed images
Portrait photography focuses on capturing the personality, mood, and likeness of a subject — whether in a studio or environmental setting — making the subject's character central to the image.
What does 'white balance' control in a photograph?
Answer: The color temperature/tint of the image to render whites as neutral
White balance adjusts the color temperature of an image so that white objects appear neutral white under different lighting conditions.
What does 'full-frame' refer to in digital camera terminology?
Answer: A sensor the same size as 35mm film (36x24mm)
Full-frame refers to a digital sensor that matches the dimensions of traditional 35mm film at 36x24mm.
What is the 'background' in photography and why does it matter in composition?
Answer: The area behind the subject that affects context, clutter, and how well the subject stands out
The background provides context for the subject and, if busy or distracting, can undermine the composition; a clean or complementary background strengthens the subject's impact.
What is 'symmetry' as a compositional element in photography?
Answer: Placing the subject so one half of the image mirrors the other
Symmetrical composition places the subject or divides the frame so that one side mirrors the other, creating a sense of balance, order, and visual harmony.