From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
photography
n 1: the act of taking and printing photographs [syn:
photography, picture taking]
2: the process of producing images of objects on photosensitive
surfaces
3: the occupation of taking and printing photographs or making
movies
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Photography \Pho*tog"ra*phy\, n. [Photo- + -graphy: cf. F.
photographie.]
1. The science which relates to the action of light on
sensitive bodies in the production of pictures, the
fixation of images, and the like. The production of
pictures by the photochemical action of light on films of
chemicals sensitive to light, and also the production of
electronic images in electronic cameras, are both
considered types of photography.
[1913 Webster]
2. The art or process of producing pictures by this action of
light.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In traditional photography, the well-focused optical
image is thrown on a surface of metal, glass, paper, or
other suitable substance, coated with collodion or
gelatin, and sensitized with the chlorides, bromides,
or iodides of silver, or other salts sensitive to
light. The exposed plate is then treated with reducing
agents, as pyrogallic acid, ferrous sulphate, etc., to
develop the latent image. The image is then fixed by
washing off the excess of unchanged sensitive salt with
sodium hyposulphite (thiosulphate) or other suitable
reagents.
[1913 Webster]
color photography, the production of colored images by a
photographic process. A variety of dyes are used to
produced the colored images in photochemical processes.
Such processes may or may not use silver to produce the
colored image. Color photographs may also be produced by
electronic cameras.
[PJC]