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

Derived 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

“Tonal Variations: Photography and Music,” for instance, gathers images by Paul Caponigro, William Eggleston, Lisette Model and others.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

She enrolled in jazz courses at Juilliard School and began studying intensively at the International Center of Photography in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

A new exhibition at the Los Angeles Center of Photography, featuring Dr. Jeremy Nobel and artist Lisa McCord, explores how creative expression can heal our crisis of disconnection.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

BBC Sport and the World Sport Photography Awards present a selection of the world's finest sporting images from this year's competition.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

Thus equipped, she’d begun her classes: Figure Drawing I, Light and Color I, Survey of Art I, Introduction to Critical Studies, and—with the most excitement—Introduction to Photography, taught by the renowned Pauline Hawthorne.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng