Year: 2022

            How many times have you watched a film that was beautifully shot yet left you empty as a drum at its conclusion?  Conversely, you’ve no doubt seen many that were photographically sloppy yet have retained their emotional power years after the fact.             Director James Cameron addressed this dichotomy in The Toronto Star, April … Continue reading “THOUGHT FOR AN EARLY SPRING FRIDAY”

The success of foolishness does not imply wisdom. Sounds simple, but really think about it. It will apply to situations you’ll encounter over and over throughout your filmmaking career. This is not to say that they won’t be valuable learning opportunities…

Yes, isn’t it interesting indeed how certain images affect us.  Below are two versions of the same photo (which happens to be the view from my current production office window in Providence, RI).             Though a decent composition with a sort of 70’s vibe, for the most part the color original leaves me as cold … Continue reading “ISN’T IT INTERESTING?”

Angela B. of Dallas, Texas asks: How do you approach pre-production? In short? As often as possible. In almost every case, time spent in prep will pay infinite dividends during production. Much of that is spent getting to know my crew and other collaborators, consulting on the shooting schedule, visiting locations, assembling gear, shooting tests, … Continue reading “Q & A #4…”

            I was on my way into the Opera Nova during the 2015 CamerImage Festival in Bydgoszcz when a random film student stopped me in my tracks.  Wild eyed and lightly spitting on himself, I had no idea why he was so wound up.  After toweling off with the sleeve of his cardigan, his speech … Continue reading “IT’S BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE BEGINNING”

            Now that so many contemporary productions have come to appear so antiseptic, so perfect in every way, they’re starting to feel as if they’ve been leeched of all human contact.  Maybe that’s a result of working in a digital world after having been brought up on film, but I’ve always gotten a kick from … Continue reading “THE HUMANIZING EFFECT”

            I’ve written about gratitude in this space before, but only as it applied in a general sense.  Now, in the midst of prepping a show, I’d like to send profound appreciation to my great friends at Panavision.  Since first setting foot inside one of their facilities back in the day, management and staff have … Continue reading “GRATITUDE…”

            And I’m answering…the honorable Andrew Cirincione: I was wondering if you could make a post about your process exposing and lighting low key scenes, specifically night exteriors and interiors.  While normally I try to get things right “in camera” and expose how I would like it to look, I’ve heard that it is often … Continue reading “SOMEBODY ASKED…”

Jake Quinn of Silver City, New Mexico asks:             How did you become a cinematographer and what do you like most about it?             I wasn’t one of those kids who always knew what they wanted to do when they grew up.  I went through all the usual phases and obsessions, but the vast portion … Continue reading “Q & A # 3…”

            Whenever a new technique or piece of gear is introduced there usually follows a period during which it quickly becomes over-used, with little regard for propriety.  Just think of zoom lenses in the ’60’s, Steadicam in the mid-’70’s and visual effects\CGI from the ’80’s up to this moment.  Like everything that came before, they … Continue reading “GIVE IT A REST, PLEASE…”