Step into the world of 35mm photography with the Photography Discussion Roundtable, heard every Monday evening at 7:00 PM ET on BrandMeister DMR Talkgroup 31266 — the MichiganOne Nets channel. This engaging net is your chance to explore the art and science of photography, ask questions, and sharpen your skills in a welcoming, knowledge-rich environment.
Hosted by James N8TMP, Bob KB8DQQ, Rick AD8KN, and Dave N8SBE, each brings a wealth of experience to the mic. Bob and James are seasoned wedding photographers, while Rick and Dave add deep technical insight and practical know-how. Together, they guide discussions on camera features, techniques, terminology, and everything from aperture to artistic vision.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft, tune in and join the conversation. Your next great shot starts here!
Previous and upcoming Photography Discussion Roundtable topics:
| Date | Topic |
| 8/11/2025 | What is Aperture in photography |
| 8/18/2025 | What is the Golden Triangle? |
| 8/25/2025 | Top photo editing software available in 2025 |
| 9/1/2025 | What is Depth of Field? |
| 9/8/2025 | What is Bokeh in photography? |
| 9/15/2025 | Understanding Lens Focal Length |
| 9/22/2025 | What are leading lines? |
| 9/29/2025 | What is Back-Button Focus? |
| 10/6/2025 | 5 important photography facts that I didn’t know when I started |
| 10/13/2025 | How to shoot in manual mode |
| 10/20/2025 | The different types of lenses |
| 10/27/2025 | All about camera filters |
| 11/3/2025 | On-camera flash vs off-camera flash |
| 11/10/2025 | How to use tripods and stabilizers |
| 11/17/2025 | What is ISO? |
| 11/24/2025 | Film vs digital? |
| 12/1/2025 | How to find and organize your photos in a logical manner |
| 12/8/2025 | Understanding long-exposure photography |
| 12/15/2025 | Enhancing the sky in your photos |
| 12/22/2025 | Where and how to learn more about photography techniques |
| 12/29/2025 | DSLR vs mirrorless cameras |
| 1/5/2026 | The exposure triangle |
| 1/12/2026 | How to develop your own personal photography style |
| 1/19/2026 | Color theory (histograms) in photography |
| 1/26/2026 | Photography ethics in the digital age |
| 2/2/2026 | The future of film and where the analog industry is going |
| 2/9/2026 | How to build a portfolio |
| 2/16/2026 | Photography hints and tips |
| 2/23/2026 | How to take action/motion photos |
| 3/2/2026 | Explaining photography terms |
| 3/9/2026 | Macro photography hints and tips |
| 3/16/2026 | Landscape photography hints and tips |
| 3/23/2026 | Portrait photography hints and tips |
| 3/30/2026 | Night photography hints and tips |
| 4/6/2026 | F-stops and how to use them |
| 4/13/2026 | What are the AE-L, AF-L, and *-buttons? What do they do? |
| 4/20/2026 | White balance explained |
| 4/27/2026 |
https://thediabeticham.com/previous-and-upcoming-photography-discussion-roundtable-topics/
Photography Terms and Jargon Explained
Exposure and the “Big Three”
Exposure
How bright or dark the photo is. It’s controlled by three main settings working together: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Exposure triangle
A way of visualizing how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO affect exposure together: change one, and you usually have to adjust one or both of the others to keep the brightness the same.
Aperture (f‑stop)
The opening in the lens that lets light through. A low f‑number (like f/2.8) means a big opening (more light, blurrier background); a high f‑number (like f/16) means a small opening (less light, more in focus).
Shutter speed
How long the sensor is exposed to light. Fast speeds (1/1000 s) freeze motion; slow speeds (1/15 s, 1 second, etc.) blur motion and need steadier technique or a tripod.
ISO
How sensitive the sensor is to light. Low ISO (100–200) is “cleaner” with less noise but needs more light; high ISO (1600, 3200, etc.) works better in low light but adds grain/noise.
Exposure compensation (±)
A control that lets you tell the camera “make it brighter” (+) or “make it darker” (−) even when you’re in semi‑automatic modes like Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority.
Metering / metering modes
How the camera measures the light in a scene to suggest an exposure. Common modes:
- Matrix / Evaluative: looks at the whole frame.
- Center‑weighted: prioritizes the middle.
- Spot: reads just a tiny area where your focus point is.
Focus and Sharpness
Focus
The part of the scene that appears sharp. When a subject is “in focus,” edges and details look crisp; “out of focus” looks soft or blurry.
Autofocus (AF)
The camera’s system for finding focus automatically. It uses AF points or zones in the viewfinder or on the screen.
AF‑S / One Shot
Single autofocus. The camera focuses once when you half‑press the shutter, good for still subjects.
AF‑C / AI Servo
Continuous autofocus. The camera keeps adjusting focus while you half‑press, tracking moving subjects (sports, kids, pets).
Back‑button focus
A custom setup where you move the focusing function from the shutter button to a button on the back of the camera, so focusing and shooting are separate actions.
Depth of field (DOF)
How much of the scene looks acceptably sharp from front to back. Shallow DOF means only a thin slice is sharp (portraits with blurry backgrounds); deep DOF means most of the scene is sharp (landscapes).
