Directed by Hilary Brougher, South Mountain was a return to feature fiction work for me. Hilary and I have collaborated on two features and several short films, and I love her solid storytelling combined with unexpected and idiosyncratic inspiration. We were joined by a small crew, we filmed in a modest location, and had very limited resources. There was a refreshing freedom in taking a spontaneous way of working and applying it to a deeply moving script with many subtle layers. I think the intimate nature of the production helped us capture some incredible, and deservedly well-received, performances.
Contributing to CNN’s Shine A Light: A 9/11 20th Anniversary Tribute was a moving and emotional experience. I was in New York during that time, and to be able to look back on those events through the eyes of some of the first responders was deeply touching.
In the midst of the COVID pandemic, I was grateful to be part of a very small crew invited into the home of Patti LaBelle to film this performance for Bear Witness, Take Action 2. I love the opportunities I’ve had to contribute to filmed music performances, and it’s one of my favorite types of work. To be six feet from Ms. LaBelle while she sings is an unforgettable experience, to be sure.
I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a dear friend, Brian Katz, on a number of projects. In this excerpt from Terminus, Sarita Choudhury is mesmerizing. As a native New Yorker, I’ve often filmed on the subway and I’ve developed subconscious techniques for handholding the camera while keeping balanced, maintaining composition, and being aware of my surroundings. Those techniques almost failed me here, and in a blink I went from DP to audience member. I briefly became convinced that she was speaking directly to ME, rather than acting. She is one of the greats, and working with her is an experience I’ll never forget.
I’ve done a lot of filming in kitchens both large and small, but this was the first time I’ve had the experience of working with food in a historical context. Working with Cheyney McKnight at Historic Richmond Town on Staten Island was a wonderful opportunity to simplify my process and embrace the tight quarters and natural light of a several-hundred-year-old kitchen. In addition to the cinematography, I directed and edited this piece as well. I highly recommend seeking out Cheyney’s informative and moving work at notyourmommashistory.com.
To me, one of the most important aspects of my work is the broad range of projects I’m called upon to contribute to. Each of these projects is an opportunity to flex different aesthetic muscles and sometimes I’m surprised with the way different types of shoots can connect in unexpected ways. In this client profile of 1-800-Flowers.com for JPMorganChase we had the opportunity to do interviews, observe process, and get an inside look at their workshop. I find that throughout a shoot day like this I sometimes find myself inspired by a distant memory of an earlier project, which helps me take the work in a new direction.
I’ve done many, many interviews over the course of my career and I’ve chosen to highlight this very simple and elegant clip of Jennifer Morrison that I shot for Yahoo! Beauty Stories. There’s something I like very much about the subtlety of it— she has a beautiful glamour and I feel the setting conveys the casual and relatable.
I was DP for many episodes of MTV’s PUSH performance series, including this early appearance of Billie Eilish from 2019. I enjoy being part of a multi-camera crew, is a nice way to balance out the projects I do which use a smaller production team. On this shoot, in addition to being the DP I was one of the camera operators— in this case, all the black & white work is mine.
Artist Lazarus Nazario is a long-time friend. This is one of the short films I’ve made with her, capturing a guerilla-style “takeover” of New York City bus shelters. Another project which I directed and edited, as well as photographed. Her challenging, beautiful, and highly-acclaimed work is available at lazarusnazario.com
I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with filmmaker Lynne Sachs on several projects. This is an excerpt from one: Your Day Is My Night. I cherish working with film artists like Lynne— filmmakers who have complete control over their personal and creative work, but who are comfortable with me joining their process. I’m honored to help them execute their vision, or bring my own point of view to their work.
I was invited to be part of this shoot by my friend, DP Brian Dentz. I love opportunities like this, where I can concentrate on capturing details, candid moments, and especially slow-motion footage of Nigel Barker’s dramatically-lit subjects. This photo shoot and behind-the-scenes footage was for Laureus: Sport For Good, and in addition to the legendary Nadia Comaneci, we also spent a day filming in Central Park with Tony Hawk.
Legacy List was another B Camera opportunity, this time courtesy of DP Christian Hoagland. Christian has been both a mentor and a colleague since the early days of my career. Legacy List is a fascinating show that has elements of both Antiques Roadshow and Hoarders, as adult children work with their elderly parents to both clear out their family home and also to trace their family’s history via long-forgotten possessions. I was tasked with setting up an impromptu “studio” of sorts to showcase some of the more significant finds, as well as capturing B camera angles of the reality portions of the show.