You're very fortunate to be in this line of work. I have friends who dream of getting into film work.

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Website: [link]

Wait, the 2 big thing on top or the 2 little things that look like mini casset?

i love this kinda of shot. it really makes you feel the air of the set... it's dreamy in some ways...

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:::Je suis l'empire à la fin de la decadence:::

are you a director of photography? or learning to be one?

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Nu cred deloc in ceea ce ating, nici in ceea ce vad. Cred numai.. in ceea ce simt.

In training to be a director but I love cinematography. I've been the DP on most of my own shoots, I know where I want the lights, camera, the type of lens, etc...
Many of the people in the program I am in don't care about how they get the look they want, they just want it. For me, understanding what the DP's role is, knowing the job and being able to do it myself, makes me a better director for I can communicate with my DP in their language.
I do DP work on other student's films. It's really fun for me to take the director's hat off and just focus on the camera and the lights.
It's a nice break sometimes.

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"One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality as an even greater illusion than the world of dreams." ~ Salvador Dali

Wow, this is really nice. And you are so right in saying that when you understand the DP, you know how to colaborate with him..I think that the image is most important because generally, people like to see nice things, and in order to do that, the DP(in this case) does a lot of work that people are not aware.
Image means suggestion. An image can mean so many things to so many people. You can do everything, invent the past, or the present, or the future. You can transform people with light, costumes, and many other things. I think image has its BIG importance, and that's why the DP must be very careful and must know a lot of art history, literature, physics. We learn from the paintings; Each has its story, our mind can make lots of stories by just looking at one of them.
Anyway, congratulations on the way you think. Communication between the director and the DP is essential in order to create something to meditate later on..

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Nu cred deloc in ceea ce ating, nici in ceea ce vad. Cred numai.. in ceea ce simt.

The big thing marked "2" on top is the film magazine.
It can be changed like the clip of a gun.

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"One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality as an even greater illusion than the world of dreams." ~ Salvador Dali

I agree completely. Most people who watch movies and love the way they look think that the director is responsible for it.
And in a few very rare cases the director is the DP as well (Soderberg is one of the most famous for this) but really, production designers and the DP have more to do directly with the look of a film than the Director.
One the few sets that I have worked as the DP, I usually end up choosing the stock, lens, camera angle and framing the shot for the director. In one case he didn't even want to look through the eye piece. In the other cases they look, say "Wow, that looks great!" and then "Roll camera".
It's funny.
But when I direct, my DP knows the type of lights I want, where I want them placed, the type of gels (Put 1/4 CTO on this one and in the bg put 1/2 CTB... drop the color down in the bg, I want it cool and I want the front to pop. Better make that 1/2 CTS in the front, the actor's skin color will work better with straw than orange...).
Some of my DPs have resented it. Others appreciate that I understand their world. In any case trust is a key factor. If my DP wants to do something a certain way and I am not sure... I let them try it.
Collaboration is the key to success.
I'm really glad you see that too.

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"One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality as an even greater illusion than the world of dreams." ~ Salvador Dali

Right now I'm not loving it too much for a camera malfunction that is going to set me back serious time and money.
But you are very right. I love what I do. And to me there is nothing more satisfying than getting to work and do the thing that you love.
And your friends could do it if they want. Hollywood is always looking for new blood.

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"One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality as an even greater illusion than the world of dreams." ~ Salvador Dali