Director of Photography

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Out of interest, would you consider turning your photography skill into a career of being a film and TV Director of Photography?
 
Yes, and many photographers are now doing their own motion work as well as stills - and some are moving into areas that traditionally would have been carried out by a DoP (or their equivalent in TV / music / commercials production). The demand for video is also rapidly increasing, even if only for ipad editions for editorial shoots. Personally - I regularly work in both video and stills (hell, I was actually shooting video before I got serious with stills) and will hopefully continue to do so.

There is however, a vast amount of difference between the two jobs. Motion carries its own huge set of challenges and difficulties, that almost all photographers just do not have the skillset for.
 
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Dave's got it spot on. I'm doing a certain amount of motion now and it's a completely (almost) different skill set.

Where being a photographer comes in useful is an understanding of the basics of exposure, WB and framing, which makes learning a lot quicker.
 
Video is something I'm considering as I have a choice in my degree route. I can do a module on digital film production: creative concepts which I'm tempted by.

I think there's a lot of difference between filming and taking stills, but also between 2d and 3d filming.
 
Byker28i said:
Video is something I'm considering as I have a choice in my degree route. I can do a module on digital film production: creative concepts which I'm tempted by.
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Do it! Cross platform skills are increasingly more important, even if it's just to do BTS runs.
 
not sure what we are talkin about.. but agree with others.. i have been looking into adding video to my services ..
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
what are BTS runs?
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Behind The Scenes; ie a film of a photographic shoot. It's becoming a must have for decent level productions.
 
Thank you for your replies. In terms of learning the skill set of a DOP, you generally have to do years of being part of the camera crew and being shuffled up in status. I think DOP is going to end up being more rewarding and a more stable career. In my opinion, anyway. Not looking for a argument. :D
 
I think DOP is going to end up being more rewarding and a more stable career.
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film industry? stable career? hah...

years/decades...
 
Jarrrp said:
Thank you for your replies. In terms of learning the skill set of a DOP, you generally have to do years of being part of the camera crew and being shuffled up in status. I think DOP is going to end up being more rewarding and a more stable career. In my opinion, anyway. Not looking for a argument. :D
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I'd think again, a lot I films have budgets of 100,000s of pounds up to a few million and unless they sell to a massive distribution company after, barely make any profit after returning investments and paying wages etc. it's certainly not a stable career and only the creme de la creme succeed
 
DemiLion said:
Behind The Scenes; ie a film of a photographic shoot. It's becoming a must have for decent level productions.
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I actually couldn't back this more.
I love both creating & watching various behind the scenes videos, they're beyond beneficial these days.
 
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