What does zooming in photography refer to?

Zooming in photography specifically refers to altering the focal length of a lens. When a photographer zooms in, they are adjusting the lens to magnify the subject, making it appear closer without physically moving in towards it. This is typically done using a zoom lens, which allows for variable focal lengths, providing flexibility in composition and framing.

Altering the focal length is crucial because it affects not only the composition but also aspects such as depth of field and perspective. It allows the photographer to capture a wider scene or focus on details that may be far away without the need to change physical locations.

The other options do not accurately define zooming. Changing the aperture size relates to controlling the amount of light entering the camera and affects depth of field but does not involve zooming. Switching lenses generates different effects based on the type of lens used, yet it wouldn’t be classified as zooming. Changing the ISO setting impacts the camera's sensitivity to light but does not influence how close or far away a subject appears in the frame. Thus, the correct understanding of zooming directly ties to the alteration of focal length.