The Cinematographer or director of photography  (DP) is the person in charge of actually shooting the film. He is the head of the camera and lighting departments, and as such he has a big role in the making of any movie.

Cinematography is the science or art of motion-picture photography by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as film stock.

The are of visual storytelling. Anyone can set a camera on a tripod and hit record, but the artistry of cinematography comes in controlling what the viewer sees (or doesn't see) and how the image is presented. Film is a visual medium, and the best-shot films are ones where you can tell what's going on without hearing any of the dialogue. (Timothy Heiderich, Cinematography).