My producer would tell me that the following text is too long, (and she’s not wrong)

But this is what I have to say. Thanks for taking the time.

You may be wondering what the convergence is. - On one hand, it is the space in which my roll as a production company owner blends with my work as a cinematographer. Over the years, I have touched every aspect of every film we’ve made. Hundreds of films. Thousands of unique puzzles, challenges, successes and learning opportunities. I owe a great deal of gratitude to my many employees over the years, but most specifically, Greg Mares and Jeremiah Higgins, (perhaps you’ve heard of them?) They took a chance on me early on and Jeremiah worked as my right-hand for 10 solid years. But also, Alicia McKee who is in her 11th year with me as my producer.

On the other hand, the convergence is the space where all the dreaming, planning and coordinated logistics, get focused through a lens onto the sensor. The point in the process where going back is no longer an option. Every cinematographer has their own philosophy around what this moment is and what it means to them. Some follow strict industry rules and guidelines while others are a bit more maverick, I think I land somewhere in the middle. For me this convergence is sacred, it’s reverent, we are literally archiving the human experience, capturing our time here on this earth, our stories, our dreams, our passions and stories. I’ve found many times that industry formalities get in the way of how I want to capture my time in history. That moment when the world is focused through my lens and on to my sensor will be all I have to show for that moment I witnessed and captured. I’ve been asked many times how my films feel so real, and my answer is always easy and sometimes anticlimactic, “it’s because they are” I’d reply. “Imperfectly real.” I’ve found the most excitement and comfort in capturing real people, doing real things in real time and I’m really there doing it with them. We, filmmakers define this style of shooting as Cinéma Vérité. (In French, vérité means truth). I lean into being the fly on the wall, looking for beautiful, fleeting moments that speak to the truth of what my client has sent me in to find. I direct scenes softly, or sometimes not at all. I personally feel a slight emotional allergic reaction when a scene feels staged, rehearsed and contrived, like an effort to force a bias on the viewer. Filmmaking is an art form built around bias, so it’s a delicate dance and every cinematographer has to find their steps in that dance. Cinéma Vérité is most often practiced in the documentary space, but that doesn’t mean I don’t apply the same efforts to my commercial and branded work. The art to this style of shooting is the art of being present, anticipating moments and applying years of practice to capturing authentic, fleeting moments in the most aesthetic way that the situation allows.

Below you’ll find a collection of videos that I’ve created, I’ve selected each one for a specific reason, so to help shape context, I wrote a short caption as to why each one has found a spot on this page.

- I hope you enjoy.