LAW OF REFLECTION–The angle of reflection is
equal to the angle of incidence.
LENS–In photography, the optical instrument or
arrangement of light-refracting elements in a group;
the whole designed to collect and distribute rays of
light in the formation of an image.
LENS, COMPOUND–A lens composed of two or more
separate elements with a common axis. (PIA)
LENS, MIRROR–One employing reflecting elements
in addition to light-transmitting elements; usually to
obtain compactness in telephoto objectives. (PIA)
LENS ELEMENTS–Individual simple lenses that are
combined to form a compound lens. (PIA)
LIGHT, AMBIENT–Surrounding light; the general
room illumination or light level.
LIGHT, DIFFUSED–Light that does not reach the
subject in a single beam but is scattered by a
medium, such as clouds, ground glass, spun glass,
or thin fabric.
LIGHT, FILL-IN–Secondary illumination directed to
illuminate shadow areas and avoid excess contrast.
Also known as fill light. (PIA)
LIGHT, INCIDENT–The light that strikes an object,
distinguished from the light reflected from or
transmitted by the object. (PIA)
LIGHT, POLARIZED–Light in which the electric
vector of the wave vibrates in one plane, rather than
all planes, as it does in ordinary (unpolarized) light.
Light may become polarized by reflection or by
passing through optical devices or sheets known as
“polarizers.”
LIGHT BOX–A device for viewing transparencies or
negatives, providing diffuse illumination evenly
dispersed over the viewing area.
LIGHT SENSITIVE–Materials that undergo changes
when exposed to light. The commonly used
photographic light-sensitive materials are the silver
halides used in films and papers, diazo dyes, and
bichromated gelatin. (PIA)
LIGHTING, FLAT–Illumination of a photographic
subject often achieved by frontlighting or multiple
sources with diffusers that minimizes contrasts and
shadows. (PIA)
LIGHTING, FRONT–Illumination on the subject
coming from near the camera position. (PIA)
LIGHTING, INDIRECT–Illumination by means of
light reflected to the scene from shielded sources.
LIGHTING, LOW KEY–A type of lighting which
when applied to a scene results in a picture having
gradations from middle gray to black, with
comparatively limited areas of light gray and
whites.
LINE COPY–A document consisting essentially of two
tones (such as black and white, black and tinted, and
brown and buff) without intermediate tones.
LITER–A unit of capacity in the metric system,
equivalent to 1.056 quarts in United States
customary liquid measurement. (PIA)
LOADING–The insertion of photographic film, plates,
or paper into holders, hangers, magazines, and so
forth, before exposure or processing.
LONG SHOT–In motion pictures, a scene filmed at a
considerable distance from the camera to establish
locale. Also applied to scenes which show
full-length figures, as opposed to waist-length, head
and shoulders, and so forth.
LOW-ANGLE (SHOT)–Where camera is placed low
and the scene is photographed at an upward angle.
LUX–Lumen per square meter, a unit of illuminance.
MASK–(l) An opaque sheet of thin material used to
limit the area of a picture or to secure white margins
on a photograph. (2) A supplementary negative or
positive used for the purpose of contrast correction
in black-and-white prints. (3) A supplementary
positive either on a separate sheet or incorporated
in an integral color tripack negative for the purpose
of color correction. (PIA)
MATTE–A relatively dull surface on photographic
prints, having a very low level of specular
reflection.
MATTE BOX–A device attached to the front of a
camera to hold mattes, filters, diffusing screens, and
so forth, in front of the lens.
MEDIUM–Any substances or space through which
light can travel.
METER–A unit of length measurement in the metric
system approximately equal to 39.37 inches.
METOL-HYDROQUINONE (M-Q)–Designating
photographic developers that use a combination of
metol and hydroquinone as the developing agent.
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