director of photography
Directors of photography are responsible for the visual interpretation of the script and all photography components of the film, including framing, colouring, lightning, style and locations. They create the visual look of the film or television programme and select the filming equipment, including the lens and filters. Directors of photography manage the visual equipment operators and lighting technicians. They work together with the video and motion picture director to achieve the desired effect.
Also called: photography director, head of camera and lighting crew, camera and lighting director, cinematographer, lighting cameraman, senior director of photography
- 21
- essential skills
- 17
- optional skills
- 8
- related roles
- 2654
- ISCO-08 group
Where you can go from here
8 rolesOccupations sharing the most essential skills with this one. The number is a count, not an opinion.
- video and motion picture directorWhat changes?16 skills in common
- camera operator9 skills in common
- performance lighting director8 skills in common
- animation layout artist7 skills in common
- storyboard artist7 skills in common
- script supervisor6 skills in common
- video and motion picture editor6 skills in common
- hair stylist5 skills in common
Essential skills
21- adapt designers’ work to the performance venue
- adapt to type of media
- analyse a script
- audiovisual equipment
- cinematography
- consult with production director
- design lighting
- develop creative ideas
- ensure visual quality of the set
- film production process
- finish project within budget
- follow work schedule
- lighting techniques
- photography
- study media sources
- supervise camera crew
- supervise sound production
- translate artistic concepts to technical designs
- watch scenes
- work with motion picture editing team
- work with pre-production team
Optional skills
17- adapt a script
- attend rehearsals
- edit digital moving images
- edit recorded sound
- file-based workflow
- hire human resources
- ICT software specifications
- liaise with event sponsors
- multimedia systems
- operate a camera
- perform video editing
- photographic processing techniques
- read scripts
- select camera apertures
- set up cameras
- supervise script preparation
- work with playwrights
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How close are you to being a director of photography?
MyNodes reads your CV once, maps it to this same taxonomy, and shows you which roles you are already closest to and the few skills that would open the most doors. The file is deleted as soon as it has been read.