Holography is a two-stage process of photography using coherent light from a laser to illuminate the scene. In the first stage a hologram is formed by combining the light scattered from the object and the direct laser beam on a photographic plate. In the second stage a three-dimensional image is reconstructed without the use of lenses, by directing the laser beam through the hologram. Applications of holography include information storage, recording of images in depth, the use of holograms as optical elements, and as a means of performing precise interferometric measurements on three-dimensional objects of any shape and surface finish.