Phosphorescence is the property of certain materials to absorb light at one wavelength and re-emit it as light of a different wavelength over time. Unlike fluorescence, which emits light almost immediately, phosphorescent materials continue to glow even after the original light source is removed.
In photography and imaging, phosphorescence can affect how subjects appear under long-exposure or low-light conditions. It is also used creatively in special effects, glow-in-the-dark photography, and scientific imaging, where capturing the delayed emission of light can add unique visual or analytical insights.