Point cameras, not guns.
The first film I ever shot was a horror called “The Pumpkin Master”. Don’t bother looking it up on IMDB, it was shot on my housemate’s handycam and tragically never received the red carpet premiere it truly deserved. It was however critically acclaimed by the 5 friends who watched it.
Since being in the industry I’ve worked in commercials, music videos, features and shorts. I've had stints as a director and also started an award-winning production company, but ultimately it’s my love of lighting and camera work that has been behind it all. I now focus solely on cinematography and if I’m not shooting something, you can bet I’ll be watching films, trawling through old editions of ASC and BSC magazines, listening to podcasts about lighting or generally geeking out over film.
I'm a firm believer that a DP's greatest work is done in pre-visualisation, it's the difference between image taking and image making. I like to work closely with my collaborators in pre-production so that we can work through most of the challenges before the cameras start rolling. Detailed preparation gives us more freedom on set to see the creative opportunities when they present themselves and follow our instincts.
In recent years I have become known for my ability to light big "oners" (continuous moving camera shots that cover large sections of a story or span large areas of a set). I also have extensive experience of working with motion control and lighting for seamless shots, both on location and in the studio. I like to operate the camera and I keep myself in top physical condition so that I'm always ready to go handheld.
I own various equipment, including an 8K RED V-Raptor and a 6K RED Komodo digital cinema camera, plus a set of full-frame cine lenses.
JAMES STONELEY
+44 (0) 7886 989 516
London, Birmingham & Manchester