Evening star., 1950-07-02
Camera Angles
Another Glossary Of Photographic Terms
BY Alexander j. Wedderbum
curuior of Photography
The Smithsonian institution

The Suithsor
Another installment of our
glossary of Photographic terms is
in order. It is hoped that our
Interpretation of phrases, words
and terms that you run across
in everyday conversations with
other photographers and in books,
magazines, and this column will
make it easier for you to pick UP
a working knowledge of the pho
tcgraphers' jargon.
Filter factor" is a term denot-
ing a number by which the ex-
posure must be multiplied for a
particular film and filter COM
bination. Filters absorb certain
amount of light rejecting from
the subject. It is apparent that
this will alter the exposure that
would be given without the filter.
To compensate for the light abb
sorbed, we must give correspond
ingly greater exposure as deter
mined by the amount absorbed. !.
AS an example, If you are shooting
at 1/50th of a second without a
filter you would, with filter hav-
ing factor of two, double the ex-
posure.
A fine grain developer" is a
developing solution specially COM
pounded to prevent clumping OF
the grains of a film. Fine grain
development is a great boon to
those who use very small films
that are to be used for enlarging
to much greater sizes. Ordinary
development of 35-mm. and COM
parable size films will usually per-
nit the clumping of grains that
becomes increasingly apparent as
the image size is increased. Some
photographers object to grain in
their prints. Others consider
grain an asset to pictorialism.
The Fixed Focus Lens.
Most inexpensive amateur cam
eras have a "fixed focus" lens.
This Is simply a lens that permits
no adjustment for focusing. This
is of little importance as the lens
is always in focus except for ex-
treme close-ups. A short focal
length and small aperture and
good depth of field make these
lenses fully suitable for snapshot
work, portraiture. landscapes and
almost any kind of picture that
does not require the stopping OF
motion. Even extreme close-ups
can be made with the aid OF a
supplementary attachment.
A subject is said to be back
lighted" when the sun or other
source of illumination is behind
the subject. You have probably
noted this effect when the sun
behind a person gives a sort of
halo appearance around the head.
A "slide lighting" occurs when the
illumination strikes the subject
from one side or the other. Side
lightings are effective by Great
ing the illusion Of depth and will
bring out the texture of sub
ject. A front lighting" is pro-
duced by having the light source
behind the photographer. Al-
though commonly used for snap
shots it is the least desirable be-
cause of its flattening effect on
the scene. 1
Contrast paper" is a contact
or enlarging Photographic paper
that has a limited tone scale.
1t is used to produce q normal
contrast print from negative
which is fiat or lacking In tone
graduation. Printing and enlarg-I
ing papers are made in varying
contrast degrees which are desig-
mated by the numbers 0 to 5.
Number 2 paper is of normal
contrast and is used to obtain
normal prints from normal mega
tives. The lower numbers are
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