Test your basic knowledge |

Certified Professional Photographer

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. What is the inverse square law?
A RAW file that has been altered
The intensity of the illumination is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from light to subject. At twice the distance from the subject - the light illuminates only 1/4 of the original.
An 8-BIT sequence that represents 256 possibilities - black & white & 254 shades of grey. The size of a file is the number of bytes it contains.
Selectively blocking light during print exposure to lighten the area

2. A color image with smooth gradiations requires at least what bit depth?
3:1 or 4:1
Additive (R - G - B)
It decreases. A 50mm lens at 12 inches and f/4 has a DOF of 1/16th of an inch. At f/11 - it increases to only 1/2 an inch.
24 bits per pixel (8 per color) - which gives 16 -777 -216 colors

3. If an image is too green - what color adjustment should be made in Photoshop to correct it?
Luminance is light reflected from the subject (measured by a reflected-light meter) - while Illuminance is light falling on a subject (as measured with an incident light meter)
Add magenta
A simple lens with two curved sides or one curved and one flat side; found in a compound lens.
A light-sensitive cell or sensor inside a flash unit that measures the amount of light reflecting off a subject when a flash is used.

4. Convex lenses cause light rays to do what?
The distance between the lens rear nodal point and the focal plane when the lens is focused at infinity.
bend toward each other and converge at the focal point.
Curves adjustment; Levels adjustment; Brighteness/Contrast adjustment
Metadata fields that hold info on photographer - subject - and use.

5. An SLR camera uses what to allow you to see exactly what you'll photograph?
A mirror and pentaprism
Aperture and shutter
Zoom lens
90 degrees. If using to eliminate reflections - it should be used at 35 degrees.

6. What color is between Magenta and Cyan on the color wheel?
Reflected light meter
Curves adjustment; Levels adjustment; Brighteness/Contrast adjustment
Blue
1) Use a longer lens; 2) Move closer to the subject

7. This light modifier can be used to highlight a specific area of the subject.
Along the lines of an imaginary grid at intersecting points that divide the image into thirds horizontally and vertically
Snoot
One stop less
The pixels per inch a scanner is capable of capturing often described as two numbers (i.e. 1200x2400)

8. What is the optical resolution on a scanner defined as?
1/250th
Black (0)
Yellow
The pixels per inch a scanner is capable of capturing often described as two numbers (i.e. 1200x2400)

9. If an image is too yellow - what color adjustment should be made in Photoshop to correct it?
Selecting portions of the image based on color
A simple lens with two curved sides or one curved and one flat side; found in a compound lens.
Add blue
Click with the neutral-point dropper on the selected color

10. Cyan is composed of equal parts of what two colors?
hue/saturation adjustment layer
Aperture
Add cyan
Blue & Green

11. If you're working with an automatic camera and you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed - what mode are you working in?
factor of 2 = 1 stop compensation. (Each time a factor doubles - it's one additional stop)
Aperture-priority
Butterfly lighting
Fisheye

12. The smallest unit of digital information is called a what?
Absorbs equal quantities of all wavelengths of light. It allows you to use wider apertures or slower shutter speeds without changing color balance.
Keeps a moving subject sharp while blurring the background
Bit
Sensor size - the larger the sensor size - the longer the focal length of a normal lens. (Corresponds to a diagonal line across the frame)

13. What Photoshop tool allows you to select an area of any size or shape by drawing freehand?
Lasso tool
The diagonal measurement of the sensor.
Aperture-priority
Soft proofing

14. If an image is too red - what color adjustment should be made in Photoshop to correct it?
Blue
Blown highlights
Add cyan
Levels adjustment

15. If you must move to reduce the amount of flash reaching your subject - how far do you move?
To create a 1-stop difference - multiply the original distance by 1.4. Example - if you were originally 5 feet away - a 1-stop difference would have you step back to 7 feet.
a sensor (or film's) sensitivity to light
(X times Y = exposure) Intensity (aperture) x Time (shutter)
Aperture

16. A lens set at f/4 admits how much more/less light than one set at f/2.8?
a sensor (or film's) sensitivity to light
Add red
Half as much light
The sensor's sensitivity to light

17. Most lenses are sharpest closed down to how many stops from the widest?
1 or 2
Follow focus
Use negative exposure compensation (underexpose). The meter will attempt to make the dark scene 18% grey - underexpose to bring it back to dark.
In the middle

18. Focal length controls what?
Snoot
A raster image
1) Magnification - or the size of the subject; 2) Angle of view
Sensor size - the larger the sensor size - the longer the focal length of a normal lens. (Corresponds to a diagonal line across the frame)

19. In short lighting - where is the main light placed?
Levels adjustment
Convex
More of the background and foreground are sharp.
To strike the side of the face away from the camera.

