What is cinematography?
The pursuit of a visual narrative is at the heart of filmmaking. This art of storytelling combined with photography and working with the camera in a feature film is called cinematography.
The term cinematography is used not only in the field of entertainment but also in science, business, and mass media. According to the definition of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), cinematography is not only the documentation of an event but also the creation of original art through an illuminating and creative process.
Telling your own unique story by developing a visual language takes an innate natural talent and knowledge of professional photography. Aside from photography, a cinematographer also uses other means such as image editing, organization, management, etc. to achieve the desired result. When a film is due to be shown on the big screen, filmmakers typically spend the majority of their budget on quality camerawork.
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What does a cameraman do?
Cameramen and women, also called Directors of Photography (DP), are the ones who capture the story in pictures with the help of a camera. Cinematographers must manage all of the visual elements of the film, such as lighting, composition, tones, camera movement, etc. Whether a scene should be shot wide or close-up, high or low, sharp or out of focus – the cinematographer decides.
Cinematographers manage the entire team that works on the camera and lighting of a film. Your job is to work with the director to ensure the director’s vision is fulfilled. You have to work in a team that has to make complex decisions.
Usually, a director dictates how a scene should look visually, and the cinematographer is responsible for making that happen. In most cases, the cameraman has a lot of creative freedom. However, the director can also give precise instructions on what the desired result should look like.
The American Society of Cinematographers honors the best cinematographers in the industry. She allows them to use the suffix “ASC” in front of their name in the film’s credits.
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