Image stabilization / VR / IS / IBIS
Technology in the lens or camera body that helps counter camera shake, letting you hand‑hold at slower shutter speeds without as much blur.
Camera shake
Blur caused by the camera moving while the shutter is open, especially at slower shutter speeds. It blurs the whole image, not just moving subjects.
Camera Modes and Files
Auto mode
The camera chooses everything for you—aperture, shutter, ISO, and often flash—aiming for a “safe” exposure.
P (Program), A/Av (Aperture Priority), S/Tv (Shutter Priority), M (Manual)
Common exposure modes:
- Program: camera sets both aperture and shutter; you can tweak some things.
- Aperture Priority: you choose aperture; camera picks shutter speed.
- Shutter Priority: you choose shutter speed; camera picks aperture.
- Manual: you set everything yourself.
Drive mode / continuous shooting / burst
Controls how many shots the camera takes when you press the shutter. Single shot = one photo per press; continuous/burst = a rapid series while you hold the button down. Great for action.
RAW
A file that contains maximum sensor data with minimal in‑camera processing. Gives you more flexibility when editing exposure and color, but must be processed in software.
JPEG
A processed, compressed file straight out of camera. Smaller, easy to share, but with less editing latitude compared to RAW.
Image quality setting
Camera menu choice that sets file type (RAW, JPEG, or both) and resolution.
Lenses and Focal Length
Focal length (mm)
A number like 24 mm, 50 mm, 200 mm that describes how “wide” or “zoomed‑in” a lens is. Low numbers show a wider view; high numbers magnify more and show a narrower view.
Prime lens
A lens with a fixed focal length (like 35 mm or 50 mm). Often small, sharp, and with wide maximum apertures (like f/1.8).
Zoom lens
A lens that covers a range of focal lengths (like 24–70 mm). You can “zoom” in or out without moving your feet.
Wide‑angle lens
A lens that shows a wide field of view, useful for landscapes, interiors, and tight spaces. It can exaggerate perspective.
Telephoto lens
A lens that magnifies distant subjects (sports, wildlife, portraits with compression).
Fisheye lens
An ultra‑wide lens that deliberately bends straight lines and creates a very distorted, “bulging” look.
Crop factor / full frame / APS‑C
Different sensor sizes change how a focal length behaves. A smaller APS‑C sensor “crops in” on the lens’s image, making a 50 mm lens behave more like 75–80 mm in terms of field of view.
Light, Color, and Flash
Ambient / available light
Whatever light is already in the scene: daylight, room lights, street lamps, etc., with no added flash.
Backlighting
When the main light source is behind your subject (for example, shooting toward the sun). It can create silhouettes, rim light, or haze.
Key light / main light
The primary light source shaping your subject—sun, flash, strobe, softbox, etc.
Bounce flash
A technique where you point the flash at a wall or ceiling so the light reflects and becomes softer and more flattering.
High‑key
A bright, low‑contrast look with mostly light tones and minimal deep shadows, often used in clean, airy portraits.
White balance (WB)
Controls how warm (orange) or cool (blue) the colors in your photo look, compensating for different kinds of light (daylight, tungsten, fluorescent).
Color cast
An overall tint (too blue, too green, too yellow) caused by lighting or incorrect white balance.
Composition and “Look”
Composition
How you arrange elements in the frame—where you place the subject, background, lines, and shapes to guide the viewer’s eye.
Rule of thirds
Dividing the frame into a 3×3 grid and placing important elements along those lines or at their intersections, instead of dead center.
Leading lines
Natural or man‑made lines (roads, fences, railings) that draw the viewer’s eye toward the subject.
Bokeh
The quality of the out‑of‑focus areas in an image—how smooth or busy the background blur looks, especially highlights.
Contrast
The difference between the lightest and darkest parts of a photo. High contrast = strong, punchy differences; low contrast = softer, flatter look.
Motion and Special Effects
Motion blur
Blur caused by a moving subject during the exposure. It can be unwanted (accidental blur) or intentional (to show movement).
Panning
A technique where you use a relatively slow shutter speed and move the camera with a moving subject, trying to keep the subject sharp while the background streaks.
Bracketing / bracketed exposure
Taking several shots of the same scene at different exposures (darker, normal, brighter) to make sure you get at least one good exposure or to combine them later.
HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Combining multiple exposures to hold detail in very bright areas and very dark areas that a single exposure can’t handle.
Ghosting / flare
Artifacts like washed‑out areas, streaks, or duplicate shapes caused by strong light bouncing around inside the lens.articles.
Editing and Output
Adjustment layer
In programs like Photoshop, an edit that sits on its own layer, letting you change brightness, contrast, color, etc., without permanently altering the original pixels.
Histogram
A graph showing how the tones in your image are distributed from dark (left) to bright (right). It helps you see if you’re clipping shadows or highlights.
Sharpening / high‑pass filter
Editing processes that increase the crispness of edges so images look clearer. A high‑pass filter is one specific technique for sharpening.
Clipping
When detail is lost because tones are pushed to pure black or pure white and can’t be recovered. Often visible as “spikes” at the ends of the histogram.
