Hector Ramirez

On his childhood and early influences; on moving to the United States from Colombia; on his love of photography; on moving from New York to California; on attending the Don Martin School of Radio and Television Arts in Hollywood and learning about camera work

On his first professional job in television at Los Angeles station KLXA; on KTLA; on his start as a camera operator for CBS; on the equipment used in the 1970s; on becoming the camera operator for All in the Family; on testing, lighting, the cast, and favorite episodes of All in the Family

On working as a camera operator on Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and The Carol Burnett Show; on the music and bloopers on The Carol Burnett Show; on technological developments in the 1970s and how they changed shooting

On working with new technology on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour; on working with David Copperfield on The Magic of David Copperfield

On working with David Copperfield on his television specials; on being a camera operator on In Living Color; on responding to improv vs. shooting a carefully scripted show; on qualities a good camera operator has; on being a camera operator for Kennedy Center Honors

On being a camera operator for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve; on working on Barbra Streisand's Barbra: The Concert; on techincal issues of shooting a concert;  on working on Elvis Presley's concerts for television

On shooting Diana Ross' concert in Central Park; on working on Super Bowl halftime shows, Christmas in Washington, and in Monaco for Prince Rainier

On shooting live awards shows: the Academy Awards, the Grammys and MTV's award shows

On preparing for shots for the Academy Awards ;on MTV award shows; on equipment changes over the years; on shooting comedy specials for television; on how sitcoms in the '80s and '90s differed from those in the '70s; on shooting Fail Safe

On working with a Steadicam; on shooting American Idol with a Steadicam; on working in HD; on shooting Fail Safe

On differences between shooting American Idol and shooting Dancing With the Stars; on rehearsals, the production schedules, hosts, and the dancers on Dancing With the Stars

On his Emmy win for the "Steadicam Tango"; on his opinion of reality television; on shooting Presidential Inaugurations and Democratic and Republican Conventions; on 9/11; on his preference between shooting weekly variety shows or sitcoms

On working on This is Spinal Tap with Rob Reiner; on his work on feature films; on the most significant technological advancement to his field; on elements of good composition; on shooting in 3D; on changes in staffing from staff to freelance

On advice to aspiring camera operators; on memorable experiences in his career; on holding the then-record for the most Emmy nominations; on his most meaningful Emmy wins; on what makes a good camera operator; on the key to his success; on the highlight of his career; on the most important image he's ever captured; on how he'd like to be remembered