Month: November 2022

            Light for contrast first, color second.             Contrast – the placing of differing values between light and dark – is generally the more dominant of the two when it comes to creating mood.               Color will strengthen or weaken the effect of contrast according to how it’s applied.  At the same time, audiences … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #22”

            Stop trying so hard!  Stop worrying!  Stop getting so frustrated and down on yourself because you don’t like the look of what you’re putting onscreen!             With the rarest exceptions, the early work of every cinematographer who has stepped behind a camera is crap.  Seek out the first films shot by some of our … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #21”

            Despite an occasional populist nod in that direction, the motion picture industry has never given much respect to its past.  During the frantic transition from film to video in the early 2000’s, long-established ways of doing things were often chucked out the window with no regard for the decades of experience held by so … Continue reading “FORGOTTEN HEROES”

            Has the use of the handheld camera lost its meaning?             I think it has.  Instead of being reserved as a Sunday punch – for moments that contrast with the established visual structure – it seems to have become an all-purpose go-to for filmmakers who don’t understand its aesthetic.             Most productions today display … Continue reading “HOLD THIS…”

            Every time I finish a DI session, I’m torn between feelings of ecstatic satisfaction and utter dejection over what I’ve done.  Is anyone ever completely happy with their work on a given project?             The vast majority of my colleagues agree: There’s always something – or a number of somethings – that we’d like … Continue reading “DON’T YOU AGREE?”

            In honor of Veteran’s Day, it’s appropriate to recognize ASC members who served our country.             Though I’ve done my best, this list is limited and incomplete.  It’s made up of people with whom I’ve personally spoken; other names and information have been gleaned from various sources over the years.  I intend no disrespect … Continue reading “THE ASC AT WAR!”

            During a recent prep, the best executive producer I’ve ever worked with made the simplest, most telling of statements:             “Always look for the problems that’re avoiding you.”             Anyone can get a grip on the obvious challenges of the job.  What separates the players from the pretenders is their ability to anticipate the … Continue reading “WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT…?”

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have gotten to know many of the world’s greatest cinematographers.  Guy Green, OBE, BSC stands out as one of my favorites.  During his fifty-three-year career, he collaborated several times with director David Lean, picked up an Oscar for Great Expectations (1946) and shot one of my all-time favorite … Continue reading “GUY GREEN, OBE, BSC”

The following excerpt is taken from an article titled, All the Rage.  It concerned the feature 28 Days Later (directed by Danny Boyle; photographed by Anthony Dod-Mantle, ASC, BSC) and appeared in the June 2003 issue of American Cinematographer.             During the subsequent time, the application of technology has only gotten more complex.             But … Continue reading “SIMPLICITY AS A WAY OF LIFE…NOT!”