The British Society of Cinematographers (abbreviated BSC) was formed in 1949 by Bert Easey, 23 August 1901 - 28 February 1973, the then head of the Denham and Pinewood studio camera departments.

The stated objectives at the formation of the BSC were

• To promote and encourage the pursuit of the highest standards in the craft of Motion Picture Photography.
• To further the applications by others of the highest standards in the craft of Motion Picture Photography and to encourage original and outstanding work.
• To co-operate
  Cooperation
  Cooperation or co-operation is the process of working or acting together. In its simplest form it involves things working in harmony, side by side, while in its more complicated forms, it can involve something as complex as the inner workings of a human being or even the social patterns of a...
  
   with all whose aims and interests are wholly or in part related to those of the society.
• To provide facilities for social intercourse between the members and arrange lectures, debates and meetings calculated to further the objects of the Society.

There were originally 55 members. Currently there are 230 full, honorary, associate and patron members. For a British cinematographer, membership of the BSC is an affirmation of the high standard of their craft. The members of the British Society of Cinematographers are entitled to put the initials BSC after their names in motion picture credits.

In popular culture

In the 1981 film The Great Muppet Caper

The Great Muppet Caper

The Great Muppet Caper is a 1981 mystery comedy film directed by Jim Henson. It is the second of a series of live-action musical feature films, starring Jim Henson's Muppets. This film was produced by Henson Associates, ITC Entertainment and Universal Pictures, and premiered on 26 July 1981. The...

, Kermit

Kermit the Frog

Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...

 and Fozzie

Fozzie Bear

Fozzie Bear is a Muppet, created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who works as a stand-up comic and has a catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is usually the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and Waldorf...

 comment on the opening credits as they appear. When the name of the film's cinematographer

Oswald Morris

Oswald Norman Morris OBE, DFC, AFC, BSC is a British cinematographer. Known to his colleagues by the nicknames "Os" or "Ossie", Morris' film cinematography career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...

 with its post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters

Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...

 appears, Fozzie asks, "What does B.S.C. stand for?", to which Kermit perplexedly replies, "I don't know."

See also

:Category:Members of the British Society of Cinematographers

• American Society of Cinematographers
  American Society of Cinematographers
  The American Society of Cinematographers is an educational, cultural, and professional organization. It is not a labor union, and it is not a guild. Membership is by invitation and is extended only to directors of photography and special effects experts with distinguished credits in the film...