photography

American  

[fuh-tog-ruh-fee] / fəˈtɒg rə fi /

noun

1. the process or art of producing images of objects on sensitized surfaces by the chemical action of light or of other forms of radiant energy, as x-rays, gamma rays, or cosmic rays.

2. cinematography.

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photography British  

/ fəˈtɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. the process of recording images on sensitized material by the action of light, X-rays, etc, and the chemical processing of this material to produce a print, slide, or cine film

2. the art, practice, or occupation of taking and printing photographs, making cine films, etc

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Other Word Forms

• multiphotography noun

Etymology

Origin of photography

First recorded in 1839; photo- + -graphy

Explanation

Photography is the art or process of taking pictures using a camera. If you're very interested in photography, you might want to learn how to develop your own film in a darkroom. You should also practice yelling "Say cheese!" The word photography combines Greek roots phōtos, "light," and graphé, "represent by drawing lines" — so photography is essentially "drawing with light." Since it was invented in the 19th century, the art of capturing images using light has expanded far beyond what the original photographers could have imagined. Today many of us practice photography using our phones. Other advances through the years have included color film, instant photographs, and digital photography, among many others.

Example Sentences

Half of the students in her first class on digital photography dropped out, and she struggled to learn to use a professional camera.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

A photography exhibition showcasing more than 100 photographs taken of and by the British Royal Family is on tour following its launch at Kensington Palace.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Sculpture, installation art, photography, and drawing with ink and charcoal all appealed to him.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

We should pay attention to what makes practices like film photography so appealing in a digital age.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

We were serious about certain things—music in my case, art and photography in hers—and in the simplified world of middle school, that was enough to set us apart as separated twins of some sort.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman