So what is it we do anyway

Boyd Ostroff · October 2nd, 2017, 09:33 AM

Well it is all based on the word "photograph" which means "drawing with light". Sure, add a "y" and it means the "the field of drawing with light" or a an "er" and then it means "a person who draws with light".

The greek word "graph" is used in lots of other words to mean "mark" or "line". That's what is significant IMO. That wikipedia page lists a bunch of words that have "graph" in common without explaining the origins. But if you click on the individual words it will show how they were devived - for example, "choreography" means "dance writing". In each of the examples, the words have their own meanings and when a "y" is added it just means "the field of". So it is rather misleading to group these different things together and say that "graphy" means "the study of".

But if you're a "cameragrapher", that's fine with me". :-)

Bruce Dempsey · October 2nd, 2017, 03:32 PM

A gaffer creates or draws the light so the grapher can capture or grab it usually in a series of photographs so I guess he or she is a gaffergrapher (or is it the other way round?)

I really like the way Cinematographer rolls off the tongue but of course one would need to have worked on at least one feature in order to call yourself such.
So we have Cinema-to-grapher and the to I assume pays tribute to the to in photo thus making the prefix refer to the venue or form. Therefore a person who shoots weddings would be a weddographer perhaps and a sports video shooter could be a sportsographer as well as the more generic videographer working at videography

Pete Cofrancesco · October 2nd, 2017, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Lewis

With the prevalence of flash memory recording media being used these days, I hope we are not "flashing".

I can't get the image out of my head of a videographer wearing a long trench/rain coat telling the client you will "flash" his event.

James Manford · October 3rd, 2017, 04:22 AM

Everyone refers to me as the camera man or video guy. So I guess i'm video-ing. Although I advertise myself as a creative film maker with a keen eye for detail *rolls eyes* ... which is practically what we all are.

October 2nd, 2017, 09:33 AM	#16
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Re: So what is it we do anyway Well it is all based on the word "photograph" which means "drawing with light". Sure, add a "y" and it means the "the field of drawing with light" or a an "er" and then it means "a person who draws with light". The greek word "graph" is used in lots of other words to mean "mark" or "line". That's what is significant IMO. That wikipedia page lists a bunch of words that have "graph" in common without explaining the origins. But if you click on the individual words it will show how they were devived - for example, "choreography" means "dance writing". In each of the examples, the words have their own meanings and when a "y" is added it just means "the field of". So it is rather misleading to group these different things together and say that "graphy" means "the study of". But if you're a "cameragrapher", that's fine with me". :-)

October 2nd, 2017, 03:32 PM	#17
Bruce Dempsey Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Atlantic Coast Canada Posts: 599	Re: So what is it we do anyway A gaffer creates or draws the light so the grapher can capture or grab it usually in a series of photographs so I guess he or she is a gaffergrapher (or is it the other way round?) I really like the way Cinematographer rolls off the tongue but of course one would need to have worked on at least one feature in order to call yourself such. So we have Cinema-to-grapher and the to I assume pays tribute to the to in photo thus making the prefix refer to the venue or form. Therefore a person who shoots weddings would be a weddographer perhaps and a sports video shooter could be a sportsographer as well as the more generic videographer working at videography

October 3rd, 2017, 04:22 AM	#19
James Manford Trustee Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,393	Re: So what is it we do anyway Everyone refers to me as the camera man or video guy. So I guess i'm video-ing. Although I advertise myself as a creative film maker with a keen eye for detail rolls eyes ... which is practically what we all are.