Cinematography

Cinematography is the technique of photographing motion pictures. The art of cinematography involves working with three distinct sets of tools: the camera, the film, and the lighting. We can make useful distinctions among cinematography, mise en scène , and editing. Whereas mise en scène involves the arrangement of details in front of the camera, cinematography involves the act of capturing this arrangement on film (→ Film Production). The result of this process is a set of shots that can be cut together in the process of editing. Although these distinctions are not always clear‐cut, cinematography is one of the major components of a film's visual style, playing a powerful role in shaping the spectator's experience of cinematic time and space.