cinematography

American  

[sin-uh-muh-tog-ruh-fee] / ˌsɪn ə məˈtɒg rə fi /

noun

1. the art or technique of video photography, traditionally used in movies, but also in the production of TV shows and other video content.

   The agency is hiring award-winning film directors to elevate these television commercials with classic cinematography and state-of-the-art special effects.

2. the artistic vision, tone, look, and feel of a video production.

   The film’s warm cinematography and romantic musical score immerse the audience immediately in a sweet and nostalgic world.

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cinematography British  

/ ˌsɪnɪməˈtɒɡrəfɪ, ˌsɪnɪˌmætəˈɡræfɪk, ˌsɪnɪməˈtɒɡrəfə /

noun

1. the art or science of film (motion-picture) photography

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Other Word Forms

• cinematographer noun
• cinematographic adjective
• cinematographically adverb

Etymology

Origin of cinematography

First recorded in 1895–1900; cinematograph, -graphy

Explanation

The art of filming a movie is cinematography. The cinematography in your first documentary might not be amazing — next time, get a real movie camera instead of filming on your smartphone. Every year, one film wins an Academy Award for cinematography — this usually goes to a movie with gorgeous, sweeping camera shots. There's a lot that goes into cinematography, beyond simply filming the action with a camera: cinematographers carefully plan out shots, including how they're lit, the camera angles, focus, and depth of field. Cinematography comes from the now-obsolete cinematograph, "device for projecting a series of photographs in rapid succession so as to produce the illusion of movement."

Example Sentences

Its cinematography is very important, with deep shadows and unsettling camera angles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

“The Madison” makes the most of that with cinematography that lingers on her face as if it were part of Montana’s sun-kissed natural beauty.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

It ended up with four awards -- best actor for Jordan, Coogler's prize, best score for Ludwig Goransson and best cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the first woman to ever win in that category.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Elsewhere, Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first female winner of best cinematography, for her work on Sinners.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Or it might have been my father’s cinematography.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides