Cinematography
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Although literally it means writing in light, the term cinematography is generally understood as the art and process of recording visual images for the cinema (with a camera) and later developping those images in a laboratory. Thus, it has as much to do with lighting and photography as it does with film.
As a process, it is closely related to photography and, as the former, it extends from conception and pre-production to post-production and presentation. Also like photography, cinematography is a creative and interpretive process that affects the motion picture as an aesthetic product. A cinematographer frequently has to work together with a director to ensure the artistic coherence of the final product.
Some aspects of cinematography also involve the framing, photographic aspects and duration of a shot. Cinematographic effects include sound, lighting, camera angles, and appearance (scenery, costumes, etc.).
Cinematography traditionally referred to the capture of moving images using film media, whereas videography referred to the capture of moving images using electronic media; the advent of digital cinema, however, has begun to blur that distinction.
Cinematographer
A professional who engages in cinematography is known as a cinematographer or Director of Photography. TJP