This list includes 22 Photography words that start with U, from “U-Point” to “User mode”. Many of these terms describe camera settings, user-interface features, and shooting techniques used by photographers.
Photography words that start with U are terms and abbreviations for camera features, tools, and techniques beginning with U. One notable example is “U-Point”, a selective-editing approach that helped popularize local adjustments in digital photo editing.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, Example, and Related links.
Term: The photography word itself, so you can scan this column to find specific U-words quickly.
Definition: A clear, concise meaning that explains the term’s purpose and how photographers commonly use it.
Example: A short usage note showing how the term appears in camera menus, workflows, or shooting situations.
Related links: Links to deeper articles and resources so you can explore techniques, controls, or products related to the term.
Photography words that start with U
| Term | Type | Abbreviation/Alternate Spellings | Related Equipment or Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAV | equipment | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, drone | drones, aerial photography, gimbals |
| Ultra-wide | lens type | Ultra-wide angle, wide-angle | lenses, landscape, architecture, interiors |
| Ultra HD | resolution | UHD, 4K | video cameras, monitors, TVs, streaming |
| Ultraviolet | light type | UV | film, sensors, filters, forensic photography |
| UV filter | accessory | Ultraviolet filter | lens protection, film photography, landscape |
| U-Point | technique | U Point, U-Point technology | Nik Collection, selective adjustments, local edits |
| Unsharp mask | post-processing | USM | Photoshop, Lightroom, sharpening plugins |
| Underexposure | exposure parameter | underexposed | camera exposure, RAW processing, histogram |
| USB | interface | USB-C, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 | tethering, file transfer, cameras, card readers |
| Upsampling | processing | up-res, upscaling | image editors, printing, AI upscalers |
| Umbrella | lighting modifier | shoot-through umbrella, reflective umbrella | studio strobes, speedlights, portrait lighting |
| Unity gain | sensor parameter | — | sensor specs, astrophotography, ISO optimization |
| UHS | memory spec | UHS-I, UHS-II, U1, U3 | SD cards, cameras, 4K video recording |
| USM | lens technology | Ultrasonic Motor | autofocus, Canon lenses, lens specs |
| Upright | correction tool | Upright tool, perspective correction | Lightroom, lens correction, architecture photography |
| Uncompressed | file characteristic | — | RAW, TIFF, storage, archiving |
| UI | software term | User Interface | camera menus, editing apps, tethering software |
| Ultra-low dispersion | lens glass | UD, ULD, ED (related term) | lens design, chromatic aberration control |
| User mode | camera setting | U1, U2, U3 | camera mode dial, custom settings, event shooting |
| Undersampling | imaging issue | aliasing | sensors, demosaicing, resizing, moiré |
| Unsharpness | image quality | softness | focus, motion blur, lens aberration |
| Unclipped | exposure/histogram | — | histogram, RAW files, highlight recovery |
Descriptions
UAV
A flying platform used for aerial photography and videography; drones enable shots from heights and angles that were once expensive or impossible.
Ultra-wide
Lenses with very short focal lengths that capture a broad field of view; great for expansive landscapes, tight interiors, and creative perspectives.
Ultra HD
A high-definition video resolution (commonly 3,840×2,160) giving more detail than 1080p; used in modern cameras and displays for sharp video and playback.
Ultraviolet
Light with wavelengths shorter than visible light; UV photography reveals textures, fluorescence, and features invisible to the eye and is used in scientific and creative work.
UV filter
A clear filter that blocks UV light and protects the front element; historically used to reduce haze on film and commonly used as lens protection today.
U-Point
A selective editing method using control points to locally adjust color and tone without masks; popularized by Nik software and used in many retouching workflows.
Unsharp mask
A common digital sharpening method that increases perceived edge contrast to make images look crisper; widely available in photo editors.
Underexposure
When an image receives too little light, causing dark tones to lose detail; recognizable on histograms and correctable to some extent in RAW files.
USB
Standard wired connection used for transferring photos, tethered shooting, and updating camera firmware; connector types vary by camera model.
Upsampling
Increasing an image’s pixel dimensions by interpolating new pixels; useful for printing larger sizes but can reduce apparent sharpness unless done carefully.
Umbrella
A common light modifier that softens and spreads light for flattering studio portraits or product shots; comes in reflective and shoot-through styles.
Unity gain
A sensor operating point where one electron corresponds to one digital unit (ADU); used to evaluate dynamic range and noise characteristics in camera sensors.
UHS
Ultra High Speed SD card bus standards indicating sustained transfer rates; important for high-bitrate video and fast continuous shooting.
USM
A fast, quiet autofocus motor used in many lenses (term commonly appears in specs); helps quick and smooth focusing in stills and video.
Upright
A software tool that straightens verticals and corrects perspective distortion from wide-angle lenses to make buildings look natural.
Uncompressed
A format or file setting that preserves full image data without compression; produces larger files but retains maximum quality for editing and archiving.
UI
The visual elements and controls you interact with in cameras and photo software; a clear UI speeds workflow and reduces mistakes.
Ultra-low dispersion
Special glass type used in lens elements to reduce chromatic aberration and improve sharpness and color fidelity.
User mode
Custom modes that store preferred exposure and setup so you can quickly switch for repeatable shooting conditions.
Undersampling
When a sensor or image is sampled too coarsely, causing jagged edges and moiré; addressed with higher resolution sensors or optical low-pass filters.
Unsharpness
The lack of perceived sharp detail in an image, caused by focus errors, camera shake, or poor optics; a key factor to diagnose when images look soft.
Unclipped
Describes highlights or shadows that retain detail (not clipped); unclipped data allows more recovery in post-processing than clipped areas.