| Q1: What’s the best thing you’ve ever watched? |
| I would say Werner Herzog’s early films, particularly "Aquirre, The Wrath of God" left a powerful impression upon me. I remember watching them all at the NFT in the early 80’s. |
| Q2. Who was your idol when you were growing up or who is your idol now? |
| The artists John Piper & his son Edward Piper & the photographers Don McCullin & Fay Godwin all had a huge influence on me & continue to be a source of inspiration. |
| Q3. What was the first camera you ever bought or used? |
| Kodak INSTAMATIC 33. I still have it on the shelf beside me. |
| Q4. What is your favourite camera and why? |
| My iPhone, because I always have it with me.For nostalgic reasons I would have to say the Aaton XTR prod, the last word in super 16mm hand held cameras & an ergonomic delight. For the way I like to shoot, the last 10 years has presented a challenge to find a similar light weight, discreet camera for hand held filming but it seems we are almost there. In the meantime I prefer to use the Sony F800 for it’s versatility. It enables me to shoot hand held scenes on a long lens in most lighting situations with minimum fuss & doesn’t require the rushes to be downloaded. |
| Q5. What’s the most bizarre/funniest/favourite thing to happen whilst on a shoot? |
| Watching a familiar sound recordist struggling to gain control of a dog sled team as they raced towards the edge of the sea ice off the coast of Greenland. The dogs had been startled by their Inuit owner shouting into his mobile phone & had stepped off the sled to finish the conversation. Oblivious, the recordist had stayed put, huddled round his Nagra & it was some time before he realised that he was alone on the sled with the sea looming ever closer. He went on to be receive a Bafta nomination for his work on the film & I was replaced! |
| Q6. What’s your favourite or worst place to film and why? |
| The profound beauty of the British Isles in May or late September is hard to beat. I think the rainforest is hugely overrated, its uncomfortable & dark & you’ll be lucky to see any wildlife. |
| Q7. Who is the most interesting person you have worked with? |
| I have had the privilege of working with many interesting people some of whom are household names such as Michael Palin, Mick Jagger, Bill Clinton & Anna Wintour. Amongst the less well known but equally interesting I would include:Professor Sue Black, Professor of Anatomy & Forensic Anthropology, Simon Weston, Falklands Veteran, Sir Roy Strong, Art Historian |
| Q8. Name one unnecessary item that you cannot do without on a shoot? |
| A corkscrew & a photograph of my wife. |
| Q9. What would you like to film that you haven’t already? |
| A long, slow river journey through Eastern Europe. |
| Q10. What job would you be doing if you couldn’t do what you do now? |
| A drystone waller. |
| Q11. What’s one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring Cameraman? |
| A strong sense of composition is vital but you need an emotional awareness behind the camera to tell the story well. |
