Photo Glossary

B (Bulb)

A shutter-speed setting on an adjustable camera that allows for time exposures. When set on B, the shutter will stay open as long as the shutter release button remains depressed.

B&W

Black and white.

Back focus

It is the distance between the lens rear element and the image plane.

Backdrop

It is the background in a studio. Usually made of cloth or paper.

Background

It is the area behind the main subject.

Backlighting

Light coming from behind the photo subject.

Balance

Placement of colors, light and dark masses, or large and small objects in a picture to create harmony and equilibrium.

Ballistic photography

It is photography of weapons, ammunition and projectiles usually used for analysis.

Beam splitter

It is mirror and prism system capable of partly reflecting and transmitting light.

Bit

Short for binary digit, which is a computer value of zero or one, on or off; this is the most basic language used by computers.

Bit depth

Refers to the color or grayscale of an individual pixel. A pixel with 8 bits per color produces a 24-bit image; 8 bits multiplied by three colors (red, green, and blue) equals 24 bits.

Blur

A lack of sharpness in the image. Caused by movement of the camera or a missed focusing.

Boke (Bokeh)

Bokeh describes the rendition of out-of-focus points of light. Differing amounts of spherical aberration alter how lenses render out-of-focus points of light, and thus their bokeh.

Bounce light

Light bounced into a reflective surface, such as a wall, a ceiling, a studio umbrella, a card, an aluminized reflector, to illuminate a subject with softer light, reducing harsh shadows.

Bracketing

Taking two or three extra shots of the same subject with different exposure settings to ensure a perfect exposure.

Brightfield

Method of illumination used in photomicrography which will show a specimen against a white or light background.

Brightness

It is the amount of light reflected by a surface or the luminance of a color
or the intensity or amount of light emitted by a light source.

Brightness range

It is the difference in illumination between the brightest and the darkest areas of a scene.

Broad lighting

It is the portrait lighting. Light falls mainly on the side of the face that is closest to the camera. Good for subjects with more narrow face.

BSI

Abbreviation for British Standards Institute.

Buffer

Temporary memory area that stores data before it is written into a permanent area. In digital cameras, the memory where images are stored before they are written to the memory card.

Burning

Selectively darkening part of areas in a photo with an image editing program.

Butterfly lighting (or paramount lighting)

It is a female glamour lighting style. It works best for women with strong cheek bones. This lighting is not typically used with male subjects. The key light is placed high with the fill light directly under it. Keeping the light close to the subject, watch for the butterfly shaped shadow to form under the nose. The fill light is placed at roughly head height and can be accompanied or replaced by a reflector under the face to lighten the shadows under the chin and lower cheek.