Photography and Media Cheat Sheet 2026
The 30 highest-yield Photography and Media facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.
- What advantage does a 'continuous light' source have over a strobe in portrait photography? → It allows the photographer to see exactly how light falls on the subject before shooting
- What is the main purpose of using a light meter in a studio portrait session? → To measure incident light and determine the correct exposure settings
- What is the 'inverse square law' as applied to photographic lighting? → Light intensity falls off proportionally to the square of the distance from the source
- In studio photography, what does 'sync speed' refer to? → The fastest shutter speed at which the camera sensor is fully exposed during a flash
- What color temperature (in Kelvin) approximates direct midday sunlight? → 5500K
- What distinguishes 'macro photography' from other photographic genres? → Capturing extreme close-up images of small subjects at life-size or greater magnification
- What is 'backlighting' in photography? → Positioning the main light source behind the subject, facing the camera
- What is 'batch processing' in photo editing workflows? → Applying the same edits, export settings, or actions to multiple images simultaneously
- What is the function of a camera's aperture? → Controls the amount of light entering the lens
- When shooting tethered in a studio, what is the primary advantage for photographers? → Images transfer directly to a computer for immediate review on a large screen
- What is 'drone photography'? → Aerial photography captured by cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
- What is 'color grading' in photo and video post-production? → Adjusting and stylizing the colors and tones of an image for aesthetic or narrative effect
- What is 'visual weight' in photographic composition? → The perceived heaviness or importance of elements in a frame that affects balance
- What photographic lighting condition is often called the 'golden hour'? → The period shortly after sunrise or before sunset
- In portrait retouching, what does 'frequency separation' allow a retoucher to do? → Edit skin texture and skin tone/color independently on separate layers
- Under US copyright law, who typically owns the copyright in a photograph? → The photographer who created the image, from the moment of creation
- What genre of photography focuses on documenting real-world events, people, and social conditions? → Documentary photography
- Who founded Magnum Photos, the renowned international photography cooperative, in 1947? → Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David 'Chim' Seymour, and George Rodger
- What is 'butterfly lighting' (also called Paramount lighting) named after? → The butterfly-shaped shadow it creates under the subject's nose
- Who pioneered the 'zone system' for precise control of exposure and development in black-and-white photography? → Ansel Adams
- What does 'TTL' flash metering stand for? → Through-The-Lens
- What is 'high-key' lighting in photography? → A bright, low-contrast lighting style with minimal shadows and a light or white background
- What does 'Dutch angle' (or Dutch tilt) refer to in photography and cinematography? → Tilting the camera on its roll axis to create a diagonal horizon
- What does a 'beauty dish' produce compared to a standard softbox? → A harder, more defined light with a distinctive bright center
- What is the purpose of a 'v-flat' in a photography studio? → Two large boards hinged together used as a reflector or gobo
- What does 'depth of field' (DOF) describe in a photograph? → The range of distance within a scene that appears acceptably sharp
- What does 'vignetting' refer to in photography? → Darkening or lightening of the edges and corners of an image relative to the center
- In photography, what does 'cropping' achieve in composition? → Removing unwanted areas from the edges of an image to improve framing
- What is 'noise' in digital photography? → Random variation in brightness or color information, appearing as grain-like artifacts
- What is 'Rembrandt lighting' characterized by in portrait photography? → A small triangle of light on the shadow side cheek
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