Here you’ll find 56 Photography words that start with R, organized from “RAW” to “Rule of thirds”. They span file formats, camera features, composition tips, and editing vocabulary useful for shooting and sharing images.
Photography words that start with R are terms and abbreviations used across camera operation, composition, and post-processing. “RAW” is one notable example; it changed digital workflow by preserving sensor data for flexible editing.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Category, Example usage, and Related links.
Term: The word or abbreviation itself, so you can quickly locate the entry you need.
Definition: A concise one or two sentence meaning that explains the term and its practical relevance.
Category: A short label such as gear, composition, exposure, or editing, helping you focus on relevant topics.
Example usage: A brief real-world example showing how the term appears in shooting, editing, or describing images.
Related links: Links to tutorials, articles, or product pages where you can learn more or see the concept applied.
Photography words that start with R
| Term | Category | Abbrev./Alt. spellings | Typical units/values or related equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAW | File format | Raw file | Camera raw formats NEF CR2 ARW DNG |
| RAW+JPEG | Camera setting | RAW JPEG | Camera capture mode |
| RAW converter | Software | RAW processor, RAW developer | Lightroom Capture One DNG Converter |
| RAW processing | Post processing | Raw development | Editing workflow |
| Raster | Image type | Raster image | Pixels width x height DPI |
| Rasterization | Process | Rasterizing | Pixels DPI vector to raster tools |
| Radiometry | Science | Radiometric measurement | Watts steradian m2 photometric instruments |
| Radiance | Measurement | Radiometric radiance | Watts per steradian per square meter |
| Radiometric calibration | Calibration | Radiometric correction | Calibration targets gray card spectrometer |
| Rangefinder | Focusing system | RF | Optical rangefinder mechanism |
| Rangefinder camera | Camera type | Rangefinder body | Leica Nikon Canon rangefinder models |
| Reciprocity law | Exposure principle | Reciprocity | Exposure time aperture ISO |
| Reciprocity failure | Film phenomenon | Reciprocity loss | Long exposures seconds minutes film stocks |
| Red-eye | Artifact | Rede eye | Flash portrait photography |
| Red-eye reduction | Camera feature | Red eye mode | Preflash shutter curtain slow sync |
| Red-eye removal | Editing tool | Redeye removal | Photo editors healing brush clone tool |
| Red channel | Color channel | R channel | RGB image channels |
| Red filter | Lens filter | Red glass filter | Filter thread sizes mm |
| Reflector | Accessory | Bounce reflector | Collapsible reflector 5 in 8 ft |
| Reflection | Optical phenomenon | Specular reflection | Mirrors water glass surfaces |
| Reflective metering | Metering mode | Reflected light metering | Camera exposure meter TTL |
| Refraction | Optical effect | Light refraction | Prisms lenses water |
| Rear curtain sync | Flash mode | Second curtain sync | Flash sync modes camera menu |
| Rear LCD | Camera part | Rear screen | Articulating touchscreen display |
| Roll film | Film format | Rollfilm | 120 220 film formats |
| Rolling shutter | Artifact | RS skew | CMOS sensor readout |
| Remote release | Accessory | Cable release | Mechanical cable infrared wired |
| Radio trigger | Accessory | Wireless trigger | Radio remote flash trigger 2.4 GHz |
| Remote shutter | Feature | Shutter release remote | Bluetooth Wi Fi wired cable |
| Recompose | Technique | Recomposing | Focus and repositioning camera |
| Rule of thirds | Composition rule | Thirds rule | 9 grid overlay |
| Rembrandt lighting | Lighting pattern | Rembrandt portrait light | One light key with triangle catchlight |
| Rim light | Lighting effect | Edge light | Backlight hairlight kicker |
| Ring light | Lighting tool | Ringlamp | Diameter 6 to 18 inches LED |
| Ring flash | Flash type | Ring flash unit | On lens flash macro photography |
| Resolution | Image property | Image resolution | Pixels DPI megapixels |
| Resampling | Image process | Rescale | Bicubic bilinear nearest neighbor |
| Resize | Image edit | Image size change | Pixels percent inches DPI |
| Retouching | Post processing | Retouch | Spot healing clone dodge burn |
| Retouch | Action | Image retouch | Healing brush clone stamp liquify |
| Raster image | File type | Bitmap | PNG JPEG TIFF BMP |
| RGB | Color model | Red Green Blue | 8 bit 16 bit per channel color spaces |
| Recording format | Camera setting | Record format | RAW JPEG HEIF video codecs |
| Real-time preview | Camera feature | Live view | Electronic viewfinder EVF LCD |
| Reflex camera | Camera type | Single lens reflex SLR DSLR | Mirror mechanism pentaprism optical viewfinder |
| Rubber eyecup | Accessory | Eyepiece cup | Camera eyepiece rubber |
| Redscale | Film technique | Red scale | Film reversal emulsion flip |
| Region of interest | Image processing | ROI | Pixel coordinates bounding box |
| Raw histogram | Camera tool | RAW hist | Histogram live view exposure graph |
| Reflectance target | Calibration tool | Gray card | 18% gray white black targets |
| Reciprocal rule | Shutter rule | Reciprocal shutter rule | Shutter speed 1 focal length |
| Ring adapter | Accessory | Step up step down ring | Thread adapter mm sizes |
| Roll film holder | Accessory | Film spool holder | 120 220 backs medium format holders |
| Reflective card | Accessory | Reflector card | Silver gold white black surfaces |
| Rear curtain sync flash | Flash technique | Second curtain flash | Slow shutter speeds motion blur |
| RGB color space | Color profile | sRGB Adobe RGB ProPhoto RGB | Color gamut percent coverage |
