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Career Details : Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

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Description

Operate television, video, or motion picture camera to photograph images or scenes for various purposes, such as TV broadcasts, advertising, video production, or motion pictures.

Experience

A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Tasks

  • Sets up cameras, optical printers, and related equipment to produce photographs and special effects.
  • Selects cameras, accessories, equipment, and film stock to use during filming, using knowledge of filming techniques, requirements, and computations.
  • Observes set or location for potential problems and to determine filming and lighting requirements.
  • Reads work order to determine specifications and location of subject material.
  • Confers with director and electrician regarding interpretation of scene, desired effects, filming, and lighting requirements.
  • Exposes frames of film in sequential order and regulates exposures and aperture to obtain special effects.
  • Instructs camera operators regarding camera setup, angles, distances, movement, and other variables and cues for starting and stopping filming.
  • Reads charts and computes ratios to determine variables, such as lighting, shutter angles, filter factors, and camera distance.
  • Analyzes specifications to determine work procedures, sequence of operations, and machine setup.
  • Views film to resolve problems of exposure control, subject and camera movement, changes in subject distance, and related variables.
  • Adjusts position and controls of camera, printer, and related equipment to produce desired effects, using precision measuring instruments.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Job-Required Social Interaction
    • Objective or Subjective Information
    • Frustrating Circumstances
    • Importance of Being Aware of New Events
    • Coordinate or Lead Others

    Related Majors

    Major Add to MyFSA
    Advertising Photographyadd Advertising Photography to MyFSA
    Art/Photographyadd Art/Photography to MyFSA
    Art/Videoadd Art/Video to MyFSA
    Cinema/Photographyadd Cinema/Photography to MyFSA
    Cinematographyadd Cinematography to MyFSA
    Creative Photographyadd Creative Photography to MyFSA
    Filmadd Film to MyFSA
    Film Productionadd Film Production to MyFSA
    Film/Photographyadd Film/Photography to MyFSA
    Film/Photography/Visual Artsadd Film/Photography/Visual Arts to MyFSA
    Film/Televisionadd Film/Television to MyFSA
    Film/Videoadd Film/Video to MyFSA
    Film/Video Making/Cinematography/Productionadd Film/Video Making/Cinematography/Production to MyFSA
    Film/Video Productionadd Film/Video Production to MyFSA
    Film/Video/Computer Animationadd Film/Video/Computer Animation to MyFSA
    Film/Video/Performanceadd Film/Video/Performance to MyFSA
    Fine Arts Photographyadd Fine Arts Photography to MyFSA
    Graphic Design/Photographyadd Graphic Design/Photography to MyFSA
    Imaging Scienceadd Imaging Science to MyFSA
    Imaging Systems Managementadd Imaging Systems Management to MyFSA
    Imaging/Photographic Technologyadd Imaging/Photographic Technology to MyFSA
    Motion Picture Producingadd Motion Picture Producing to MyFSA
    Photographyadd Photography to MyFSA
    Photography/Graphic Artsadd Photography/Graphic Arts to MyFSA
    Photography/Related Mediaadd Photography/Related Media to MyFSA
    Photojournalismadd Photojournalism to MyFSA
    Professional Career Photographyadd Professional Career Photography to MyFSA
    Professional Photographic Illustrationadd Professional Photographic Illustration to MyFSA
    Radio/Television/Filmadd Radio/Television/Film to MyFSA
    Radio/Video/Photoadd Radio/Video/Photo to MyFSA
    Television/Filmadd Television/Film to MyFSA
    Television/Film Productionadd Television/Film Production to MyFSA
    Television/Film/New Media Productionadd Television/Film/New Media Production to MyFSA
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