Glossary

This page contains important terms and their definitions:

• Background - A part or element of a particular set up (scene) that is behind (more distant than the observer) the foreground.

• Calotype - A photograph and therefore the result of a very early photographic process that produced negatives by using paper coated with silver iodide.  

[The free dictionary by Farlex, 2013, 'Calotype' {online} Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/calotype] [Accessed - 29th October, 2013]

• 'Camera Lucida' - An instrument (launched in 1806 by: William Hyde Wolloston) whereby rays of sunlight are reflected directly into a prism which in turn produce an image onto a piece of paper, from which a drawing can be sketched.  

[Merriam Webster, 2013, 'Camera Lucida' {online} Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camera%20lucida] [Accessed - 29th October, 2013]

• 'Camera Obscura' - A sort of 'dark room' which is used to project an image of an external object onto an inside screen (this image is inverted when projected). 

[Oxford University Press, 2013, 'Camera Obscura' {online} Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/camera-obscura] [Accessed - 29th October, 2013]

• Contrast - The range of difference between light and dark tones.

• Composition - The way in which elements are put together in order to create a visual effect.

• Cyanotype - A photographic blueprint.

[Oxford University Press, 2013, 'Cyanotype {online} Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cyanotype]

• Daguerrotype - A photograph and therefore the result of a very early photographic process that made use of an iodine-sensitized silver plate and mercury vapor. 

[Merriam Webster, 2013, 'Daguerrotype' {online} Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daguerreotype]

• Exposure - The quantity of light that reaches a photographic film/sensor. Exposure is determined by shutter speed and aperture.

• Foreground - Part of a scene (set-up) that appears closest to the viewer.

Flexible roll film - A film invented by George Eastman (1889). This type of film was flexible, unbreakable, and could be rolled up.

[Answers, 2013, 'Flexible roll film' {online} Available at: http://www.answers.com/topic/roll-film]

• Heliography - A telescopic device used to photograph the sun.

[The free dictionary by Farlex, 2013, 'Heliography' {online} Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/heliograph]

• Hue - A colour or shade.

• Lithography - Described as the process of printing from a flat surface so that the ink will only stick to a design that will be used for printing. 

[Merriam Webster, 2013, 'Lithography' {online} Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lithography]

• Pantograph - An instrument that is used for copying a plan (architectural) or drawing on a different scale by using a system of hinged and jointed rods.    

[Dictionary.com, 2013, 'Pantograph' {online} Available at: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pantograph]

• Perspective - A way in which one can represent 3D objects and implement them onto a 2D surface so as to give the right impression of their depth, width, height, and position in relation to one another. 

• Polaroid (instant) photos - An instant photo taken by a Polaroid camera. The material used was thin plastic sheets that produced high degree of plane polarization in light that passed through it. 

[Dictionary.com, 2013, 'Polaroid' {online} Available at: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/polaroid?s=t]

• Photogenic Drawing- This was a term used by Fox Talbot himself which described the results he obtained of his first camera-less photographic process. 

  [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2013,'Photogenic Drawing' {online} Available at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/457886/photogenic-drawing]

• Photography - Derived from the Greek words; 'photo' & 'graphy' which in turn mean: "Light writing".

• Photogravure - An image that was produced from a negative and then transferred onto a metal plate and then carved in.

[The free dictionary by Farlex, 2013, 'Photogravure' {online} Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/photogravure]

• Physionotrace - An instrument that was used to 'trace' a person's silhouette (profile side).

[Merriam Webster, 2013, 'Physionotrace' {online} Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physionotrace]

• Primary Source -  Sources that provide direct evidence regarding a particular subject that is being researched.

• Tintypes - A photograph that is taken as a positive on a thin tin plate.

[The free dictionary by Farlex, 2013, 'Tintypes' {online} Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Tintypes]

• Saturation - Refers to how intense and vivid a colour is.

• Secondary Source - Sources which were found later by someone who did not experience first hand or participate in the events that occurred.