Emma Forthofer
As a director of photography, it is important to be observant.
Letting a story wash over you, catching the moments, constantly making macro and micro visual decisions to assist in conveying that story to those who are later watching.
You are both a vessel and an interpreter, meant to pass the torch of feelings from the characters on screen to the audience members watching. You are also a collaborator, working with sometimes just a handful of people and sometimes an army, all united in the purpose of bringing a story to life.
When I learned that this unique position exists, one that perfectly blends technical knowhow, aesthetic creativity, physicality, and interpersonal relationships, I knew that to become a cinematographer is the only career path for me. It is difficult to convey in words the sense of fulfillment a cinematographer feels on set, but it is a deep inner joy that brings us all to this field, a magic that cannot be compared.