New Reel

I'm excited to share my latest showreel - a satisfying blend of documentary, fashion, and sport that showcase the fascinating stories and human connections that make life so rich and complex. I'm also very proud to have been recognised for my work on Dambe, Fell Runner, and Hydro K which feature.

Putting together the reel was a real treat, looking back at my collaborations with talented DOPs and reflecting on the creative process. Check out the reel to get a glimpse of the unique perspectives and emotional range that these projects offer.

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ghd AW23

This year I was thrilled to be invited back by ghd Professional to work on their AW23 Trend Reveal. Twice annually, ghd release an aspirational education piece designed to inspire and excite stylists with new trends and looks.

The Trend Reveal is a collection of eight different hairstyles, created by expert stylists, that showcase the latest hair trends. The looks are designed to be wearable and achievable for clients, while also pushing the boundaries of hairstyling - and very fun to film!

For this goth-glam inspired shoot we worked closely with the stylists and creative director to understand their vision, and then translate that into a captivating visual narrative.

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Malin Andersson Music Video | Ships in the Night

Another wonderful collaboration with singer songwriter Malin Andersson for her new single, Ships in the Night.

Malin is a talented and accomplished singer-songwriter who has created a unique musical style that combines elements of folk, pop, and indie rock. With a raw and honest approach to songwriting, she has captivated audiences with her emotional and introspective lyrics.

When I first listened to Ships in the Night I was struck by Malins vocals, the ethereal and uplifting quality as well as the evocative lyrics. I wanted to shoot some performance elements where Malin could connect directly with the camera and its audience, as well as weave a loose narrative throughout.

We decided to shoot at a coastal location in a nod to the title, tying the visuals together with the message throughout which is one of contemplation and acceptance. The last light of the day providing the perfect backdrop of stillness and calm against the glassy waters.

Macmillan

This short doco project made in collaboration with Taylor Made Media and Macmillan Cancer Support was an eye opening experience. Over the course of the project we got to spend valuable time with cancer sufferers who shared with us the huge impact that a diagnosis can make financially to the family home.

We had a few factors at play that limited our time with the contributors so maximising every hour was key to getting enough footage to tell their story in the most impactful way possible. It was both heartwarming and moving to direct, a really fulfilling and informative project.

Ballers

This week we finished a passion project titled ‘Ballers’ that we shot last summer during the July heat wave. It’s been so enjoyable to see it take shape over the last few weeks - especially as we finalised the cut, sound design and grade (big thanks to Marty over at Freefolk).

Inspired by streetball culture, urban courts are lively and vibrant places in the summer. Basketball, creativity, and community all seem to come together. Gathering places for people to hang out and watch the games.

It’s not just about winning, but connecting with others in the community. I’ve always loved how players have their own unique style and develop tricks to outsmart opponents. Skills honed in pick-up games that mostly take place on local outdoor courts.

We got to the courts and started shooting as close to sunrise as possible to capture the beautiful long shadows and gentle morning summer sun. Our DoP Jake was put to task and did a great job keeping up with the players take after take (although he lost a few kg’s of water in the process).

At points we went super wide with our focal lengths to keep the action fast and frenetic - having the camera up in the players faces as if it was an opponent itself. For the grade we took it to a punchy, warm place - capturing a vibrant summer vibe on the courts and boosting the colour to make it really pop.

The music and sound design in our film reflects the mood and energy of the game. Music is a big part of the culture and we wanted to go beyond documenting action shots of players in motion, and instead, capture the mood of that summer court energy in a unique and artistic way.

KEEO

Loved working on this new campaign shoot for hair tool brand KEEO. For the styling, set and make up we worked with a soft colour palette of nudes, creams, browns and orange - and once in post, we took this even further, desaturating the image but keeping the warm tones.

We chose to shoot our four models in a mix of hard direct and dappled light. The soft, filtered light created a natural looking diffusion, adding depth and dimension to their faces, making their expressions pop! The technique also produced interesting shadows for added contrast and texture to the image. Our goal throughout the day was to keep the poses as natural as possible, capturing authentic beautiful portraits.

Aviva | Electric Pioneers

It’s great to see our series of short doc style films for Aviva go live today - directed in collaboration with Nice Shirt Films and creative agency Mr President.

The project required us to dig down into the world of the electric car, chatting to ‘electric pioneers’ who have been championing the technology from its early inception and hearing what made them choose these vehicles over a traditional petrol car.

Warren and the Kia e-Niro

We spent the day over at car restoration and dealership Duke of London in West London, utilising three very different location spaces for each of our pioneers. Roy with his converted classic Bond Bug in the main hall, Warren and his beloved Kia e-Niro in the bodywork showroom and Nicola our environmentalist at an eight storey carpark. There was a conscious effort to interweave subtle flashes of yellow throughout the imagery, a nod to Aviva’s signature brand colour - an air freshener hanging from a rear view mirror, polishing clothes and the soft warm glow from a few Astera light tubes did the trick.

Roy in his Bond Bug

When shooting the car interiors our DOP found himself pretty crammed in (especially in Nicola’s G-Wiz!) with very limited space for equipment. We opted to use the Sony Venice Rialto system to help us out, being able to separate the lens from the main camera body was the perfect way to capture their interviews whilst on the road.

Nicola and the tiny G-Wiz

Chrysalis

Chrysalis is a dance project about strength, character and self expression - a visual love letter to those who shine bright. Even in moments filled with shadow.

Directing this film has been a real joy, and what started as an idea for a small test shoot a number of years ago has finally blossomed into something both much more beautiful and meaningful than the initial loose threads of a concept.

It was important for me to make a piece of work than revisited some of the more confusing and isolating experiences of my childhood, at times being outcast just for being me. I wanted to draw on those experiences to create an emotive piece of work which expresses through words and movement that it’s ok to be you, whatever that looks and feels like. Not to fall in line with those who dampen your spirit and diminish your joy because you stand out in some way, different from the status quo.

The film combines a beautiful culmination of talent and raw vulnerability, thanks to three wonderful dancers; Shevelle Dynott, Juan Sánchez Plaza and Ami Benton.

Photo: Jim Petersen

Photo: Jim Petersen

Photo: Jim Petersen