Cinematographer= what
 

In your guys opinion, what makes a cinematographer? And what is the difference between a cinematographer and a vidoeographer? thanks

The medium.
Cinematographer uses film.
Videographer uses video.

in the use of those terms- that should be all.

Jeff Patnaude

What about if you use both and a project.

Then you should probably get a wallet like Samuel L. Jackson had in the movie Pulp Fiction. You might as well get a shirt made with that logo on it too.

:o)
Court

I guess the interpretation may be different from person to person.

In my dictionary, a videographer is the same as a photographer, only who uses a video camera. This makes it a pretty broad term.

A cinematographer to me is just a different name for a director of photography, doesn't matter if the medium is film or video.

Videographers are people capturing images with cameras. Cinematographers are people CONTROLLING images with cameras. Sorry, but every hack who picks up a video camera (or film camera) does not immediately qualify as either.

A camera is an instrument, there are different levels of players. 2 people can pick up the same guitar but the sounds that come out of that guitar may be WAY different.


ash =o)

Look guys,
sugar coat it all you want.
Breaking the words down to their origins:
video (obvious)+ grapher (make picture)
Cinema (moving picture or film)+ grapher (make picture)

I've seen cinematographers who couldn't make a good image on video, and visa versa. I've also seen people call themselves director's, but.....

simply put, the rest is ego.We all make images, some better than others. We all want to make better images to be seen and admired by others. If you can afford the film process- rock on. If not, make those images and get your vision onto whatever medium you can.
(My Yoda voice here) "simply do, or do not."
best regards,
Jeff Patnaude

So, there were no cinematographers involved in the last Star Wars film? Or Sin City? Both were shot with HD video cameras .....

Cheers,

-Matt

In the last SW films, there were no cinematographers or videographer involved, only moneymakers...

Sorry Jeff, can't say as I agree with the black-and-white separation you are suggesting. Digital (yes, I know it's another term for video) has infiltrated the filmmaking process enough that the term "cinematographer" describes the job regardless of whether emulsion or 1's and 0's are coursing through the camera. I'd not be happy to lose the title of cinematographer just because I happen to be using a video camera for a given gig, unless it was a classic "videography"-type shoot (which I don't really do anymore).

I like Dylan and Ash's thoughts on this.

I agree with that.

Okay, I hear you.
Maybe another aspect to look at would be where the work is seeen:

videographer=television.

cinematographer=big screen theaters.

(voice in the background..."what about made-for-tv movies?")
How about a new term "Digiographers?"

fun discussion though.

Jeff P

Until some group of people protect the term and have it codified legally, it means exactly what you want it to mean (e.g. the term Engineer cannot be used in most states except by individuals meeting the professional licensing requirements for Professional Engineers in that state; use of the term by unlicensed individual can result in fines and/or fraud charges).

If it needs to mean something specific, it has to be codified.

To me it means:
"Illicit pulpy vegetable handshake of the female persuasion"
cin emato grap her

How about ...... Electronic Cinematography!

http://tinyurl.com/98wqp


Cheers!

It's a toughie... I was browsing our local industry database, and a fellow I used to work with, by far the best lighting cameraman I've ever met, had included himself somewhat modestly as "camera operator". Technically this was probably correct, as he shot mostly available light, occasionally augmenting with a redhead or two and bounce-board.

Another guy I have worked with, a decidedly average "maker of pictures" (in my opinion) had seen fit to call himself "Cinematographer/DOP", and from the database alone he seemed like the better option if one were looking for a crew.

I know which one I'd prefer to hire, but the ambiguity out there surrounding the terminology muddies the water a bit, no question.