The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and method, and a program for improving usability by removing operational constraints on combinations of an aspect ratio of a recorded moving image and a horizontal resolution from users while the compliance with the DVD-Video standard is strictly maintained. When an aspect ratio is 16:9 in a state that an LP mode is selected, a horizontal×vertical resolution is set to 720×480. When the aspect ratio is 4:3 in a state that the LP mode is selected, the horizontal×vertical resolution is set to 352×480. When an HQ or SQ mode is selected, the horizontal×vertical resolution is set to 720×480 irrespective of the aspect ratio. Accordingly, the image recording apparatus can encode a moving image and record the encoded image onto a DVD 17 without violating the DVD-Video standard while allowing users to arbitrarily select a recording mode and an aspect ratio. The present invention can be applied to video cameras, video recorders, etc.