DoPs

DOPs commonly refer to more than one concept, among them the Director of Photography in film and television, and the Denominazione di Origine Protetta in the Italian language for protected designations. The Director of Photography, often credited as cinematographer, is the senior photographer responsible for the visual look of a project. Working closely with the director, the DOP makes decisions about lighting, camera setup, lenses, framing, and camera movement to realize the narrative and mood. They supervise the camera department and translate the script into images, balancing artistic intent with practical constraints such as budget and schedule. In many productions the DOP is a key creative leader, shaping color, texture, and depth of field across scenes.

Denominazione di Origine Protetta is an EU designation used for foods, wines, and other agricultural products to certify their geographic origin and traditional production methods. DOP products must come from a defined region and comply with a detailed set of specifications covering ingredients, processing, and quality controls. Examples of DOP products include Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, Prosciutto di Parma DOP, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, and Gorgonzola DOP, as well as certain DOP olive oils and wines. The label is protected by EU law and national authorities, and products carrying DOP must be produced, processed, and prepared in the specified area according to the approved methods. DOP is essentially the PDO designation in Italian usage and is distinct from IGP (PGI), which protects broader regional products with some traditional links to the origin.

Other meanings of DOP exist in different fields, such as technology or corporate terminology, but the two above are the most common in everyday reference.