Lighting is a fundamental property of cinema. So called “writing in light”, photographed images, whether live-action or cell animation, need illumination. It is the most essential part of a cinematographer’s job to design and implement that illumination – in England and Australia the term “lighting cameraman” is equivalent to “director of photography”.

Films are light. – Federico Fellini

But if lighting is an eternal, omnipresent concern, then techniques, uses, and styles of lighting have varied enormously over time.

Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita showing Marcello Mastroianni kissing Anita Ekberg.
EPA/ Blue Box Toys/ HO