20. What is focal length - technically?
The distance between the lens rear nodal point and the focal plane when the lens is focused at infinity.
Inkjet black & white printing where color cartridges are replaced with shades of gray - resulting in smooth tones and slight color cast
Dynamic range
Relative aperture. The opening on a long lens must be larger than a corresponding opening on a short lens to produce the same f-stops.

21. Sharpness from near to far is controlled by what?
Soft proofing
Metamerism
Click with the neutral-point dropper on the selected color
Aperture

22. In a 2:1 ratio - the shadow side of the subject would meter at X stop(s) less than the highlight side.
Blue & Green
One stop less
Add yellow
1) Use a longer lens; 2) Move closer to the subject

23. What is burning?
Reflected light meter
Metamerism
It increases
Selectively increasing print exposure - which will make select parts of the image darker

24. Printers use what set of colors?
Variations command
Creates deep shadows in eye pockets - under nose - and chin.
Similar to a normal lens at about 30 degrees
Subtractive primaries (plus black)

25. A tall vertical line on the right hand edge of a histogram indicates what?
Blown highlights
Also called a gobo; it is a small panel usually mounted on a stand that shades some part of the subject or shields the lens from light that could cause flare
Butterfly lighting
Depth of field

26. What angle should a polarizing filter be to the sun for best results?
The number of pixels per unit of length in a image
90 degrees. If using to eliminate reflections - it should be used at 35 degrees.
Half as much light
Sensor size - the larger the sensor size - the longer the focal length of a normal lens. (Corresponds to a diagonal line across the frame)

27. What is dodging?
Use negative exposure compensation (underexpose). The meter will attempt to make the dark scene 18% grey - underexpose to bring it back to dark.
Magenta
International Organization for Standardization
Selectively blocking light during print exposure to lighten the area

28. What does "photomacrograph" or "macrophotograph" mean?
Metadata fields that hold info on photographer - subject - and use.
Close-ups that are life-size or larger. Images through microscopes are "photomicrographs."
High Dynamic Range
A light-sensitive cell or sensor inside a flash unit that measures the amount of light reflecting off a subject when a flash is used.

29. Name 3 ways to make a tonal adjustment in Photoshop.
1) Use a longer lens; 2) Move closer to the subject
Actual Pixel view
Curves adjustment; Levels adjustment; Brighteness/Contrast adjustment
1) Use a shorter focal length; 2) Move farther away from the subject

30. Why is depth of field greater on a short lens versus a long lens?
A raster image
Add blue
5 -000 Kelvin
Relative aperture. The opening on a long lens must be larger than a corresponding opening on a short lens to produce the same f-stops.

31. What does ISO stand for?
With the Main at 45 degrees to one side and 45 degrees above subject - it is a classic angle for portraits. It seems natural and flattering and models the face into 3D form.
International Organization for Standardization
The entire range of colors that can be seen - reproduced - or captured. Our eyes have a greater gamut than a print or monitor.
Add green

32. An image made of pixels is sometimes called what?
A raster image
Infinity
Use and adjustment layer
Glossy paper

33. This viewing option gives you the most accurate version of your image in Photoshop.
Reciprocal relationship
Hue - Luminance - Saturation
Actual Pixel view
A change in illumination

34. A normal (or standard) focal length lens approximates what?
A mathematical translator assigned to each piece of equipment you use (they map one gamut to another; and the ICC (or International Color Consortium) profile is usually shipped by the equipment manufacturer).
Add blue
90 degrees. If using to eliminate reflections - it should be used at 35 degrees.
The impression human vision gives

35. When mixed in varying proportion - the subtractive primary colors produce what?
In the middle
One stop
Levels adjustment
All colors

36. Name 2 ways you can decrease depth of field.
Add green
90 degrees. If using to eliminate reflections - it should be used at 35 degrees.
Levels adjustment
1) Use a longer lens; 2) Move closer to the subject

