Cinemagraph
A still image in which a small isolated area moves in a seamless loop.
Measured in
seconds
In depth
The effect depends on contrast between stillness and motion: almost everything is frozen, so the one moving element — steam, hair, water — becomes hypnotic. It is built by masking a short video clip against a still frame from the same take, with the loop point chosen so the motion returns to its starting state.
Examples in practice
A café scene holds completely still except for the steam rising from one cup, looping every four seconds.