January/February video camera training

These past few weeks have been busy with training courses the HQ of The Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) in North Sydney. Courses have been structured for clients using a variety of video cameras, from Sony FS7's, Canon C300's to the Apple iPhoneXS.

January 2019: around Australia cinematography lectures

Now wrapping up my cinematography lecture series on Regent's Seven Seas Mariner. This voyage was a circumnavigation of Australia - Sydney to Sydney, with a stop at Komodo Island then onto Bali to see in the New Year.

I looked out on a packed show theatre for all on my sessions and it was nice to be joined by so many guests interested in seeing and hearing about my work as a photographer and cinematographer. Soon it will be back to the ACS National Headquaters in North Sydney for a long run with training clients, all keen to explore aspects of the craft of cinematography.

Nov/Dec 2018: Busy times

This past week has seen filmmakers and videographers from around the country coming in for my One-to-One and small-group courses. In for three days this week for some advanced cinematography and lighting training, Adam Williamson, head videographer at Hoyne Design. Hoyne is one of Australia's top brand and marketing agencies. Henry and Bryn Williams, brothers who have a passion to tell stories.

There have also been quite a few travel bloggers attending my One-to-One training. I offer specialised camera and audio training in this area. Grace Hu was in for a few days last week. Sydney lawyer, Greg attended the weekend Still to Motion course.

So why not Upgrade your Skills, join me in the new year?

Oct-Nov 2018: Oman photography tour

I've finished my photo/video/lecture tour - from Muscat Oman to Hong Kong on the stunning Silver Muse. 

Cinematography & photography cruise lecture tours

Oct 2018: This week at PDV - Stills to Motion training

Flying in for training this week, Matthew Cawood. Matt is the Communications Officer at the University of New England in Armidale. He has also worked for Australian Geographic Magazine as photo/journalist. Matt was in for the Stills to Motion training course.

Oct: The 2018 SmartFone Flick Fest Finals at the Opera House

Sydney Opera House. A perfect venue and perfect night for the SF3 SmartFone Flick Fest Gala Finals. I had the pleasure of announcing the winner and runner up in the Best Cinematography category.

Congratulations to cinematographer/director Rah Shama for his short film, "Restoration", shot on an iPhone X; to everyone up on that famous stage. Festival originators and pricipals Angela Blake and Alison Crew, you sure know how (and where) to put on a great show! Thank you to the other industry expert judges on the panel, including Jason van Genderen, Rebel Penfold-Russell, Alan Nurthen, and Christopher Stollery. Smart Phones pull in smart people!

Sept 2018: training for icon water media unit canberra

I've been in Canberra running a video production course for the media team at Icon Water, the city's major water supplier. Our location training shoot at the old Cotter Dam Pump Station delivered some rewarding lighting opportunities. It's one of Canberra’s oldest buildings. Construction started in 1914 and was completed in 1918.

Location training shoots are an essential aspect of my training.

August 2018: Location training & mentoring

This week I'm working in remote Central Queensland at Saddler Springs, a 30,000 hectre cattle station owned by Amanda and Lloyd Hancock. Amanda is my training client and she flies the drone and does nicely with her Sony PMW-200, Sony A7 Mk3 and a Mavic Air drone. Our filming/camping location, Battleship Spur at 1,200 meters, is no place for sleepwalkers! 

Amanda trained with me here in North Sydney during May, followed by six days location mentoring in Central Queensland and now she returns to my North Sydney venue to start training with the Sony A7 Mk3.

July 2018: SBS Cadet Journalists take on video camera training

I've recently been training up SBS Television cadet journalist in the craft of video news camera work. I'm looking forward to seeing their completed feature "news story" produced by them as a part of my Video for Journalists course.

Matters of Depth and Mood - Tips

A number of recent visitors have enquired about what they see as a certain "depth" and "mood" in my regular "Good Morning" series of sunrise images. Do I use software filters? It's a question that often pops up. So that you can acheive this, I can break it down into three key practices:

1. Using Manual settings, adjust the exposure level for the brighter regions of the composed image - the brightest cloud for example. Close down the aperture or increase the shutter speed to bring detail and colour saturation into these often blown-out regions of the image. Allow other areas to appear under exposed - don't be afraid of the dark! These shadowy areas can be lifted later, and besides, that's how it is when the sun sits low in the sky. This is how I can convey "mood".

Window light

Singapore, Vietnam photography lecture series

I have been delivering a series of cinematography lectures on board Silversea Silver Shadow. Sailing from Singapore with port stops in Ho Chi Min City, Da Nang, Ha Long Bay and finishing in Hong Kong.