cinematographer

/sɪnəməˈtɑgrəfər/

/sɪnəməˈtɒgrəfə/

Other forms: cinematographers

The cinematographer on a movie set is the person with the camera. The cinematographer's job can include planning shots, lighting, and operating a camera.

A cinematographer is also called the "director of photography," or the DP. On a large-budget film there may be several cameras being used at once — the cinematographer is the person who directs the camera operators, as well as overseeing the lighting on the set. The word comes from cinematograph, which is now obsolete and permanently shortened to cinema, from the French cínématographe, "motion picture projector and camera."

Definitions of cinematographer

1. noun

   a photographer who operates a movie camera
   synonyms: camera operator, cameraman

   type of:

   lensman, photographer

   someone who takes photographs professionally