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!”

            I recently completed shooting an extremely well-funded, hour-long pilot for one of the major networks.  Now, after a short rest, I’m about to shoot a small, labor-of-love independent feature for a talented young director.             The feature has a fifteen-day schedule, which ironically, is one more than what the pilot had.  However, the challenges … Continue reading “BUDGET BIG AND BUDGET LITTLE”

            If you’ve missed Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Avventura (1960; photographed by Aldo Scavarda), shame on you!  It’s one of the essentials…put it at the top of your list!  If you haven’t seen it in awhile, see it again soon.  A wealth of background information is available on the web, so I won’t waste time with the … Continue reading “A WAY OF SEEING”

            In early 1980 I was struggling for entry to any pack-mule slot in the camera department.  Making the most of too much free time, I enrolled in film classes at Columbia University and was handed a wind-up Bell & Howell camera and a Sekonic light meter with a sticky needle.  The Filmo 70-DR is … Continue reading “GUS”

            Multiple lights mean multiple shadows!             Shadows are a part of life and are not to be feared in motion pictures.  Skillfully placed, they add depth and texture to images and help turn an essentially flat representation of people and objects into something approximate to the human experience.             According to the script, there … Continue reading “STUDENT QUICK TIP #20”

I first wrote the following as a column for the June 2021 issue of American Cinematographer… Moments of Transcendence The ASC Photo Gallery reflects its membership’s passion for capturing still images that can move the viewer. I’ve never known any cinematographer who is completely satisfied with everything they’ve shot.  I’m certainly not.  Our chosen career … Continue reading “CONSIDER YOURSELF INVITED…!”

            Photographer\photojournalist Leigh Wiener (1929-1993) never got the recognition he deserved during his lifetime.  Look him up!  His work is certainly on par with the most famous names of his day, often exceeding them with his taste and technical mastery.  One glance at his portrait of Grace Kelly or shot of Sandy Koufax in mid-delivery … Continue reading “LEIGH WIENER”