This list includes 34 Photography words that start with F, from “Face Detection AF” to “f-stop”. Many entries describe core camera functions, lens specifications, focusing methods, and composition terms used across genres.
Photography words that start with F are concise technical and creative terms photographers use daily. For example, “f-stop” has been a foundational term since early 20th-century lens design.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Category, and Example.
Term: You will see the glossary word or abbreviation, which makes it quick to scan for terms you recognize.
Definition: A concise 1–2 sentence explanation that tells you what the term means and when to use it.
Category: A short label showing the term’s area, so you can filter by camera, lens, or post-processing topics.
Example: A brief real-world usage or setting that helps you see how photographers apply the term.
Photography words that start with F
| Term | Category | Abbreviation/Alt | Common Units/Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| f-number | Exposure parameter | f-stop | f/1.4, f/2.8, f/8 |
| f-stop | Exposure parameter | f-number | f/1.4, f/2.8, f/8 |
| Face Detection AF | Camera feature | Face/Eye AF | |
| Falloff | Lighting concept | Light falloff | |
| Fast Lens | Lens characteristic | f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8 | |
| Feathering | Lighting technique | ||
| Field of View | Optical concept | FoV, Angle of View | Degrees (°) |
| Fill Flash | Lighting technique | ||
| Fill Light | Lighting setup | ||
| Fill the Frame | Composition technique | ||
| File Format | Digital imaging | RAW, JPEG, TIFF | |
| Filter | Accessory | Lens filter | UV, ND, CPL |
| Firmware | Camera software | Version 1.1, 2.0 | |
| Fisheye Lens | Lens type | 8mm, 15mm | |
| Fixed Focal Length | Lens type | Prime lens | 35mm, 50mm, 85mm |
| Flare | Optical effect | Lens flare | |
| Flash | Lighting equipment | Strobe, speedlight | |
| Flash Sync Speed | Camera setting | X-sync speed | 1/125s, 1/200s, 1/250s |
| Flat Lay | Photography style | Knolling | |
| Focal Length | Lens parameter | mm (e.g., 24mm, 50mm) | |
| Focal Plane | Camera component | ||
| Focal Point | Composition | Point of interest | |
| Focus | Camera function | AF (Autofocus), MF (Manual) | |
| Focus Peaking | Camera feature | Peaking | On/Off, Color (Red, Yellow) |
| Focus Stacking | Technique | Focus blending | Multiple images |
| Forced Perspective | Technique | ||
| Foreground | Composition element | ||
| Frame Rate | Video setting | fps | 24, 30, 60, 120 fps |
| Framing | Composition technique | ||
| Freeze Motion | Technique | Stop action | 1/1,000s or faster |
| Fresnel Lens | Lighting equipment | ||
| Fringing | Optical artifact | Chromatic aberration | |
| Front-Curtain Sync | Flash technique | 1st-curtain sync | |
| Full-Frame | Sensor size | FF | 36mm x 24mm |
Descriptions
f-number
A number that represents the size of the lens aperture. A smaller f-number means a wider opening, letting in more light and creating a shallower depth of field.
f-stop
The measurement scale for the lens aperture. A change of one full stop either doubles or halves the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, affecting both exposure and focus.
Face Detection AF
An autofocus mode where the camera automatically identifies human faces (and often eyes) in the frame and sets focus on them. It is incredibly useful for taking sharp portraits.
Falloff
The gradual decrease in light intensity as it travels away from its source. Understanding falloff helps a photographer control how quickly a scene transitions from light to shadow.
Fast Lens
A lens with a very wide maximum aperture (a small f-number). These lenses excel in low-light situations and can produce a very blurry background, known as bokeh.
Feathering
A technique where the soft edge of a light beam, rather than the bright center, is aimed at the subject. This creates a softer, more gradual light with less intense highlights.
Field of View
The extent of the observable world seen through the lens. A wide-angle lens has a large field of view, capturing more of the scene, while a telephoto lens has a narrow one.
