cinematography

noun

cin·​e·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌsi-nə-mə-ˈtä-grə-fē 

: the art or science of photography in a visual medium (as for movies, television, or video games)

black-and-white cinematography

But most of the cinematography is pedestrian. Many scenes are ridiculously overlit—no doubt because Technicolor was still a glorious new gimmick in 1939.

—Philip Martin

… this film, directed by Cameron Crowe, has better acting, more depth, and also boasts gorgeous cinematography.

—Nancy Gordon

cinematographic

ˌsi-nə-ˌma-tə-ˈgra-fik 

adjective

cinematographically

ˌsi-nə-ˌma-tə-ˈgra-fi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of cinematography in a Sentence

The film's cinematography is breathtaking.

Who did the cinematography for this film?

Recent Examples on the Web

Obviously not the specific experience of growing up in Flint or being a boxer, but being a female in cinematography is a craft that nobody pictures women in, right? —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024

His teeming visual imagination is matched by the agile physicality of Jomo Fray’s cinematography. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2024

The deftness of Reiner’s approach is amplified by the ways in which Tod Campbell’s unfussy widescreen cinematography gradually encompasses more spectacular scenic backdrops, just as Rene Boscio finally expands upon the solo piano textures of his faintly bluesy, jazz-adjacent score. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024

See spectacular aerial cinematography and learn how this nearly impossible railroad was built. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cinematography

noun

cin·​e·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

: the art or science of motion-picture photography

cinematographer

-fər

noun

cinematographic

-ˌmat-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

cinematography

noun

cin·​e·​ma·​tog·​ra·​phy ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē 

plural cinematographies

: the art or science of motion-picture photography

X-ray fluoroscopic cinematography

cinematographic

-ˌmat-ə-ˈgraf-ik 

adjective

cinematographically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb