Title: Photography Mastery — LearnCoachAssist

Q: What is photography?
A: The art and science of capturing light to create images.

Q: What is the etymology of photography?
A: Greek "phos" (light) + "graphē" (drawing) — "drawing with light."

Q: What is the exposure triangle?
A: Aperture, shutter speed, ISO — the three factors controlling exposure.

Q: What is aperture?
A: The opening size of the lens controlling light entry.

Q: How is aperture measured?
A: In f-stops (e.g., f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4, f/8, f/16).

Q: What is the relationship between f-stop and opening?
A: Lower number = larger opening = more light.

Q: What is the role of aperture on depth of field?
A: Wider aperture (lower f-number) = shallower depth of field.

Q: What is depth of field (DOF)?
A: The range in front and behind the subject in acceptable focus.

Q: What is shallow depth of field?
A: A narrow zone in focus; common in portraits.

Q: What is deep depth of field?
A: Wide zone in focus; common in landscapes.

Q: What is shutter speed?
A: Duration the sensor is exposed to light.

Q: How is shutter speed measured?
A: In fractions of seconds (e.g., 1/1000, 1/60, 1") or full seconds.

Q: What is the rule of thumb for handheld shutter?
A: 1/focal length or faster (e.g., 1/100s for 100mm).

Q: What is the role of shutter on motion?
A: Fast freezes; slow blurs.

Q: What is the typical sports shutter speed?
A: 1/1000s or faster.

Q: What is the typical landscape shutter speed?
A: Slower; often with tripod.

Q: What is ISO?
A: The sensor's sensitivity to light.

Q: What is the typical ISO range?
A: 100 (low noise) to 25,600+ (more noise).

Q: What is the relationship between ISO and noise?
A: Higher ISO = more digital noise (grain).

Q: What is the typical clean ISO?
A: 100-400 in most cameras; modern bodies clean to 3200+.

Q: What is the equivalent exposure?
A: Different combinations of aperture, shutter, ISO yielding the same brightness.

Q: What is "stop" in photography?
A: A doubling or halving of light.

Q: What is the role of light meter?
A: Measures light to suggest exposure settings.

Q: What is the histogram?
A: Graph showing tonal distribution from dark to light.

Q: What is the rule "expose to the right"?
A: Pushing the histogram right (without clipping) maximizes data.

Q: What is "clipping"?
A: Loss of detail in pure black or pure white.

Q: What is highlight clipping?
A: Loss of detail in bright areas.

Q: What is shadow clipping?
A: Loss of detail in dark areas.

Q: What is dynamic range?
A: The range of brightness a sensor can capture.

Q: What is HDR?
A: High Dynamic Range; merging multiple exposures.

Q: What is the role of bracketing?
A: Taking multiple exposures for safety or HDR.

Q: What is exposure compensation?
A: Adjusting auto-exposure brighter or darker.

Q: What is "stops" of exposure compensation?
A: Typically ±3 stops in 1/3 stop increments.

Q: What is metering modes?
A: How the camera evaluates the scene: matrix/evaluative, center-weighted, spot.

Q: What is matrix metering?
A: Evaluates the whole scene; default for most situations.

Q: What is center-weighted metering?
A: Prioritizes the center of the frame.

Q: What is spot metering?
A: Measures a small spot for precise exposure.

Q: What is the role of white balance?
A: Adjusting for color temperature of light.

Q: What is color temperature?
A: Measured in Kelvin (K); lower is warmer, higher is cooler.

Q: What is the typical daylight temperature?
A: ~5,500 K.

Q: What is the typical tungsten temperature?
A: ~3,200 K.

Q: What is the typical cloudy temperature?
A: ~6,500 K.

Q: What is auto white balance (AWB)?
A: Camera estimates and corrects automatically.

Q: What is the role of preset white balance?
A: Choose mode for known lighting (sun, shade, tungsten).

Q: What is custom white balance?
A: Calibrate using a gray card.

Q: What is a gray card?
A: An 18% gray reference for exposure and color.

Q: What is the rule "shoot RAW"?
A: Captures maximum data; allows white balance adjustment in post.

Q: What is RAW format?
A: Unprocessed sensor data; large files; more editing flexibility.

Q: What is JPEG?
A: A compressed, processed format; smaller files; less editing room.

Q: What is the difference between RAW and JPEG?
A: RAW has more data; JPEG is processed and compressed.

Q: What is the typical RAW file size?
A: 20-100 MB depending on camera.

Q: What is the typical JPEG file size?
A: 2-15 MB.

Q: What is the role of focal length?
A: Determines field of view and perspective.

Q: What are wide-angle lenses?
A: Short focal lengths (<35mm) capturing wide views.

Q: What are normal lenses?
A: Around 50mm on full-frame; approximates human vision.

Q: What are telephoto lenses?
A: Long focal lengths (>70mm) for distant subjects.

Q: What is a "prime" lens?
A: A fixed focal length lens (e.g., 50mm).

Q: What is a "zoom" lens?
A: Variable focal length (e.g., 24-70mm).

Q: What is the advantage of prime lenses?
A: Often sharper, wider aperture, lighter.

Q: What is the advantage of zoom lenses?
A: Flexibility without changing lenses.

Q: What is the "nifty fifty"?
A: The popular affordable 50mm f/1.8 prime.

Q: What is bokeh?
A: The aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas.

Q: What is the role of aperture blades?
A: More blades create rounder bokeh.

Q: What is "creamy bokeh"?
A: Smooth, pleasing background blur.

Q: What is the role of focal length on bokeh?
A: Longer focal lengths and wider apertures yield more bokeh.

Q: What is full-frame vs crop sensor?
A: Full-frame is 35mm equivalent; crop is smaller (e.g., APS-C, MFT).

Q: What is the crop factor?
A: Multiplier for focal length equivalence (e.g., 1.5x for most APS-C).

Q: What is a 50mm on APS-C?
A: Equivalent to ~75mm on full-frame.

Q: What is the role of sensor size?
A: Larger sensor: better low light, shallower DOF, more dynamic range.

Q: What is a DSLR?
A: Digital Single-Lens Reflex; has a mirror.

Q: What is a mirrorless camera?
A: No mirror; uses electronic viewfinder; lighter and increasingly dominant.

Q: What is the trend in modern cameras?
A: Mirrorless is replacing DSLRs.

Q: What is medium format?
A: Larger sensor than full-frame; very high resolution.

Q: What is the typical medium format use?
A: Studio, fashion, fine art.

Q: What is the rule of thirds?
A: Divide frame into 3x3 grid; place subjects on intersections.

Q: What is leading lines?
A: Lines drawing the viewer's eye into the scene.

Q: What is the role of negative space?
A: Empty space giving subjects breathing room.

Q: What is symmetry composition?
A: Centered, balanced compositions.

Q: What is framing (composition)?
A: Using elements to frame the subject.

Q: What is the golden ratio?
A: A proportional guide; phi ≈ 1.618; pleasing compositions.

Q: What is the golden spiral?
A: A logarithmic spiral based on phi.

Q: What is fill the frame?
A: Getting close to make the subject dominant.

Q: What is rule of odds?
A: Odd numbers of subjects feel more dynamic.

Q: What is balance in composition?
A: Visual weight distribution across the frame.

Q: What is the role of foreground, middleground, background?
A: Layered scenes have depth.

Q: What is the role of perspective?
A: Choosing camera position shapes the story.

Q: What is "shoot at eye level" rule?
A: For human and animal subjects, eye-level creates intimacy.

Q: What is high angle?
A: Camera above subject; can make subject feel smaller.

Q: What is low angle?
A: Camera below subject; makes subject feel powerful.

Q: What is the role of light direction?
A: Front light, side light, back light, top light, bottom light — each tells a different story.

Q: What is front lighting?
A: Light from camera direction; flat but even.

Q: What is side lighting?
A: Light from the side; reveals texture and depth.

Q: What is backlighting?
A: Light from behind subject; creates silhouettes or rim light.

Q: What is rim light?
A: Edge highlight from backlight separating subject from background.

Q: What is the golden hour?
A: The hour after sunrise and before sunset; warm directional light.

Q: What is the blue hour?
A: The period before sunrise and after sunset; cool ambient light.

Q: What is harsh midday light?
A: Overhead sun creating strong shadows; usually unflattering.

Q: What is the rule "find shade"?
A: On harsh days, open shade gives softer light.

Q: What is diffused light?
A: Soft light through clouds or scrim.

Q: What is the role of overcast days?
A: Even, diffused light; great for portraits.

Q: What is the inverse square law?
A: Light intensity falls with the square of distance.

Q: What is the meaning for portraits?
A: Light close = bright but dramatic falloff; far = even but less bright.

Q: What is the role of reflectors?
A: Bouncing light to fill shadows.

Q: What is the typical reflector colors?
A: White, silver, gold, black (for absorbing).

Q: What is a diffuser?
A: Softens light by spreading it.

Q: What is the role of flash?
A: Adds artificial light; on-camera or off-camera.

Q: What is fill flash?
A: Flash filling shadows during daylight.

Q: What is bounce flash?
A: Flash aimed at ceiling/wall for diffused light.

Q: What is TTL flash?
A: Through-The-Lens metering for automatic flash.

Q: What is manual flash?
A: Set output manually; consistent results.

Q: What is the typical guide number?
A: Flash power measure; specific to ISO and distance.

Q: What is HSS (high-speed sync)?
A: Flash with shutter speeds above sync speed; reduced power.

Q: What is sync speed?
A: The fastest shutter speed allowing full flash; typically 1/200-1/250s.

Q: What is off-camera flash?
A: Flash off the camera; creative lighting control.

Q: What is the typical off-camera setup?
A: Flash + wireless trigger + softbox/umbrella.

Q: What is a softbox?
A: A light modifier producing soft, directional light.

Q: What is an umbrella (lighting)?
A: A simple, broad light modifier.

Q: What is the role of grids?
A: Narrow the beam of light from softbox or flash.

Q: What is a snoot?
A: A tube focusing light to a small area.

Q: What is a beauty dish?
A: A semi-hard light source common in portraits.

Q: What is the role of three-point lighting?
A: Key, fill, and rim/back lights for classic setup.

Q: What is key light?
A: The main light source.

Q: What is fill light?
A: Softer light filling shadows.

Q: What is back light?
A: Light from behind for separation.

Q: What is hair light?
A: Top-back light highlighting hair.

Q: What is portrait photography?
A: Capturing the likeness and character of people.

Q: What is the typical portrait focal length?
A: 85-135mm on full-frame; flattering compression.

Q: What is the role of eye focus?
A: Sharp eyes are critical in portraits.

Q: What is the catchlight?
A: Reflection in the eye; gives life to portraits.

Q: What is the typical portrait aperture?
A: f/1.4 to f/4 for subject isolation.

Q: What is environmental portrait?
A: Subject in their context (workplace, home).

Q: What is candid photography?
A: Unposed, natural moments.

Q: What is street photography?
A: Documenting public life; varied styles.

Q: What is the rule of street photography?
A: Be respectful; laws vary by jurisdiction.

Q: What is landscape photography?
A: Capturing outdoor scenes and nature.

Q: What is the typical landscape aperture?
A: f/8 to f/16 for deep DOF.

Q: What is hyperfocal distance?
A: The distance setting maximizing DOF from foreground to infinity.

Q: What is the role of tripod?
A: Stability for sharp shots, especially long exposures.

Q: What is the typical tripod features?
A: Stable head, sturdy legs, appropriate weight.

Q: What is the role of ND filter?
A: Reduces light for long exposures.

Q: What is the typical ND strength?
A: 3-stop, 6-stop, 10-stop common.

Q: What is the use of 10-stop ND?
A: Allows seconds-long exposures in daylight; smooths water.

Q: What is graduated ND filter?
A: Half dark, half clear; balances bright sky with dark land.

Q: What is polarizing filter?
A: Reduces reflections and saturates colors.

Q: What is the role of a CPL?
A: Circular polarizer used on modern cameras.

Q: What is panning?
A: Following a moving subject with shutter speed slower than action.

Q: What is motion blur?
A: Blur from movement during exposure.

Q: What is the typical panning speed?
A: 1/30 to 1/125s with practice.

Q: What is freeze frame?
A: Stopping motion with fast shutter.

Q: What is the typical sports action shutter?
A: 1/500s to 1/2000s.

Q: What is the role of burst mode?
A: Multiple shots per second for action.

Q: What is the typical burst rate?
A: 5-30 fps for modern cameras.

Q: What is wildlife photography?
A: Capturing animals; often requires telephoto and patience.

Q: What is the typical wildlife focal length?
A: 300-600mm with extender for distant wildlife.

Q: What is macro photography?
A: Close-up of small subjects at high magnification.

Q: What is the typical macro ratio?
A: 1:1 (life size) or greater.

Q: What is the role of focus stacking?
A: Combining multiple focused images for full DOF in macro.

Q: What is product photography?
A: Studio shots of products for commercial use.

Q: What is the typical product lighting?
A: Soft, controlled, often using softboxes and reflectors.

Q: What is the rule of consistent backgrounds?
A: Clean, neutral backgrounds for commercial work.

Q: What is the role of post-processing?
A: Editing for finishing touches and creative interpretation.

Q: What are popular editors?
A: Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, Affinity Photo, Darktable, RawTherapee.

Q: What is Lightroom?
A: Adobe's photo organization and RAW editor.

Q: What is Photoshop?
A: Adobe's pixel editor for advanced manipulation.

Q: What is the typical Lightroom workflow?
A: Import → cull → edit → export.

Q: What is non-destructive editing?
A: Edits don't alter the original file.

Q: What is the role of presets?
A: Saved settings applied to multiple photos.

Q: What is film simulation?
A: Emulating analog film looks.

Q: What is the role of curves?
A: Adjustment for tones; fine-grained control.

Q: What is the levels adjustment?
A: Setting black, white, midtone points.

Q: What is white balance correction?
A: Adjusting color temperature in post.

Q: What is hue, saturation, luminance (HSL)?
A: Color-specific adjustments.

