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
Philip Martin… this film, directed by Cameron Crowe, has better acting, more depth, and also boasts gorgeous cinematography.—Nancy Gordon
Nancy GordonExamples of cinematography in a Sentence
The film's cinematography is breathtaking.
Who did the cinematography for this film?
Recent Examples on the Web
The film features cinematography by Leung Ming Kai, costume design by Elaine Ng, and editing consultation by Walter Fasano.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
With its handsome widescreen cinematography, its photogenic human subjects and its captivating assortment of farm animals, The Ark is a warm, inviting documentary.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Costume design, production design, cinematography, and hair and makeup all work together, from color coding and contrasts to lighting.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Black Swan excels by offering breathtaking dance choreography, and the film's gorgeous cinematography provides viewers with a tapestry of imagery unparalleled by most psychological horror films.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinematography
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
With its handsome widescreen cinematography, its photogenic human subjects and its captivating assortment of farm animals, The Ark is a warm, inviting documentary.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Costume design, production design, cinematography, and hair and makeup all work together, from color coding and contrasts to lighting.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Black Swan excels by offering breathtaking dance choreography, and the film's gorgeous cinematography provides viewers with a tapestry of imagery unparalleled by most psychological horror films.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cinematography
Cite this Entry
“Cinematography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinematography. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cinematography
noun
cin·e·ma·tog·ra·phy
ˌsin-ə-mə-ˈtäg-rə-fē
: the art or science of motion-picture photography
cinematographer
noun
-fər
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
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