A LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN

            Ever wonder how those great fight scenes in your favorite action films are put together?             The answer is very slowly and with lots of attention to detail…and safety.             Below you’ll find the run-up to something I recently shot.  While I’m not at liberty to disclose any details right now, have a look … Continue reading “A LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN”

4.29.2022

WISDOM FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE

            Cinematography isn’t only about light, composition, color, movement and post-production magic.  It also involves a variety of internal processes that are emotional, abstract and difficult to define.  Today, I’m venturing into that realm.  Let’s see what bubbles up.             Timothy Leary (October 22, 1920 – May 31, 1996) was an American psychologist and one-time … Continue reading “WISDOM FROM AN UNEXPECTED SOURCE”

4.26.2022

STUDENT QUICK TIP #15

            The quality of your lighting is driven by the answers to two simple questions:             1.         Where do you want the shadows to fall?             This determines the placement of your key.             2.         How much do you want to see into the shadows?             This determines the amount of fill you use.             … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #15”

4.22.2022

IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT MASTERY

            When I go deep and analyze the reasons why I became a cinematographer, it always boils down to one peculiar factor – mastery.             Looking back at my time as a kid growing up in Brooklyn, I’ve come to understand what appealed to me in all of the people I admired.  They were really … Continue reading “IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT MASTERY”

4.19.2022

STUDENT QUICK TIP #14

            Pursuit of excellence vs. acceptance of adequate…             To be a cinematographer is to engage with this challenge every minute of the day. It can be like dealing with a liquid puzzle, one that frequently changes and that we do not have absolute control over.             Therefore, we must constantly measure our creative vision … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #14”

4.15.2022

A CHARMING FLASH

            A few weeks ago I posted about the small flaws that occasionally appear in features and TV productions.  Even though we strive for perfection, I’ve always found them charming in how they call to mind the presence of the living, breathing people who created the piece.  You can find one in most every show … Continue reading “A CHARMING FLASH”

4.12.2022

Q & A #5…

            Rajiv M. of Hyderabad, India asks:             How do you deal with fill light?             As I’ve stated many times, there are no one-size-fits all answers to most questions about cinematography.  That also applies here but I’ll try to be as specific as possible.             Fill light is what brings out the true feeling … Continue reading “Q & A #5…”

4.8.2022

STUDENT QUICK TIP #13

            You can make a hard light soft but you can’t make a soft light hard.             Keep this in mind when ordering equipment before your next shoot.  Carry some hard sources that will provide the punch and directionality you might need.  Then save time and money when you transform those lamps into soft lights … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #13”

4.5.2022

IT’S ABOUT TIME

            I had been wanting to make this photograph for twenty-five years.             While shooting the feature Outside Providence in – appropriately enough – Providence, Rhode Island, I used to drive past the corner of Hope and Doyle every day on my way to work.  No matter the conditions, the dark building crowned by the … Continue reading “IT’S ABOUT TIME”

4.1.2022