Cinematography is the visual storytelling art, and good cinematography successfully tells the story. That includes many components of the real art form, such as camera placement, lighting, understanding the narrative and story, and mastering the language of film. The synthesis of all of these, along with the involvement of a Director, is what makes a film’s cinematography effective.

“The art and technology of making motion images,” as cinematographers are known, is a broad definition. It includes a variety of cinematic components, such as scene arrangement, sometimes known as mise-en-scene; camera selection, including lenses, filters, and stock if filming on film; camera movement and camera angles; lighting setup for each shot; and, in certain cases, special effects.

Another definition is that there is no motion picture without cinematography. A Screenwriter may write the tale and a Director may direct how the actors act, but the Cinematographer is the one who captures the story and the actors in it forever.

Cinematography, on the other hand, involves considerably more than simply documenting what happens on location or on a sound stage. It’s a language that isn’t spoken. However, it was observed. Because how the audience watches it all unfold is more important than what the actors do or say. Cinematography, at its most basic level, is the visual accompaniment to the story being told.

Not only can those visuals show the audience what’s going on from scene to scene, but they can also impact how they react to what they’re watching. How? Camera location, camera movement, focus, lighting, composition, and equipment selections are just a few of the numerous factors that cinematography involves.