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Camera Operator

 
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A camera operator is a person that operates a film
Movie camera

The movie camera is a type of photography camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of photographic film. In contrast to a still camera, which captures a single snapshot at a time, the movie camera takes a series of images, each called a "frame"....
 or video camera
Video camera

File:Sonyhdrfx1.jpgA video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well....
 for the purpose of recording motion to film
Film

Film encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the film industry. Films are produced by recording images from the world with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or special effects....
, video
Video

Video is the technology of electronics Videography, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing Scene in motion....
, or a computer storage
Computer storage

Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components, devices, and recording medium that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time....
 medium. Camera operators serving in an official capacity in the process of filmmaking
Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story idea or commission through scriptwriting, shooting, editing and finally distribution to an audience....
 may be known variously as a camera operator, cameraman, television camera operator, video camera operator, or videographer, depending on the context and technology involved.

The operator is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition
Composition

Composition can refer to:* fallacy of composition, a fallacy of ambiguation in which one assumes that a whole has a property solely because its various parts have that property...
 throughout a given scene or shot.






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A camera operator is a person that operates a film
Movie camera

The movie camera is a type of photography camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of photographic film. In contrast to a still camera, which captures a single snapshot at a time, the movie camera takes a series of images, each called a "frame"....
 or video camera
Video camera

File:Sonyhdrfx1.jpgA video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well....
 for the purpose of recording motion to film
Film

Film encompasses individual motion pictures, the field of film as an art form, and the film industry. Films are produced by recording images from the world with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or special effects....
, video
Video

Video is the technology of electronics Videography, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing Scene in motion....
, or a computer storage
Computer storage

Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components, devices, and recording medium that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time....
 medium. Camera operators serving in an official capacity in the process of filmmaking
Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story idea or commission through scriptwriting, shooting, editing and finally distribution to an audience....
 may be known variously as a camera operator, cameraman, television camera operator, video camera operator, or videographer, depending on the context and technology involved.

The operator is responsible for physically operating the camera and maintaining composition
Composition

Composition can refer to:* fallacy of composition, a fallacy of ambiguation in which one assumes that a whole has a property solely because its various parts have that property...
 throughout a given scene or shot. In narrative filmmaking, the camera operator will collaborate with the director
Director

Director may refer to:...
, director of photography, actor
Actor

An actor or actress is a person who acting in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio programming in that capacity....
s and crew
Crew

A crew comprises a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchy organization. A location in which a crew works is called a crewyard or a workyard....
 to make technical and creative decisions. In this setting, a camera operator is part of a camera crew consisting of the director of photography and one or more camera assistants. In documentary filmmaking and news, the camera operator is often called on to film unfolding, unscripted events. The operator may or may not be working in collaboration with a director or producer.

Important camera operator skills include choreographing and framing shots, knowledge of and the ability to select appropriate photographic lens
Photographic lens

A photographic lens is an optics lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically....
es, and other equipment (dollies
Camera dolly

A camera dolly is a specialized piece of film equipment designed to create smooth camera movements. The camera is mounted to the dolly and the camera operator and Focus puller usually ride on it to operate the camera....
, camera cranes, etc.) to portray drama
Drama

Drama is the specific Mode of fiction Mimesis in performance. The term comes from a Ancient Greek word meaning "Action " , which is derived from "to do" ....
tic scenes. The principles of dramatic story telling and film editing fundamentals are important skills as well. The camera operator is required to communicate clearly and concisely on film sets where time and budget constraints are ever present.

Camera operators are often wrongly mistaken for the movie director.