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Unit still photographer

December 27, 2022

A unit still photographer, or simply a still photographer, is a person who creates film stills, still photographic images specifically intended for use in the marketing and publicity of feature films in the motion picture industry and network television productions.[1][2][3] Besides creating photographs for the promotion of a film, the still photographer contributes daily to the filming process by creating set stills. With these, the photographer is careful to record all details of the cast wardrobe, set appearance and background.

Film still from the 1938 film Bringing Up Baby featuring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant

Cornel Lucas, a pioneer of film portraiture in the 1940s and 1950s, was the first still photographer to be awarded a BAFTA, in 1998, for work with the British Film Industry.[4][5]

Uses in the industry

Using individual frames from film or recorded video material is not practical due to their relatively low quality.[citation needed] Much higher resolution images are therefore used. Typically, the end uses of these still photos include the film's theatrical release poster, DVD box artwork, the official website photos, billboards, bus stop adverts, point-of-purchase displays, key art image sets released to the press and media, and other printed and online collateral materials.

Unit still photographers are also responsible for creating "photo props" and "set dressing images", the photos and images used on-camera to create various illusions such as forensic photos, crime drama booking photos, character driver's licenses, passport and I.D. photos, on-screen family photos, surveillance photos, computer screen displays, and any other image a producer may require in the course of a production.

In North America in particular, and some international locations, a unit still photographer must be a member of IATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild[citation needed] in order to perform services on union productions and union studio lots and locations. The most prestigious of these unit still photographers are members of The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers, an organization which promotes the work of those within the industry.

In the past, the director, costumer or the director of photography may have referred to these still images for continuity purposes as the unit stills photographer was the only crew member permitted to take still photographs on set, but with the introduction of instant cameras such as the Polaroid, and subsequent digital photo cameras, this job of taking continuity images has fallen to the continuity and script supervisor.[6]

While often perceived as a "glamour" job for photographers, the reality is often long hours (70-plus hours per week) in remote locations under difficult and often extreme conditions.[citation needed] The unit still photographer often coordinates with the unit publicist but physically works in close proximity to the film's camera crew, director and actors, and also in close proximity to the film's boom microphone operator. Unit still photographers go to great lengths to muffle the sound of their camera's motor drive and shutter to avoid distracting the actors, and to remain inaudible on the film's recorded dialogue soundtrack.[citation needed]

Typically, this is accomplished using a sound blimp, which is a sound-absorbing, foam-filled metal case in which the still camera body is fitted with a proprietary remote operation cable.[citation needed] This allows the camera to be activated and operated from a two-button (activation, focus, and shutter release) exterior control.[citation needed] Limitations exist once the blimp is closed around the camera, as one can no longer access the camera controls (f-number, shutter speed, ASA/ISO settings) or menu displays directly.[citation needed] The LCD display for reviewing the images will also be obscured in the closed position.[citation needed] This requires the photographer to make control selections in advance and use those settings until the take in progress has been "cut", making adjustments only between takes or set-ups. Unit still photographers in this field typically produce over 2000 marketable images per week for their major-studio clients.[citation needed]

Since 2010, high-end DSLR cameras, which can be remotely controlled with mobile apps on smartphones and tablet computers, using the built-in 2-way Wi-Fi radio-controlled interface between the tablet and the DSLR camera, and offer internal active noise reduction technologies, have increased the ability of the unit still photographer to work quietly on the set.[citation needed]

Notable still photographers

References

  1. ^ Brian Dzyak (2010). What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood: A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry. Crown Publishing Group. pp. 303–. ISBN 978-0-307-87516-7.
  2. ^ Larry Goldman (1983). The professional photographer: developing a successful career. Doubleday. p. 117. ISBN 9780385157537.
  3. ^ Finola Kerrigan (2009). Film Marketing. Routledge. pp. 243–. ISBN 978-1-136-44000-7.
  4. ^ Martin Childs (11 December 2012). "Cornel Lucas: Photographer who made his name as a pioneer of film portraiture - Obituaries". The Independent. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  5. ^ Andrew Dawson; Sean Holmes (2 August 2012). Working in the Global Film and Television Industries: Creativity, Systems, Space, Patronage. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 136–. ISBN 978-1-78093-021-3.
  6. ^ Miller, P (1999). Script Supervising and Film Continuity (Third ed.). Focal Press. p. 5. ISBN 978-0240802947.

Further reading

  • Stage and Theater Photography, Jeff Lowenthal, 1965. ASIN B000NU0SJU
  • The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, photography by Susan Cook; commentary by Joseph H. Mazo, New York, Morrow (1978). ISBN 9780688033040, ISBN 9780688083045
  • Creative Techniques in Stage & Theatrical Photography, by Paddy Cutts, Rosemary Curr, Quite Specific Media Group (September 1983), ISBN 978-0-7134-0667-2.
  • Photography and the Performing Arts, Gerry Kopelow, Focal Press (June 9, 1994), ISBN 978-0-240-80168-1.
  • The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography, Lee Frost, Amphoto Books (March 15, 2000), ISBN 978-0-8174-5041-0.
  • Movie Photos: The guide to marketing and publicity photography, Alex Bailey, Imagebarn (19 Jun 2008), ISBN 978-0-9559337-0-7

External links

  • IATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild
  • The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers
  • Barton B. MacLeod, Still Photographer "The Green Berets" movie starring John Wayne (http://www.BartonMacLeod.com)
  • Still Photographer Studio Contract at The Ned Scott Archive
  • Guide to the Motion Picture Stills Collection 1920-1934 at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center

