Whether you call this person the DP which is short for director of photography or the Cinematographer makes little difference. While this person has three title they all describe and mean the same exact thing. So what exactly does a DP do on a set?
On any shoot involving a camera no matter how big small the production there will also be a director this is the person that is the chief of the whole production. While a director might be chief over the whole set his right hand man or woman is the DP. The cinematographer is considered the chief of the lighting and lighting crew as well as the camera and camera crew.
While the director has control over the pacing and feel of any production the DP is needed in order to get that vision on film. The chief must be able to effectively communicate and work closely with their cinematographer in order to successfully marry the vision in their head the final production. When done correctly the finished product is a successful union of vision and effective implementation.
The DP is key to making sure that the Chief’s vision does indeed appear on film the way he or she imagined it to be. These Cinematographers are specifically trained and have become masters of their tools; the camera, lenses and lighting. These DP’s understand the different nuances that each lens offers as well as the different features each camera brings to a production.
While the camera as well as lenses are critical so to is the lighting. Lighting can set mood for a particular scene, it can give a production a certain ‘look’. Each production has a look, they differ greatly and are the result of either an understanding an harmony between the DP and the Head of the production or are an unintended result of poor communication between the two. The Cinematographer and Chief will often spend considerable time mapping out how to shoot a scene, this then is translated into the DP making sure the lighting and cameras are set properly to capture the action
The job of the director of photography is crucial to any production. They are tasked with the responsibility to bring the directors vision to the life. Their understanding and knowledge of lighting, lenses and cameras is crucial to the success of any shoot, which is the result of the DP and Chief working in harmony. Director of Photography
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