Reciprocity (photography)

In photography, reciprocity is the inverse relationship between the intensity and duration of light that determines the reaction of light-sensitive material. Within a normal exposure range for film stock, for example, the reciprocity law states that the film response will be determined by the total exposure, defined as intensity × time. Therefore, the same response can result from reducing duration and increasing light intensity, and vice versa.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

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