The profession of a camera operator is probably the second most important in the modern film and television production industry after the director. If the latter has to decide what to shoot, the former has to decide how to shoot. That is, the directors are responsible for the creative component in a film or television show, and the camera operators are responsible for the technical aspect of a product.
So, how do camera operators work today when the camera handle no longer needs to be rotated, and what is it like to be a cinematographer?