A Cinemagraph is an image that contains within itself a living moment that allows a glimpse of time to be experienced and preserved endlessly. They are produced by taking a series of photographs or a video recording, and, using image editing software, compositing the photographs or the video frames into an seamless loop of sequential frames, often using the animated GIF file format in such a manner that motion in part of the subject between exposures (for example, a person’s dangling leg) is perceived as a repeating or continued motion, in contrast with the stillness of the rest of the image. Visual Graphics Artist Kevin Burg began experimenting with the .gif format in this style in 2009 but it wasn’t until he partnered with photographer Jamie Beck to cover NYFW that Cinemagraphs were born.
The term “cinemagraph” was coined by U.S. photographers Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck, who used the technique to animate their fashion and news photographs beginning in early 2011. The technique resembles “photions”, which captures 4-6 seconds subtle movements in a loop. For portrait photography it is primarily a registration of posing. The technique of “photions” is online since April 2010. Contrary to cinemagraphs in their current appearance, photions use HTML5 since the beginning, providing full color end results.
