Unit still photographer
Encyclopedia
A unit still photographer or simply, stills photographer is a person who creates still photographic
images specifically intended for use in the marketing and publicity of feature film
s in the motion picture industry and network television
productions.
from recorded video material is not practical due to the quality. Much higher resolution images are therefore used. Typically the end uses of these still photos would include the films theatrical release poster, DVD
box artwork, the official web site photos, billboard
s, bus stop
adverts, point of purchase
displays, key art image sets released to the press and media as well as 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 illusion
s such as forensic photos, crime drama booking photos, character drivers' licenses, passport
& 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 as well, a Unit still photographer must be a member of IATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild, in order to perform services on Union productions and Union studio lots and locations. The most prestigious of these Unit Still photographers are also members of The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers, an organization which promotes the work of those within the industry.
While often perceived as a "glamor" job for photographers, the reality is often very long hours (70+ hour weeks are the norm) on remote distant locations under difficult and often extreme conditions. The Unit still photographer often coordinates with the Unit publicist, but physically works in very close proximity not only to the film's camera crew
, director
, producers
and actor
s, but also by extension in close proximity to the film's boom microphone operator. As such, Unit still photographers go to great lengths to reduce, muffle, and otherwise mute the sound of their camera's motor drive
& shutter
so as not to distract the actors and to remain inaudible on the film's recorded dialogue soundtrack while the action is rolling.
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. This allows the camera to be activated and operated from a two-button (activation, focus & shutter release) exterior control. Limitations exist once the blimp is closed around the camera as you can no longer access the cameras controls (F-number
, shutter speed, ASA/ISO
settings) or menu displays, directly. The LCD display
will also be out of view to review your images, in the closed position. This requires the photographer to make his control selections in advance, and then stick with those settings until the take-in-progress has been "cut", making adjustments between takes or set-ups. Unit still photographers in this field typically produce over 2000+ marketable images per week for their major studio clients.
The use of still photography is the use of alignment, positioning, as well as other techniques used to capture the "money shot." Still life photography is the depiction of inanimate subject matter, most typically a small grouping of objects that are either human-made or natural.
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
images specifically intended for use in the marketing and publicity of feature film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s in the motion picture industry and network television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
productions.
Uses in the industry
Using individual framesFilm frame
In filmmaking, video production, animation, and related fields, a film frame or video frame is one of the many still images which compose the complete moving picture...
from recorded video material is not practical due to the quality. Much higher resolution images are therefore used. Typically the end uses of these still photos would include the films theatrical release poster, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
box artwork, the official web site photos, billboard
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s, bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
adverts, point of purchase
Point of sale
Point of sale or checkout is the location where a transaction occurs...
displays, key art image sets released to the press and media as well as other printed and online collateral materials.
Unit still photographers are also responsible for creating "photo props"
Theatrical property
A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set...
and "set dressing images", the photos and images used on-camera to create various illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
s such as forensic photos, crime drama booking photos, character drivers' licenses, passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
& 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
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in particular, and some international locations as well, a Unit still photographer must be a member of IATSE Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild, in order to perform services on Union productions and Union studio lots and locations. The most prestigious of these Unit Still photographers are also members of The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers, an organization which promotes the work of those within the industry.
While often perceived as a "glamor" job for photographers, the reality is often very long hours (70+ hour weeks are the norm) on remote distant locations under difficult and often extreme conditions. The Unit still photographer often coordinates with the Unit publicist, but physically works in very close proximity not only to the film's camera crew
Film crew
Television crew positions are derived from those of film crew positions.A film crew is a group of people hired by a production company for the purpose of producing a film or motion picture. Crew are distinguished from cast, the Actors who appear in front of the camera or provide voices for...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producers
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s, but also by extension in close proximity to the film's boom microphone operator. As such, Unit still photographers go to great lengths to reduce, muffle, and otherwise mute the sound of their camera's motor drive
Motor drive
A motor drive, in the field of photography, is a powered film transport mechanism. Historically, film loading, advancing, and rewinding were all manually driven functions...
& shutter
Shutter (photography)
In photography, a shutter is a device that allows light to pass for a determined period of time, for the purpose of exposing photographic film or a light-sensitive electronic sensor to light to capture a permanent image of a scene...
so as not to distract the actors and to remain inaudible on the film's recorded dialogue soundtrack while the action is rolling.
Typically this is accomplished using a sound blimp
Sound blimp
A Sound Blimp is a housing attached to a camera which reduces the sound caused by the shutter click, particularly SLRs. It is primarily used in film still photography, so as not to interfere with the shooting of principal photography, and also in other situations where sound is distracting:...
, which is a sound absorbing, foam filled metal case in which the still camera body is fitted with a proprietary remote operation cable. This allows the camera to be activated and operated from a two-button (activation, focus & shutter release) exterior control. Limitations exist once the blimp is closed around the camera as you can no longer access the cameras controls (F-number
F-number
In optics, the f-number of an optical system expresses the diameter of the entrance pupil in terms of the focal length of the lens; in simpler terms, the f-number is the focal length divided by the "effective" aperture diameter...
, shutter speed, ASA/ISO
Film speed
Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
settings) or menu displays, directly. The LCD display
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....
will also be out of view to review your images, in the closed position. This requires the photographer to make his control selections in advance, and then stick with those settings until the take-in-progress has been "cut", making adjustments between takes or set-ups. Unit still photographers in this field typically produce over 2000+ marketable images per week for their major studio clients.
The use of still photography is the use of alignment, positioning, as well as other techniques used to capture the "money shot." Still life photography is the depiction of inanimate subject matter, most typically a small grouping of objects that are either human-made or natural.
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).ASIN: B000VZQ256
- Creative Techniques in Stage & Theatrical Photography, by Paddy Cutts, Rosemary Curr, Quite Specific Media Group (September 1983), ISBN 978-0713406672.
- Photography and the Performing Arts, Gerry Kopelow, Focal Press (June 9, 1994), ISBN 978-0240801681.
- The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography, Lee Frost, Amphoto Books (March 15, 2000), ISBN 978-0817450410.
- Movie Photos: The guide to marketing and publicity photography, Alex Bailey, Imagebarn (19 Jun 2008), ISBN 978-0955933707
- Barton B. MacLeod, Still Photographer "The Green Berets" movie starring John Wayne (http://www.BartonMacLeod.com)