Fill Flash
Using a flash to “fill in” shadows on a subject, typically in bright, sunny conditions. It balances the exposure between a bright background and a darker foreground subject.
Fill Light
A secondary light source used in a lighting setup to lighten or “fill in” the shadows created by the main (key) light. It helps control contrast and reveal detail.
Fill the Frame
A compositional tactic where you get close enough to your subject that it fills the entire picture area. This approach emphasizes the subject and eliminates distracting background elements.
File Format
The way an image is encoded and stored as a digital file. Formats like JPEG are compressed for easy sharing, while RAW files retain all sensor data for maximum editing flexibility.
Filter
A piece of glass or resin placed in front of the lens to modify the light entering the camera. Filters can reduce glare, control exposure, or add creative color effects.
Firmware
The internal software that controls a digital camera’s functions. Manufacturers periodically release firmware updates to fix bugs, improve performance, or add new features.
Fisheye Lens
An ultra-wide-angle lens that produces strong visual distortion, creating a wide, hemispherical image. It’s used for creative, abstract, or panoramic-style photos.
Fixed Focal Length
A lens that has a single, non-adjustable focal length, meaning you cannot zoom. These lenses are often sharper and have wider maximum apertures than most zoom lenses.
Flare
An optical effect caused by a bright light source hitting the lens. It appears as circles or a hazy wash of light that can reduce contrast or be used for creative effect.
Flash
A device that produces a brief, intense burst of artificial light. It’s used to illuminate a scene, freeze motion, or supplement the existing ambient light.
Flash Sync Speed
The fastest shutter speed at which a camera can synchronize with a flash. Exceeding this speed may result in a partially dark image because the shutter is not fully open during the flash.
Flat Lay
A style where items are neatly arranged on a flat surface and photographed from directly above. It is a popular technique for product, food, and lifestyle imagery.
Focal Length
The distance in millimeters from the lens’s optical center to the camera sensor. It determines the angle of view and magnification; short focal lengths are wide, long ones are telephoto.
Focal Plane
The flat plane inside the camera where the digital sensor or film is located. For an image to be in sharp focus, the light from the lens must converge precisely on this plane.
Focal Point
The main subject or area of interest in a photograph that the photographer wants to draw the viewer’s attention to. Strong composition guides the eye directly to this point.
Focus
The adjustment of a lens to make a subject appear sharp and clear. This can be done automatically by the camera (autofocus) or manually by turning a ring on the lens.
Focus Peaking
A manual focusing aid on digital cameras that highlights the sharpest areas of the image with a colored overlay, making it easy to see exactly what is in focus.
Focus Stacking
A digital processing technique where multiple photos taken at different focus distances are combined. This creates a final image with a greater depth of field than any single shot could achieve.
Forced Perspective
A creative technique that uses optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger, or smaller than it actually is by manipulating its relationship to other objects.
Foreground
The part of a scene that is nearest to the photographer. Including a compelling foreground element can add a sense of depth and lead the viewer’s eye into the photograph.
Frame Rate
In video, this is the number of individual frames captured per second. Higher frame rates create smoother motion and are essential for creating slow-motion effects.
Framing
A compositional technique where elements within the scene, like a doorway or tree branches, are used to form a natural frame around the main subject, adding depth and focus.
Freeze Motion
Using a very fast shutter speed or a flash to capture a moving subject with perfectly sharp detail, effectively “freezing” it in a single moment in time.
Fresnel Lens
A type of compact lens used in lighting modifiers, such as spotlights, to create a focused, even beam of light whose width can be adjusted.
Fringing
An optical flaw, also known as chromatic aberration, that appears as colored outlines (often purple or green) along high-contrast edges in a photo. It can usually be corrected in software.
Front-Curtain Sync
The default flash mode where the flash fires at the very beginning of the exposure. With a moving subject, this creates a light trail that appears behind it.
Full-Frame
A camera sensor size equivalent to a classic 35mm film frame. Full-frame sensors are known for their excellent low-light performance and ability to create a shallow depth of field.