Basic Digital Photography Exam MTSU Fall 2026

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, camera components, metering modes, lens characteristics, and exposure settings for the Basic Digital Photography Exam.

Camera

A dark box with a light/lens and photosensitive material to capture a scene.

Photography Etymology

Writing or drawing with light, derived from Greek origins (photo + graph).

Pinhole Camera

A small box with photosensitive material and no lens; smaller holes create sharper images.

Camera Obscura

A device utilizing mirrors and light to achieve accurate perspective.

DSLR Meaning

Digital Single Lens Reflex.

DSLR Lens

Captures light.

DSLR Shutter

Allows light to pass through to the sensor.

DSLR Mirror

Transports light through the camera to the pentaprism.

Aperture

The lens opening light travels through, tracked in F-stops (larger number equals smaller hole).

Shutter Speed

How long the sensor is exposed to light.

ISO

Controls sensor light sensitivity; standardized globally by the International Standardization Organization.

Depth of Field

The amount of the subject in focus in front of the camera.

Exposure

How much light is captured in a shutter release (under, over, proper).

Exposure Triangle Elements

Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Equivalent Exposure

Two different camera settings that produce the same amount of light.

Metering

Measuring the amount of light coming in through the lens.

Matrix/Evaluative Metering

Averages all the light in a space.

Center Weighted Metering

Reads the light in the center of the frame.

Spot Metering

Reads the light in the specific spot you tell it to.

Focal Length

Distance between the sensor and the nodal point where light converges and flips.

Lens Focal Length Types

Long is "telephoto", short is "wide", and medium is "normal".

Prime vs Variable Lens

Prime has a fixed focal length; variable can zoom in and out.

Camera Modes

Manual (M), Program (P), Aperture Priority (AValue), and Shutter Priority (Time Value).

RAW File Type

A full-sized captured image that allows for greater editing.

JPEG File Type

A compressed file recording camera settings while maintaining image quality.

Histogram

A graphic representation of the tonal range of a photo.

Protecting Highlights

Preventing overexposed pixels from losing detail by turning into pure white.

Minimum Focusing Distance

The closest an object can be to the camera while remaining in focus.