Vocational Careers in Photography and Cinematography
Cameras go click- click at birthday parties, school
functions, and weddings and even at leisure trips. This is probably the first
experience we have of photography and its many wonders. Taking still pictures of
people, places or things was in vogue until the advent of motion picture
photography, better known as cinematography. Cinematography is all about
capturing moving objects or live beings. One directs movies, videos, and
television serials or tries a hand at making advertisements through
cinematography. Cinematography is the art of shooting videos, screening private
parties, making cartoons or even learning to give special effects for T.V and
motion pictures.
Is a Photographer Different From a
Cinematographer?
The classic differences between a photographer and a
cinematographer are as follows:
- Photographers basically work as freelancers and thus
naturally choose the kind of pictures they want to generate. Whereas
cinematographers usually direct motion pictures or assist directors in
making them. Cinematographers work under a director and do their job
according to the director's whims and fancies.
- Photographers, though they have independent working
schedules, may not be necessarily working 24 x 7. Cinematographers work as a
part of a team and their working schedules are adjusted according to the
team's interest.
- Photographers, who take up work assignments, mostly
work in a photo studio. Some photographers also work for newspapers,
magazines and advertising agencies. Whereas cinematographers may be working
in a film studio or outdoor locations as a part of the unit.
- Photographers also take up fashion photography,
still photography, technical and industrial photography. Cinematographers
specialize in other activities like judging processed films and making
necessary changes to create a desired effect.
Famous photographers, one may have noticed, have an
excellent flair for both creative and technical photography. They understand
photography in the real sense of the word and are quickly grabbed by
multi-national companies and private employers. Initial training programmes are
a must for any formal service. There are many such photography courses offered
by reputed universities or institutes.
Some of them are:
- BFA Photography course offered by Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University, Hyderabad.
- Light & Life Academy International Institute of
Photography, Ooty.
- Shari Academy of Professional Photography and
Digital Imaging, Mumbai.
- Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi.
- And several Art and Polytechnic Colleges also offer
course in photography.
Cinematography courses are offered at many places like:
- FTII – Film and Television Institute of India.
- Whistling Woods International for Film, Television
and Media arts
- Engineering School Campus, Cuttack.
- Government Film & Television Institute,
Bangalore
- DR MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai
The Future of Photography and Cinematography
Prospects for both photography and cinematography are
really looking up these days. You can make a wonderful career out of the two.
Careers in photography include commercial, mainstream, advertising, portraiture
to journalism along with medical picture or illustrative photography, fashion
and nature photography. The future generation of photography is connected with a
world of computer graphics, software technologies and latest digital equipments.
With the latest innovations and creativity in photography, many fresh careers
have shaped up in the photography business.
Digital expertise in photo-workshops and cinematography
classes is a added advantage for those working in digital imaging, electronic
and web page designing, multimedia and digital processing for video and film
production. Vocational guidance for both these fields can be acquired through
photography and cinematic magazines, by working on a temporary basis with photo
studios and production units. Your concentrated and whole-hearted efforts will
always help you succeed in a professional career in both the fields.
These are all necessary pathways to gain entrance into
the world of contemporary cinema and photography.
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