John’s DP Approach

My first love as a cinematographer was the synergy of perfectly timed camera movement with compelling action - learned particularly through shooting music videos - which continues to inform my approach to storytelling.  There’s nothing more satisfying to me than that exhilarating ‘click’ in my mind that comes from the synergy of dynamic camera movement, precise framing that meets cinematic lighting, and well-timed action from talent.  The moment when you can ‘see the edit’ in front of you.

Hand in hand with that initial love was the art of collaboration.  I certainly didn’t follow my passion for filmmaking to go at it alone.  I love working with talented people, and especially people who are more experienced than myself, to achieve a vision and tell a story as a team.  I love the creative process, of course in pre-production, but particularly the instinctive creativity and problem-solving on your feet that only happens when you’re on set.

I think what differentiates me as a DP is my commitment to pre-production.  I love creating lighting diagrams and finding references, discussing lensing and the appropriate camera build, and especially developing the perfect lighting approach for the story, in collaboration with talented directors and gaffers.  

On shoot days, I’ve been described as someone who brings a prepared, calm, and can-do attitude to production.  I consciously seek to put ego aside and be the best collaborator and problem solver I can be on set, ensuring that directors and crew feel energized and positive, and most importantly, that clients feel their vision is coming to life even better than anticipated.

Behind the Scenes