Martin Briggs

Maybe that's because every other office worker, chef, midwife and teacher is becoming a stills photographer! The thing is its perceived as a desirable job and now digital is here everyone can have a pop at it. Thankfully almost all of them don't have the eye for it and the understanding of light or the social skills to be able to make a successful business/career. I'm sure it's the same in cinematography. If I'm no good at it I will just dissappear on the wind and some other dreamer will take my place. I love images, I see them all the time, it's like an album in my head so it felt natural to move into the moving image. Thank you for your comments, they make sense and I am learning more each day. It just feels right. :) All the best and thanks Martin

I'm not familiar with his work but I shall certainly look it up. I've spent 14 years shooting stills full time and I think my love of the long lens has come from that.

I didn't concern myself with its eventual output re screen size. Personally if I thought it would be viewed on the web only I would still shoot as if it was on at the cinema! Most living romm TV screens are huge nowadays anyway. A lot of scenes were shot on the 200mm as I like the compression of distances and sometimes I needed to drop the background right out of focus as i only wanted to hint as to what was there or withdraw attention from it altogether. Anyhow, thanks for your comments.

Thanks Freya TV style? I have filmed wider shots although they have not been used in the trailer edit. What do you mean "maybe that's a good thing in these days of web video" though? And if you could expand on my other "off" shots that would be great. Martin

Here it is. Lighting, natural, 3 redheads and a large diffuser. Just camera and tripod. Not even a video head. My slider was a pillow on a bench!

Thanks again for all your advice and if you are interested here is my first attempt at DOP on a short. This is just the trailer.

Well thank you all ever so much. Im going to read all your replies several times to really take it all in. In fact i cant do it now as im just dashing out to assist on a show reel shoot for an actress!! So here we go my very first toe dipped into the world of Cinematography. I'll let you know how it goes. Many thanks again. Martin.

Hello all, I am a full time "people" photographer here in the uk and have been for 12 years. I specialise in natural light and use reflectors and black screens a lot. I also do a lot of studio work and understand how to light a face and body. I know many lighting styles for portraits. I understand how my cameras (film and digital) see light and can meter light with my own eyes 9 times out of 10 within a stop of my light meter. I work with teams of people and perceive myself to be a pretty good leader, considerate but able to get things done without a swear word in sight. I understand colour balance. I understand what my lenses can do for me and own many primes for my nikon. I fully understand composition and even shoot stills in a 2:1 format, not far from 16:9. So after what's sounds like a rather big headed intro I would like to know what I should dive into re wishing to be a DOP. I'm 42 and uni is not an option and after reading bits online and in books I'm scaring myself at how much I already know. All this being said I feel my weak areas are types of constant lighting available, movie film stocks, and movie editing software and how to use it. I love film and always watch movies with an eye on the cinematography, some times even shouting at the screen much to my wife's annoyance. It's a quiet time of year for me now so I have a little time to delve into this. It's been on my mind for a number of years. Basically what gaps do I need to fill first? Do stills photographers make good potential Dop's? And re progression (remembering I'm in the UK) what would be your first move? Wonderful forum here by the way and wonderful conversations. So a big hello to all and many thanks if you have bothered to read this. Martin Briggs