Descriptions
RAW
Unprocessed sensor data file that preserves full dynamic range and color for detailed postprocessing
RAW+JPEG
Camera option to record both RAW and compressed JPEG files simultaneously for flexibility
RAW converter
Software that interprets RAW data to produce viewable images adjusting white balance exposure and color
RAW processing
Converting and adjusting RAW files to correct exposure color and prepare for export
Raster
Image composed of a pixel grid where resolution affects print and screen quality
Rasterization
Converting vector shapes to a raster pixel image for display or editing
Radiometry
Measurement of electromagnetic radiation energy relevant to sensor response and calibration
Radiance
Light energy emitted or reflected from a surface per unit area and angle used in precise exposure and calibration
Radiometric calibration
Process of adjusting images to match physical light measurements for accurate color and exposure
Rangefinder
Camera focusing method that measures distance using a dual image system often found in classic compact cameras
Rangefinder camera
Camera with a separate optical rangefinder for focusing rather than through the lens viewfinder
Reciprocity law
Principle that exposure equals aperture area times time useful for calculating equivalent exposures
Reciprocity failure
Film response where very long exposures become less efficient requiring extra exposure compensation
Red-eye
Red pupil effect in flash portraits caused by light reflecting from the retina behind the eye
Red-eye reduction
Camera function that uses preflashes or continuous light to reduce pupil size and lower red-eye risk
Red-eye removal
Postprocessing tool to detect and correct red-eye in portrait photos
Red channel
One of the three color channels in RGB images representing red luminance information
Red filter
Filter used in black and white photography to darken skies and increase contrast
Reflector
Portable surface used to bounce light onto a subject to fill shadows
Reflection
Light bouncing from a surface creating mirror like highlights or glare in an image
Reflective metering
Light metering that measures light reflected from the subject toward the camera
Refraction
Bending of light as it passes between materials that can cause distortion chromatic effects and focus shifts
Rear curtain sync
Flash timing that fires at the end of exposure producing motion trails behind moving subjects
Rear LCD
The main display on the back of a camera used for composition menu navigation and live view
Roll film
Medium format film wound on a spool used in many classic and modern film cameras
Rolling shutter
Skewed or distorted images from line by line sensor readout during fast motion or camera movement
Remote release
Device to trigger a shutter remotely to avoid camera shake during long exposures
Radio trigger
Wireless device that fires flashes or camera shutters over radio for off camera control
Remote shutter
Any control used to trigger the camera shutter from a distance
Recompose
Focusing then moving the camera to change framing without changing focus point
Rule of thirds
Composition guideline dividing frame into thirds to place subjects on intersections for balanced images
Rembrandt lighting
Portrait lighting style creating a small illuminated triangle on the cheek opposite the main light
Rim light
Back or side light that outlines a subject creating separation from the background
Ring light
Circular light that produces even shadowless illumination often used for portraits and macro
Ring flash
Circular flash that mounts around the lens for even close range illumination and minimal shadows
Resolution
Amount of image detail usually measured in pixels or dots per inch for print and display
Resampling
Changing pixel dimensions of an image which can affect sharpness and file size
Resize
Altering image pixel dimensions or print size often for web sharing or printing
Retouching
Manual or digital edits to remove blemishes improve skin tones and refine image details
Retouch
The act of making detailed edits to correct or enhance parts of an image
Raster image
Image composed of pixels with fixed resolution commonly used in photography exports
RGB
Additive color model used for screens where colors result from combining red green and blue light
Recording format
Camera option defining file container compression and color sampling for photos and video
Real-time preview
Live display of sensor output used for composition exposure and focus checks before capture
Reflex camera
Camera using a mirror to direct light to an optical viewfinder then flipping for exposure
Rubber eyecup
Soft cup that mounts to viewfinder for comfort and to block stray light
Redscale
Technique where film is exposed from the opposite side producing strong red orange color casts
Region of interest
Selected subset of an image for focused processing analysis or autofocus metering
Raw histogram
Histogram derived from RAW data offering a more accurate view of exposure latitude than JPEG histogram
Reflectance target
Standardized card used to calibrate exposure and white balance by known reflectance values
Reciprocal rule
Rule of thumb to avoid camera shake using shutter speed at least 1 over focal length
Ring adapter
Small metal ring used to adapt lens filter thread sizes or mount filters
Roll film holder
Accessory that holds roll film in medium format cameras or backs
Reflective card
Small rigid card used to bounce or flag light for portraits and product shots
Rear curtain sync flash
Using flash at end of exposure to capture motion trails ahead of subject for natural motion rendering
RGB color space
Defined range of colors used in capture editing and output to maintain consistent color reproduction