Production Glossary
Cinematographer
The Cinematographer, also frequently referred to as the Director of Photography, is responsible for performing artistic and technical decisions relating to the image in both television and film production.In the early days of production, this position was nearly synonymous with the cameraman, however as the industry grew and became more specialized, the cinematographer had to devote more time to other things such as composition, lighting, and overseeing a large crew of workers including cameramen. The cinematographer is responsible for creating the composition, selecting the type of film to be used, choosing exposures, lenses, lighting techniques, selecting filters for the cameras and more.
Because such important decisions are made by the cinematographer, the this person needs to be very in tune with the director of the film. It is not uncommon for a director and cinematographer to develop a comfortable relationship together and subsequently work together on multiple projects.
The American Society of Cinematographers is an invitation only group of the very best cinematographers in the United States. Other countries have similar organizations.