Q: What is split toning?
A: Adding color casts to shadows and highlights.

Q: What is the role of vibrance vs saturation?
A: Vibrance protects already-saturated colors; saturation is uniform.

Q: What is the role of clarity?
A: Mid-tone contrast; texture enhancement.

Q: What is the role of dehaze?
A: Reduces atmospheric haze.

Q: What is sharpening in post?
A: Increases edge contrast for perceived sharpness.

Q: What is the typical sharpening approach?
A: Light sharpening for screen; more for print.

Q: What is noise reduction?
A: Smoothing digital noise.

Q: What is the tradeoff of noise reduction?
A: Reduces detail; balance is key.

Q: What is the role of masking?
A: Localized edits to specific areas.

Q: What is dodging?
A: Lightening specific areas.

Q: What is burning?
A: Darkening specific areas.

Q: What is the typical print size DPI?
A: 300 DPI for high-quality prints.

Q: What is the typical screen DPI?
A: 72-96 DPI traditionally.

Q: What is the rule "calibrate your monitor"?
A: Color-accurate display essential for editing.

Q: What is the role of a color-managed workflow?
A: Consistent color across devices.

Q: What is the rule "shoot what you love"?
A: Personal interest drives improvement.

Q: What is the role of personal projects?
A: Long-term work building style and skill.

Q: What is "photography is seeing"?
A: The technical can be learned; vision is developed.

Q: What is the role of constraint?
A: Limitations force creative solutions.

Q: What is "one camera, one lens"?
A: A practice deepening understanding of equipment.

Q: What is the typical first camera?
A: A used DSLR or mirrorless with a kit lens; cost is no barrier to learning.

Q: What is the role of phone photography?
A: Modern phones produce excellent images; gear matters less.

Q: What is "the best camera is the one you have"?
A: The most-cited photography aphorism.

Q: What is the role of habit?
A: Daily shooting builds rapid skill.

Q: What is the 365 project?
A: A photo every day for a year.

Q: What is the 100-day project?
A: 100 consecutive days of focused practice.

Q: What is the role of feedback?
A: Critique groups, mentors, online communities.

Q: What is "Flickr"?
A: A photo-sharing community; was massive, still active.

Q: What is "Instagram"?
A: A dominant photo platform; algorithm-driven.

Q: What is "500px"?
A: A photo community emphasizing artistic work.

Q: What is "Behance"?
A: Adobe's portfolio platform.

Q: What is the role of having a portfolio?
A: A curated body of work; tells your visual story.

Q: What is the rule "curate ruthlessly"?
A: Better to show fewer great photos than many mediocre.

Q: What is the role of practice?
A: Most growth comes from sustained shooting and review.

Q: What is the typical learning trajectory?
A: First year is technical; later years are conceptual and stylistic.

Q: What is the role of studying others?
A: Look at master photographers across history.

Q: What is "shooting like" exercise?
A: Try to imitate a master's style to learn their choices.

Q: What is the role of original style?
A: Eventually emerges from sustained work; isn't forced.

Q: What is the importance of patience?
A: Great photos often require waiting.

Q: What is the rule "be there"?
A: Showing up is half of photography.

Q: What is the typical photographer's hard drive?
A: Filled within months; backup strategy essential.

Q: What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
A: 3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite.

Q: What is the typical workflow tool?
A: Lightroom + cloud + external drive.

Q: What is the role of metadata?
A: Camera settings, time, location, copyright info.

Q: What is the typical organizational system?
A: By date, project, or subject.

Q: What is the role of keywords?
A: Searchable tags for finding photos later.

Q: What is the typical export size?
A: Match destination: full size for print, web-resolution for online.

Q: What is the typical export format?
A: JPEG (web), TIFF (print), PNG (web/transparency).

Q: What is the role of color space?
A: sRGB for web; Adobe RGB or ProPhoto for print.

Q: What is the role of soft proofing?
A: Previewing how a photo will look in print.

Q: What is the role of paper choice?
A: Affects color, contrast, finish.

Q: What is the typical photographer mistake?
A: Pixel-peeping (zooming 100%); audiences don't.

Q: What is "looking at small"?
A: View images at intended display size.

Q: What is the importance of intent?
A: Why are you taking this photo? Guides choices.

Q: What is the typical first project?
A: Self-portrait or a 30-day theme; structure helps.

Q: What is the role of light over gear?
A: Light makes the photo; gear records it.

Q: What is the role of expensive gear?
A: Helpful but not necessary; vision matters more.

Q: What is the rule "f/8 and be there"?
A: Press photographer's adage; technique matters less than presence.

Q: What is the role of curiosity?
A: Photographers see more by paying attention.

Q: What is the takeaway of photography?
A: Light, moment, composition — and the eye to see them.