Camera operator research
To be a camera operator first people must have experience on set with everything else and they would most likely start out as a runner were, they would help all other areas of production. This allows you to see how all areas come together and work. From doing this their experience will help them out because then they will know that to do because being a runner is also like shadowing a mentor, this then lets you pick up on how they work and operate, you can see what to do and what not to do on set. You can see how they perform under pressure or if anything does not go according to plan and they need to evaluate what they did wrong or what could they do if the shot does not look as good as imagined.
Roger Deakins
Roger Deakins is a camera operator, who has become successful in the cinematography world. His most popular camera work is Coen brothers, Sam Mendes and Denis Villeneuve.
Education
He went to a grammar school called Torquay Boys Grammar school Of Art & Design. It was during this course he realised about his passion for photography, when he got more invested, he got a job to make a documentary in his hometown. After a year he went to Nation Film & Television School, he then graduated and got a job as a camera man. Then for the next 7 years he went around the world recording documentaries. In 1990 he then went to Hollywood and in a feature film Mountains in The Moon, after he teamed up with Coen Brothers on Barton Fink. This marks a long friendship. Slowly he became more popular and then got his first ward for Shawshank Redemption. After this his career went up from here receiving more awards and working on more films.
Conclusion
From his education I can see that going to film schools really help you make your way as a camera operator, from going to these types of schools or courses from universities or college can really help you progress and see where you standout most. This also shoes that working on small projects for a very long time will pay off because Deakins spent most of the time working on many small projects allowing him to get his name around then leading him to work with bigger company's and well-known people who will help him with his career.
References
Thefamouspeople.com. (2013). Roger Deakins. [online] Available at: https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/roger-deakins-7322.php.