37. What are IPTC fields used for?
Metadata fields that hold info on photographer - subject - and use.
Total number of pixels
To strike the side of the face away from the camera.
Shutter-Priority

38. Using this kind of automatic exposure setting on the camera - you set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture.
The pixels per inch a scanner is capable of capturing often described as two numbers (i.e. 1200x2400)
The intensity of the illumination is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from light to subject. At twice the distance from the subject - the light illuminates only 1/4 of the original.
Shutter-Priority
3200 Kelvin

39. Maximum depth of field at a given aperture is achieved by focusing at what?
A RAW file that has been altered
Hyperfocal distance. A lens focused at the hyperfocal distance has depth of field extending from approximately half the hyperfocal distance to infinity - whereas a lens focused at infinity has a depth of field only at infinity.
emphasizes textures
factor of 2 = 1 stop compensation. (Each time a factor doubles - it's one additional stop)

40. What do the bars on the right of a histogram represent?
White (255)
Add yellow
Along the lines of an imaginary grid at intersecting points that divide the image into thirds horizontally and vertically
Aperture-Priority

41. What are luminance and illuminance?
Close-ups that are life-size or larger. Images through microscopes are "photomicrographs."
1) Use a shorter focal length; 2) Move farther away from the subject
Luminance is light reflected from the subject (measured by a reflected-light meter) - while Illuminance is light falling on a subject (as measured with an incident light meter)
ISO

42. According to the rule of thirds - where should the important parts of an image fall?
Along the lines of an imaginary grid at intersecting points that divide the image into thirds horizontally and vertically
It emphasizes the edges between tones. A threshold of zero affects all pixels - a higher threshold affects just the edges with high tonal difference and minimizes noise.
A mathematical translator assigned to each piece of equipment you use (they map one gamut to another; and the ICC (or International Color Consortium) profile is usually shipped by the equipment manufacturer).
JPEG

43. What do TTL systems react to?
The amount of light reflected back from the subject during exposure.
(X times Y = exposure) Intensity (aperture) x Time (shutter)
Very wide at about 180 degrees
It should match the focal length. Too wide and it's inefficient; too narrow and it will vignette; most likely to occur with wide angle of 28mm and below.

44. How much resolution do you need for: Internet? Newspaper? Photographic print? Glossy magazine?
A simple lens with two curved sides or one curved and one flat side; found in a compound lens.
Internet = 72 dpi; Newspaper = 150 dpi; Photographic print = 240-300 dpi; Gloss magazine = 400 dpi
The entire range of colors that can be seen - reproduced - or captured. Our eyes have a greater gamut than a print or monitor.
Infinity

45. As the aperture is stopped down - what happens to sharpness?
The intensity of the illumination is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from light to subject. At twice the distance from the subject - the light illuminates only 1/4 of the original.
lens-to-subject distance
Hue - Luminance - Saturation
More of the background and foreground are sharp.

46. Bit depth refers to what?
The amount of information contained in each pixel
The intensity of the illumination is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from light to subject. At twice the distance from the subject - the light illuminates only 1/4 of the original.
Levels adjustment
Convex

47. Panning does what?
Keeps a moving subject sharp while blurring the background
Bit
Short lighting.
1) Use a longer lens; 2) Move closer to the subject

48. When the additive primaries are mixed together equally - what is created?
The diagonal measurement of the sensor.
White (additive primaries are Red - Green Blue)
To send accurate color requirements to a printer.
Because you can move in close to the subject

49. Going clockwise around the color wheel - starting with RED - what is the progression of colors?
Internet = 72 dpi; Newspaper = 150 dpi; Photographic print = 240-300 dpi; Gloss magazine = 400 dpi
Luminance is light reflected from the subject (measured by a reflected-light meter) - while Illuminance is light falling on a subject (as measured with an incident light meter)
Red - Yellow - Green - Cyan - Blue - Magenta
A change in illumination

50. What kind of lighting pattern is best for average oval faces and round faces you want to slim?
Inkjet black & white printing where color cartridges are replaced with shades of gray - resulting in smooth tones and slight color cast
Short lighting.
The smallest unit of information consisting of either a 1 or a zero. It can only represent two possibilities - either yes or no - black or white.
Add yellow