Editing Camera operator

{{Short description|Professional operator of a film or video camera}}
{{Redirect|Cameraman}}
{{broader|Cinematography|Videography}}
{{Distinguish|film director|television director}}
A '''camera operator''', or depending on the context '''cameraman''' or '''camerawoman''', is a professional [[operator (profession)|operator]] of a [[movie camera|film camera]] or [[video camera]] as part of a [[film crew]]. The term "cameraman" does not necessarily imply that a male is performing the task.<ref name="Handbook"/>

==Duties and functions==
In [[filmmaking]], the [[cinematographer]] or director of photography (DP or DoP) is responsible for bringing Director's vision to life on screen. The Cinematographer or Director of Photography handles all the technical aspects of visual storytelling and is the head of the camera crew and light crew on the set. The DP may operate the camera themselves, or enlist the aid of a camera operator or second cameraman to operate it or set the controls. The first assistant cameraman (1st AC), also known as a [[focus puller]], is responsible for maintenance of the camera, such as clearing dirt from the [[film gate]] and adjusting the [[follow focus]]. A second assistant cameraman (2nd AC), also known as a [[clapper loader]], might be employed to load film, [[clapperboard|slate scenes]], or maintain the camera report (a log of [[scene (filmmaking)|scenes]], [[take#Film|takes]], [[film stock|rolls]], [[photographic filter]]s used, and other production data).<ref name="Handbook">{{cite book |last1=Ascher |first1=Steven |last2=Pincus |first2=Edward |author-link1=Steven Ascher |author-link2=Ed Pincus |title=The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age |date=2007 |publisher=[[Plume (publisher)|Plume]] |isbn=978-0-452-28678-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/filmmakershandbo00asch_0/page/315 315]-316 |edition=3rd |url=https://archive.org/details/filmmakershandbo00asch_0 |url-access=registration |access-date=18 April 2019 |chapter=The Shoot}}</ref><ref name="kodak">{{cite web |title=Before You Shoot: Camera report |url=https://www.kodak.com/us/en/motion/education/publications/shooting/camera_report/default.htm |website=kodak.com |publisher=[[Eastman Kodak Company]] |access-date=18 April 2019 |archive-date=25 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325120847/https://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Education/Publications/Shooting/Camera_Report/default.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Brown"/>

A camera operator in a [[video production]] may be known by titles like {{em|television camera operator}}, {{em|video camera operator}}, or {{em|[[videographer]]}}, depending on the context and technology involved, usually operating a [[professional video camera]]. As of 2016, there were approximately 59,300 television, video, and motion picture camera operators employed in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[United States Department of Labor]], [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] |year=2019 |title=Occupational Outlook Handbook: Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators |url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/film-and-video-editors-and-camera-operators.htm |access-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418094633/https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/film-and-video-editors-and-camera-operators.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Important camera operator skills include choreographing and framing [[Shot (filmmaking)|shots]], knowledge of and the ability to select appropriate [[camera lens]]es, and other equipment ([[Camera dolly|dollies]], [[camera crane]]s, etc.) to portray dramatic scenes. The principles of dramatic storytelling and [[film editing]] fundamentals are also important skills. The camera operator is required to communicate clearly and concisely on sets where time and [[film budget]] constraints are ever present.<ref name="Brown">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Blain |title=Cinematography: Theory and Practice |url=https://archive.org/details/cinematographyth00brow |url-access=limited |date=2012 |publisher=[[Focal Press]] |isbn=978-0-240-81209-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cinematographyth00brow/page/n303 289]-306 |edition=2nd |lccn=2011010755 |chapter=Set Operations}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
TV camera operator, Canon UHD DIGISUPER 90.jpg|Camera operator in a sports stadium [[2023 World Men's Handball Championship]]
Cameraman football.jpg|A football camera operator shoots the Italy national team before a match (2021)
Camera operator.jpg|Camera operator during [[2023 European Games]]
Camera operators for Newton stabilized remote heads on spidercam cable cam metallica.jpg|Cameramen operating Newton stabilized remote heads on spidercam cablecam systems flying over the audience at Metallica tour (2019)
Cameraman watching the football game in between broadcasts.jpg|  A live TV studio cameraman watches a football game on the monitors in the studio in between broadcasts (2018)
Riot PetionVille.jpg|War camera operator (2006)
Margery Ordway, camerawoman. 1916.jpg|Margery Ordway, one of the first women camera operators of the silent film era (1916)
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R96517, Berlin, Brandenburger Tor, Kameramann.jpg|A camera operator atop [[Brandenburg Gate]] (1926)
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Film crew}}
{{TV production}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camera Operator}}
[[Category:Broadcasting occupations]]
[[Category:Cinematography]]
[[Category:Filmmaking occupations]]
[[Category:Television terminology]]
[[Category:Television occupations]]


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