CASE STUDIES

Filmmaking and Photography:

A CONVERGENCE OF SKILLS

The following case studies are examples of projects where I have been asked to wear two hats:

Filmmaker and Photographer.

While it makes sense that filmmaking and photography would go hand-in-hand, the process and mindset for each are quite different.  For filmmmaking, I think in terms of sequences and shot juxtaposition and how they support an overall narrative; for still phtoography I think in terms of moments - slices of time that encapsulate an action or idea.  The diversity of uses is wide and so the process has to reflect this in order to achieve the desired outcomes for each medium.

My approach has always been documeteray style.  It allows for authenticity - action and words come naturally.  Audiences see this and recognize it.  Doc-style means that audiences connect to what they are seeing on an emotional level, thus deepening their engagement.  Additionally there are certain efficiencies that are achieved in this approach.  Doc-style usually requires a minimum of crew with greater coverage in a shorter time.  With smaller crews a produciton unit can move qiuickly and effectively with results that work.

 
 

ORLA MINING

I was approached by Orla Mining to film and photogrpah their operations in Zacatecas, Mexico. The ask was simple enough:  Capture stills and motion of the mine and the first ever gold pour from their on-sight refinery.  However, simple did not end up being the case.  This was a challenging shoot and it required adaptability and speed.  Mines are dynamic places, with lots going on all the time.  This required staying alert to what was going on around me to ensure I captured key moments.  This was particularily tricky while filming tha actual first pour of gold to come out of the refinery.  I was working by myself so I had to set up seveal cameras to shoot remeotely or with me operating to get the best coverage of this fleeting moment of the pour.  With one hand on my cinema camera and another on my stills camera I was able to capture this, a pivotal moment-in-time for Orla Mining.

 
 
 

R2//NYC

Campfire Circle is a heroic organization catering to the needs of kids with serious illness. R2//NYC is a key fundraising event for the organization.  This bicycle ride covers the distance from  Toronto to New York city in 5 days.  It’s an epic journey that I have had the pleasure of covering since its inauguration in 2018. The brief asked to create something enticing and memorable.  Campfire Circle had a need to attract new riders and donors to the event and also be able to share a memento with all those who particpated. A recruitment fim was created with a printed magazine to be distributed amongst the participants.

I approached this project as a trolling expedition - cast the net wide and see what we get.  In non metaphorical terms, it meant shooting everything I could and finding the gems and stories in the editing process.

 
 
 

OCEAN TROUT CANADA

OTC is a startup fishery specializing in Steelehead trout in the bays of Newfoundland.  For startups like OTC, media packages are a very importnat tool for generating investor interest.

I was asked provide a basket of imagery that could be used for a variety of different presentaitons and modes of distribution.  I gave them a collection of motion and still images of the entirity of their operation in Newfoundland. What is included here is a sample of phtoographs illustrating their operation and a media b-reel that has been used in presentation decks and distributed to news oulets and other media agencies.