Go Big Early…

I have been making a living as a Gaffer, Best Boy, and Electrician in the UK film industry for the past 20 years. I stumbled in to this career back in my late 20’s, when my photography wasn’t quite making ends meet. I saw an opportunity to expand my horizons and find something that didn’t involve travel to dangerous places. Knocking on the door of a smokey hire office at Lee Lighting ended up being my in. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to work with some of the very best technicians and see the many ways to approach lighting a film set. I’m grateful to have started my career when we only had a rack of tungsten and the odd discharge lamp to play with, thus witnessing some old school mastery.

My true inspiration comes from my contemporaries who keep the camaraderie and who stay positive to keep you smiling when things get tough and the pressure is on. Lighting on set is very much a collaborative effort. I believe you are only as good as your crew; so putting together a team is something I relish, especially when I have had a Best Boy role on longer projects. It’s great that increasing workload and new technology is actually allowing more diversity to enter our department, hence, there will always be someone to show me something new. 

My fascination with lighting an image probably came while printing in the dark room. Dodging and burning with bits of wire and blue tack, to manipulate exposure. Actually, the process on set isn’t so different - despite my having to acquire electrical qualifications and build a knowledge of the equipment - the basic principles and the sense of satisfaction when an image is created, is the same for me. 

The images below are some moments I have managed to snap while working on various productions including major motion pictures, independent films, commercials and a fitness video. There are a couple of me in action too, with thanks to Martin Smith, Bruno Martins and an uncredited paparazzo.