This list includes 50 Photography words that start with T, from “T-stop” to “Two-stage shutter”. They cover technical and common vocabulary for exposure, lenses, lighting, and image editing. Photographers and creators use these terms for learning, writing, and troubleshooting gear.

Photography words that start with T are concise entries explaining single photography terms and how you use them. Many of these terms, like “T-stop,” have roots in cinema and lens design, showing photography’s technical heritage.

Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, and Context.

Term: The single-word or phrase you search for, so you can quickly locate specific entries and vocabulary.

Definition: A concise one- or two-sentence explanation that tells you what the term means and when it applies.

Context & usage: Practical notes, examples, and related terms to help you apply the word in shooting, editing, or writing.

Photography words that start with T

Term Type Abbreviation/variants Typical values/units Description
Tripod equipment tripod stand, legs 1–2 m height, 3 legs A three-legged support that stabilizes cameras for sharp images, long exposures and consistent framing.
Tripod head equipment head, ball head, pan-tilt head ball, pan-tilt, gimbal types The part that mounts on a tripod and lets you precisely aim and lock the camera orientation.
Tripod collar equipment lens collar lens-specific, common on telephoto lenses A mount ring that lets heavy lenses attach to a tripod for better balance and rotation between portrait/landscape.
Tethering technique tethered shooting USB, USB-C, Thunderbolt, Wi‑Fi Connecting a camera to a computer or tablet so images appear instantly for review, backup, or remote control.
Tethered transfer workflow live transfer, tethered download USB, Wi‑Fi, Ethernet The live transfer of images from camera to computer during a shoot for immediate viewing and storage.
Tilt technique/equipment lens tilt, camera tilt degrees of tilt Rotating a lens or camera around the horizontal axis to change plane of focus or creative perspective distortion.
Tilt-shift lens/type TS lens, tilt & shift tilt degrees, shift mm A lens allowing independent tilt and shift movements to control perspective and plane of focus for miniaturization or architecture work.
Telephoto equipment/concept tele, long lens 85–800 mm focal lengths Lenses with long focal lengths that magnify distant subjects and compress perspective, common in sports and wildlife.
Teleconverter equipment TC, extender 1.4×, 2× magnification An optical adapter that increases a lens’s focal length at the cost of light (about 1–2 stops) and sometimes sharpness.
T-stop measurement T number T1.4, T2, T4 A lens aperture measurement that indicates actual light transmission, used in cinema lenses to show exposure more accurately than f-stop.
TTL abbreviation/setting Through-The-Lens, Through-the-lens TTL flash, TTL metering Flash metering system that measures light through the camera lens to automatically adjust flash output for correct exposure.
Timer setting/feature self-timer 2 s, 5 s, 10 s A camera function that delays the shutter release for hands-free shots, self-portraits, or to avoid camera shake from pressing the button.
Time-lapse technique timelapse interval seconds, duration minutes Capturing a sequence of frames at set intervals to show slow processes sped up when played back as a video.
Time exposure technique long exposure, bulb exposure seconds to minutes, hours Exposures lasting seconds or longer to record motion blur, light trails, or very low-light scenes.
Time value (Tv) setting/mode Tv, Shutter Priority shutter-priority mode A camera mode where the photographer sets shutter speed and the camera selects aperture for correct exposure; “Tv” used by some brands.
Timecode measurement/metadata TC SMPTE timecode A frame-accurate timestamp used in video to synchronize footage, audio, and edits.
TIFF file format TIF, Tagged Image File Format 8-bit, 16-bit, lossless A high-quality image file format that supports lossless data and high bit depths for editing and archiving.
TLR equipment/type Twin-lens reflex classic medium-format cameras A camera design with two lenses: one for viewing and one for taking the picture, common in older medium-format photography.
Tracking autofocus mode AF tracking, continuous AF AF-C, Servo An autofocus mode that follows moving subjects so the camera adjusts focus continuously while the subject moves.
Tracking shot technique camera tracking dolly, gimbal, vehicle movement A moving-camera technique that follows or parallels a subject to create motion and cinematic engagement.
Trap focus technique trap-focus manual focus, auto-release A technique where the camera fires automatically when a subject moves into a preset focus plane, useful for action sequences.
Tonal range concept tones, tonal values highlights, midtones, shadows The span of brightness from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights captured or displayed in an image.
Tone curve post-processing curves input/output 0–255, RGB channels A tool that adjusts brightness and contrast by remapping tonal values across shadows, midtones and highlights.
Tone mapping post-processing tonemap HDR to SDR conversion The process of converting high-dynamic-range data to displayable images by compressing contrast while preserving local details.
