photography

/fəˈtɑgrəfi/

/fəˈtɒgrəfi/

Other forms: photographies

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.

Definitions of photography

1. noun

   the process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces
   types:

   anaglyphy

   the process of producing pictures in contrasting colors that appear three-dimensional when superimposed and viewed through spectacles with one red and one green lens

   autotype, autotypy

   process for producing permanent prints in a carbon pigment

   digital photography

   a photographic method that stores the image digitally for later reproduction

   dry plate, dry plate process

   a former photographic method that used a glass plate coated with a light-sensitive gelatinous emulsion

   photomechanics, photoplate making

   the process whereby printing surfaces (plates or cylinders) are produced by photographic methods

   powder method, powder photography, powder technique

   a process for identifying minerals or crystals; a small rod is coated with a powdered form of the substance and subjected to suitably modified X-rays; the pattern of diffracted rings is used for identification

   radiography, skiagraphy

   the process of making a radiograph; producing an image on a radiosensitive surface by radiation other than visible light

   scanning

   the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer

   video digitizing

   the process of capturing and converting and storing video images for use by a computer

   autoradiography

   producing a radiograph by means of the radiation emitted from the specimen being photographed

   dithering

   the process of representing intermediate colors by patterns of tiny colored dots that simulate the desired color

   type of:

   physical process, process

   a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states
2. noun

   the act of taking and printing photographs
   synonyms: picture taking

   types:

   radiography

   photography that uses other kinds of radiation than visible light

   xerography

   forming an image by the action of light on a specially coated charged plate; the latent image is developed with powders that adhere only to electrically charged areas

   telephotography

   photography using a telephoto lens

   exposure

   the act of exposing film to light

   cinematography, filming, motion-picture photography

   the act of making a film

   X-ray photography, roentgenography

   radiography that uses X-rays to produce a roentgenogram

   xeroradiography

   radiography using X-rays and xerographic (rather than roentgenographic) techniques

   overexposure

   the act of exposing film to too much light or for too long a time

   underexposure

   the act of exposing film to too little light or for too short a time

   time exposure

   exposure of a film for a relatively long time (more than half a second)

   take

   the act of photographing a scene or part of a scene without interruption

   animation

   the making of animated cartoons

   type of:

   pictorial representation, picturing

   visual representation as by photography or painting
3. noun

   the occupation of taking and printing photographs or making movies
   type of:

   business, job, line, line of work, occupation

   the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money