For the past few months, I’ve been involved in a ground-breaking project centered around the use of an LED volume.  While I’m not at liberty to disclose the details just yet, participation has revealed many opportunities for technical and artistic growth.  The people in charge are geniuses at what they do and their openness … Continue reading “THE CUTTING EDGE”

                Have a read about the latest project I’m involved in…  It’s unusual and very interesting – and I’m very excited about it.  I’ll reveal more details in upcoming posts.

Standing, from L-R: Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC, Billy Williams, BSC, John Alonzo, ASC, Laszlo Kovacs, ASC and Owen Roizman, ASC.  Seated: Conrad Hall, ASC, William Fraker, ASC.          If ever a more significant group of cinematographers gathered for an afternoon snapshot, I’m yet to see them.  Taken in the mid-seventies during a barbecue at the Malibu … Continue reading “THE DREAM TEAM”

         If you’re as much a fan of World War Two documentaries as I am, you must have noticed the movement toward colorizing material that was originated in black-and-white.  It started slowly a few years back, but now it’s almost a given that older historical films shown by the streamers and on basic cable have … Continue reading “WHY DO THEY DO THINGS LIKE THIS?”

            I don’t know what it is lately.  Over the past few weeks, books I haven’t seen in decades seem to be finding me again, though I haven’t been looking for them.  The latest antiquity to sneak onto my desk evokes fond memories, as it had a huge effect on my early formation as a … Continue reading “ANOTHER BLAST FROM YOU-KNOW-WHERE”

Until recently, no one who graduated film school instantly declared themself a director of photography, and with good reason.  A couple of semesters’ exposure to the basics within a cloistered environment didn’t equate with bearing responsibility for a multi-million dollar investment.  It still doesn’t.  But society’s values have changed along with our technology, and such … Continue reading “I TOLD YOU SO”

            American Cinematographer’s Shot Craft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography             by Jay Holben             Adakin Productions Press; 2023             Forewords by M. David Mullen, ASC & Stephen Pizzello             The title might be a mouthful, but it delivers on every point.  Among the topics covered are Fundamental Concepts, … Continue reading “READ THIS BOOK #8”

We’ve long taken aerial cinematography for granted, but ninety years before Top Gun: Maverick ruled the skies, a daredevil cameraman took to the air in order to bring his own breathtaking images to moviegoers around the world.  As the first to specialize in that sort of work, Elmer Dyer, ASC was a pioneer in the … Continue reading “ELMER DYER, ASC (1892-1970)”

Today, I’d like to send a shout out to my good friend and colleague, John Fauer, ASC.  In addition to being an ace cinematographer and successful author, he’s the brain behind the industry’s most comprehensive and informative publication, Film and Digital Times.  Its subtitle pretty much says it all: Art, Technique and Technology in Motion … Continue reading “FILM AND DIGITAL TIMES”

Last Friday’s post professed my appreciation for Verne and Sylvia Carlson’s 16mm\35mm Professional Cameraman’s Handbook.  While rooting through yet another obscure storage space, I came upon this companion publication, written by the same authors and whose title anticipates its contents.  Don’t let it fool you, though.  It’s pretty much devoid of lighting techniques and is … Continue reading “SPARKS WILL FLY”