Toning post-processing/process sepia toning, chemical toning sepia, selenium, gold Chemical or digital processes that change photographic image colors and permanence, traditionally used to alter mood or archival qualities.
Tint post-processing color tint green–magenta slider, values Small color shift applied to shadows or highlights to correct color balance or create a stylistic look.
Temperature measurement color temperature Kelvin (K), 2,700–6,500 K typical A measure in Kelvin describing light color from warm (lower K) to cool (higher K), used to white-balance images.
Tungsten light type tungsten bulb ~2,700 K Artificial light source with warm color temperature; cameras often have a tungsten white balance preset to correct orange cast.
Thermal noise measurement/noise sensor noise increases with ISO, longer exposures Random sensor-generated noise that adds grain and color speckles, worsening at high ISO or long exposures.
Threshold post-processing binary threshold 0–255, percent A function that converts pixels above/below a set brightness into pure black or white for high-contrast, graphic effects.
Thumbnail file/preview thumb 100–400 px typical A small preview image used for browsing and quick identification of photos on cameras and computers.
Test chart equipment color chart, target ColorChecker, grayscale, resolution charts Printed targets used to evaluate color accuracy, exposure, resolution and lens performance in controlled tests.
Test shot workflow proof shot, test exposure quick exposure, sample frame A preliminary image taken to check exposure, composition or lighting before final shots.
Three-point lighting technique key, fill, rim ratios e.g., 2:1 key:fill A basic studio lighting setup using key, fill and back lights to model subjects with depth and separation.
Tiny planet technique projection effect 360 panorama stitch A creative spherical panorama projection that turns a 360° panorama into a circular “tiny planet” image.
Tonality concept tone, mood highlights to shadows The overall distribution of tones and contrast that determines an image’s mood and perceived depth.
Tone concept tonal value shadows, midtones, highlights The brightness level of a pixel or area in an image; controlling tone shapes contrast and visual emphasis.
Texture compositional element surface detail fine to coarse detail The perceived surface quality in an image that adds visual interest and depth, often emphasized with side lighting.
Transcoding post-processing rewrap, re-encode bitrates, codecs, resolution Converting video or image files between formats or codecs for editing, playback, or delivery.
Translucent mirror equipment SLT (Single-Lens Translucent) Sony SLT cameras A mirror that directs some light to autofocus sensors while letting most reach the imaging sensor, enabling fast continuous AF.
Trap focus workflow repeat of technique manual focus + auto-release (Duplicate avoided) Note: included earlier; ensure single entry only.
Tradeoff concept exposure triangle tradeoff aperture, shutter, ISO The balancing act between aperture, shutter speed and ISO when setting exposure to meet creative and technical goals.
TV mode setting Tv, Time Value camera mode label A camera exposure mode where you set shutter speed and the camera automatically picks aperture—often labeled “Tv” on some bodies.
Text overlay post-processing caption, watermark font size, opacity Adding text to images for context, credit or branding; consider legibility and placement to avoid covering key content.
Total internal reflection optical effect TIR lens flare, ghosting A light phenomenon in lenses or glass that can create internal reflections or flares; managed with coatings and hoods.
Tinting post-processing/process color wash subtle color shifts Applying a color cast to highlights or shadows to evoke mood or simulate film processes.
Two-stage shutter equipment/concept half-press, full-press half-press AF, full-press shutter A shutter release design where a half-press focuses/exposes meter and full press fires, common in DSLR ergonomics.
Two-shot composition medium two-shot framing two subjects A framing term from cinematography/photography meaning a shot that includes two subjects, often used for dialogue or pairs.
Tethered RAW workflow tethered capture, RAW transfer RAW files to computer Shooting RAW files directly to a computer during tethering for immediate high-quality review and editing.
Tone priority setting/style picture style (brand) high-contrast shadows A camera or software profile emphasizing shadow detail and contrast for a richer tonal look.

Descriptions

Tripod
Tripod head
Tripod collar
Tethering
Tethered transfer
Tilt
Tilt-shift
Telephoto
Teleconverter
T-stop
TTL
Timer
Time-lapse
Time exposure
Time value (Tv)
Timecode
TIFF
TLR
Tracking
Tracking shot
Trap focus
Tonal range
Tone curve
Tone mapping
Toning
Tint
Temperature
Tungsten
Thermal noise
Threshold
Thumbnail
Test chart
Test shot
Three-point lighting
Tiny planet
Tonality
Tone
Texture
Transcoding
Translucent mirror
Trap focus
Tradeoff
TV mode
Text overlay
Total internal reflection
Tinting
Two-stage shutter
Two-shot
Tethered RAW
Tone priority
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.