December 27, 2022
unit, still, photographer, this, article, tone, style, reflect, encyclopedic, tone, used, wikipedia, wikipedia, guide, writing, better, articles, suggestions, january, 2010, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, unit, still, photographer, simply, still. This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions January 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message A unit still photographer or simply a still photographer is a person who creates film stills still photographic images specifically intended for use in the marketing and publicity of feature films in the motion picture industry and network television productions 1 2 3 Besides creating photographs for the promotion of a film the still photographer contributes daily to the filming process by creating set stills With these the photographer is careful to record all details of the cast wardrobe set appearance and background Film still from the 1938 film Bringing Up Baby featuring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant Cornel Lucas a pioneer of film portraiture in the 1940s and 1950s was the first still photographer to be awarded a BAFTA in 1998 for work with the British Film Industry 4 5 Contents 1 Uses in the industry 2 Notable still photographers 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksUses in the industry EditUsing individual frames from film or recorded video material is not practical due to their relatively low quality citation needed Much higher resolution images are therefore used Typically the end uses of these still photos include the film s theatrical release poster DVD box artwork the official website photos billboards bus stop adverts point of purchase displays key art image sets released to the press and media and other printed and online collateral materials Unit still photographers are also responsible for creating photo props and set dressing images the photos and images used on camera to create various illusions such as forensic photos crime drama booking photos character driver s licenses passport and I D photos on screen family photos surveillance photos computer screen displays and any other image a producer may require in the course of a production In North America in particular and some international locations a unit still photographer must be a member of IATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild citation needed in order to perform services on union productions and union studio lots and locations The most prestigious of these unit still photographers are members of The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers an organization which promotes the work of those within the industry In the past the director costumer or the director of photography may have referred to these still images for continuity purposes as the unit stills photographer was the only crew member permitted to take still photographs on set but with the introduction of instant cameras such as the Polaroid and subsequent digital photo cameras this job of taking continuity images has fallen to the continuity and script supervisor 6 While often perceived as a glamour job for photographers the reality is often long hours 70 plus hours per week in remote locations under difficult and often extreme conditions citation needed The unit still photographer often coordinates with the unit publicist but physically works in close proximity to the film s camera crew director and actors and also in close proximity to the film s boom microphone operator Unit still photographers go to great lengths to muffle the sound of their camera s motor drive and shutter to avoid distracting the actors and to remain inaudible on the film s recorded dialogue soundtrack citation needed Typically this is accomplished using a sound blimp which is a sound absorbing foam filled metal case in which the still camera body is fitted with a proprietary remote operation cable citation needed This allows the camera to be activated and operated from a two button activation focus and shutter release exterior control citation needed Limitations exist once the blimp is closed around the camera as one can no longer access the camera controls f number shutter speed ASA ISO settings or menu displays directly citation needed The LCD display for reviewing the images will also be obscured in the closed position citation needed This requires the photographer to make control selections in advance and use those settings until the take in progress has been cut making adjustments only between takes or set ups Unit still photographers in this field typically produce over 2000 marketable images per week for their major studio clients citation needed Since 2010 high end DSLR cameras which can be remotely controlled with mobile apps on smartphones and tablet computers using the built in 2 way Wi Fi radio controlled interface between the tablet and the DSLR camera and offer internal active noise reduction technologies have increased the ability of the unit still photographer to work quietly on the set citation needed Notable still photographers EditMarcia Reed born 1948 American Arthur Weegee Fellig born 1899 AmericanReferences Edit Brian Dzyak 2010 What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood A Guide to Real Jobs in the Film Industry Crown Publishing Group pp 303 ISBN 978 0 307 87516 7 Larry Goldman 1983 The professional photographer developing a successful career Doubleday p 117 ISBN 9780385157537 Finola Kerrigan 2009 Film Marketing Routledge pp 243 ISBN 978 1 136 44000 7 Martin Childs 11 December 2012 Cornel Lucas Photographer who made his name as a pioneer of film portraiture Obituaries The Independent Retrieved 2013 10 05 Andrew Dawson Sean Holmes 2 August 2012 Working in the Global Film and Television Industries Creativity Systems Space Patronage Bloomsbury Publishing pp 136 ISBN 978 1 78093 021 3 Miller P 1999 Script Supervising and Film Continuity Third ed Focal Press p 5 ISBN 978 0240802947 Further reading EditStage and Theater Photography Jeff Lowenthal 1965 ASIN B000NU0SJU The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater photography by Susan Cook commentary by Joseph H Mazo New York Morrow 1978 ISBN 9780688033040 ISBN 9780688083045 Creative Techniques in Stage amp Theatrical Photography by Paddy Cutts Rosemary Curr Quite Specific Media Group September 1983 ISBN 978 0 7134 0667 2 Photography and the Performing Arts Gerry Kopelow Focal Press June 9 1994 ISBN 978 0 240 80168 1 The Complete Guide to Night and Low Light Photography Lee Frost Amphoto Books March 15 2000 ISBN 978 0 8174 5041 0 Movie Photos The guide to marketing and publicity photography Alex Bailey Imagebarn 19 Jun 2008 ISBN 978 0 9559337 0 7External links EditIATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers Barton B MacLeod Still Photographer The Green Berets movie starring John Wayne http www BartonMacLeod com Still Photographer Studio Contract at The Ned Scott Archive Guide to the Motion Picture Stills Collection 1920 1934 at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Unit still photographer amp oldid 1122968986, 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