A grand piano on top of a mountain in Mammoth, California. Just one part of the vision and one part of why it worked.
I ran across these photos from back in 2018. We were shooting a Christmas music video for a LaSierria University in Riverside. The director wanted Formal attire, world class young musicians, vintage glass, and one very heavy piano that someone else got to carry up the hill. I just had to shoot it.
We knew it might be windy, but didn't expect 50mph gusts. Cold temps had already made Steadicam a challenge for me, and for the students singing, but the wind turned every take into a gamble. We couldn't fight it, so we worked with it. More takes meant more options in the edit, and a lot of trust in the ARRI image to carry the look when we had nothing to work with on the lighting front.
The next shoot day was very different. We drove down to the desert to shoot Mary and Joseph. The actors playing them were actually named Mary and Joseph, from Egypt. (don't fact check me, I want to believe).
Director: Johnathan Davidson
Producer: Kristine Barker
1st AC: Mark Soderblom
2nd AC: Jon Hwang
Camera: @arri Amira | Lenses: Vintage @leicacinema Leica-R Primes | @tiffencompany Archer2 Steadicam
#cinematography #DP #directorofphotography #steadicam #ARRIAmira #behindthescenes #filmmaking #onset
Spent a few weeks in Tokyo helping tell the story of George Masa for A Life Reimagined, a documentary about a groundbreaking Japanese photographer whose passion helped create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail.
We came to Japan to dig into Masa's origins, and ended up in national archives and university campuses piecing together a life that's been cloaked in mystery for almost a century.
Tiny crew, just me, my assistant, and director Paul Bonesteel, running through downtown Tokyo with an Alexa 35 and anamorphic glass. A lot of walking. A lot of good footage.
Japan is stunning. Wish we could've stayed longer.
Director: Paul Bonesteel
@bonesteelfilms
#documentary #cinematographer #directorofphotography #alexa35 #anamorphic #tokyo #japan #filmmaking #doclife #georgemasa #greatsmokymountains #appalachiantrail #alifereimagined #behindthescenes
I felt like posting a few selects from travel years ago. This photo inspired me to look for ladies with red jackets during any of my travels. #leicaq #italy #redjacket
Capturing moments like these, when everything briefly lines up in front of the lens, is what keeps me coming back to the work.
Six frames from an older project.
Not ideal conditions.
Plenty to work with, and great talent on screen.
Most of this came down to committing to frames and keeping things simple.
What do you do when you're rushed?
#cinematography #arri #leicalenses #filmmaker #onset #frames #filmstill #visualstorytelling #shotonarri
You can't tell every story and still sleep at home.
Travel is a key part of what I do, and often a big part of the planning for a project. AdventistHealth, primarily on the west coast has hospitals in very rural areas like on the Mendocino Coast, CA, and giant metropolitan areas like Glendale CA. This project was telling the story of the comparable level of care one would receive in a rural hospital with the support of a system like AdventistHealth. It was great to meet the people in those areas, and see the work they do for their patients.
Shot on C300mk3 / Cooke Panchros
#commercialfilmmaking #directorofphotography #creativeforbrands
#healthcaremarketing #healthcarestorytelling #brandstorytelling
#agencyproducer #advertisingagency #cookelook
#canoncinema #setlife
@canonusa@canoncinemaofficial@cookeoptics@directors_community@filmmakersworld@setlifeofficial
I've only lived where snow is rare. Here in the south we might get a couple inches once a year. (except for random years where 3in shuts down the city and ) So we travel to where it snows. Sometimes that is a long way away, like Zermatt Switzerland. Other times it's on this continent, up in maple syrup land, but where milk comes in bags. (Wellington Ontario) But each time we enjoy the change.
We have time to recalibrate, to focus on different things, and add some texture to our lives. I still think about filmmaking and visual storytelling and love that part. We sit and watch the snow, all while we know we don't need to buy a snowplow, because I'm married to someone from northern Minnesota, and she LOVES shoveling snow. (not a joke. @simpleveggiemeals loves it)
#leica #travelphotography #snow #dop #filmmaking
Night shoots, Day for night, DAY FOR DAY even! Tight schedules. A crew that showed up and performed!
This short film was proof that preparation pays off. Our director Brynn had great ideas right from the start to make this a fun story to tell. She's super flexible when things need to be shifted, like a brand new location at the last minute! I came and brought more visual ideas, brainstormed with her to make new ones and when things needed quick adjustments I had years of experience to pull from.
The result? A tense, cinematic story that made its way into festivals and connected with audiences.
That’s the kind of payoff that makes the chaos worth it. 🎥🔥
Shot on Arri with Cooke Panchro lenses, with a mix of handheld, dolly and a touch of steadicam in the mix. Shot
#filmmaking #cinematography #cinematographer #shortfilm #indiefilm #filmfestival #behindthescenes #visualstorytelling #setlife #productionlife #independentfilm #storytelling #filmmaker #filmcommunity #onset #arri #cooke #cookelook #ATLfilm #teradeck #smallhd #transvideo #oconnor #colortheory
A beautiful part of the world. Amazing that we as humans are able live in places like this, and if we can't live there, we can visit!
#arcticcircle #leica #photography #photography #landscape #lofotenislands #lofoten #outdoor #cinematography #story #solitude #nosun
RETIREMENT!
Nope. not me, but these folks that live at the ACTS retirement community in Maryland were awesome to work with. We met retires teachers, engineers, a WW2 pilot and someone from one of the 3 letter agencies.
The goal was to capture a slice of what life is like at the ACTS community. The challenge was to fit in with the busy schedule of the facility and the real people featured in the commercial. NO PROBLEM! We've been doing that for years. We planned out what we needed, brought in our wonderful people and got some great moments showing them having a great time.
#Commercial #ARRICameras #alexa35 #CookeLenses #RealPeople #Cinematography #FilmProduction #directorofphotography #VideoProduction #CreativeFilmmaking #CommercialShoot #FilmCrew #VisualStorytelling #OnSet #CinematicExperience #ProfessionalFilmmaking #FilmIndustry #CameraGear #LensChoice #FilmmakingCommunity
