Lichtaufnahme

Lichtaufnahme (literally “light capture” or “light intake”) is a German term used to describe the process of recording or collecting light. In common usage it refers to the creation of images by capturing light, but the concept also appears in scientific and technical contexts where light is measured, absorbed, or detected.

In photography and cinematography, a Lichtaufnahme is the act of recording an image by collecting incident light with a camera’s sensor or film. Key factors include exposure: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO; metering; and white balance. The term is often used interchangeably with “exposure” in German, though “Belichtung” is the more precise technical term for exposure settings. Proper Lichtaufnahme aims for sufficient brightness and tonal range, avoiding blown highlights or excessive noise.

In science and technology, Lichtaufnahme describes the interaction of light with matter or detectors. In photobiology and vision science it encompasses the absorption of photons by photoreceptors and the initiation of a signal transduction pathway. In spectroscopy and materials science, it refers to light absorption or emission by samples, which forms the basis of measurements such as absorbance, transmittance, and reflectance. In imaging modalities and sensors, Lichtaufnahme denotes the collection of light signals used to reconstruct an image or an analysis result.

Etymology and usage: the term combines Licht (light) and Aufnahme (capture, recording, intake). While common in German-language discussions of photography and optics, its exact meaning depends on the context, and English-language texts more often use “exposure” or “image capture” for photography and “light absorption” or “photodetection” in scientific contexts.