Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.There are many different types of professional photography, and most of the time a photographer will work within many different disciplines. There are a few photographers who only specialize in one part of the industry, but they are rare, and usually work only in large cities.
A Still Photographer is someone who works in the movies. It is the on-set still photographer's job to take photos of the same scene that the movie cameraman is filming. Why bother having a normal photographer in addition to a movie camera photographer? It is much easier to use still photos for advertising, than the film that comes from a movie camera. It is the still photographers job to take all the photos that end up on the movie posters, websites, movie extra features, and DVD cases.
During filming, the still photographer stands near the cinematographer and takes the same images. It is not an easy job, as the spaces on set are often very small. The still photographer has to keep a low profile, and remain out of the way of everyone else on set. In addition, the still photographer has the added challenge of working in very low-light conditions. Film cameras can handle light levels that would cause severe motion blur in normal still cameras. The solution is to use very fast lenses, and high ISO settings.
If you would like to get involved with movie photography, the best way to start is to join a local Film Co-op. They are often student groups who help each other make films on the cheap . . . each person volunteers their time to create the final product. Another thing to consider is that in most cases you need to be a part of a union to work on movies. It is necessary to have a number of films under your belt before you are permitted to join the union, which is why the student film co-op is such a good experience.
Equipment needed for on-set stills photography: 10-12 megapixel digital SLR, a monopod (tripods are too big), and camera sound blimp to encase the camera (reduces camera noise; available from Jacobson in California), 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm prime lenses, and a 70-200 (or equivalent) f2.8 zoom lens. As you can see, it is quite an investment!
You may also need a full studio light set-up to do what are called Gallery Shots. These are the planned studio shots that end up on the main film poster. These shots need to be of a higher quality than on-set film stills, thus the planned nature of the photo shoot.
Finally, although it may seem glamorous to be working in the movies, it is an incredibly boring process, with long hours and many egos to deal with . . . be prepared!
The above photo was one I took of James Caan in the movie Jericho Mansions
Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at
www.markhemmings.com
Title : MOVIE PHOTOGRAPHY
Description : Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anyti...