He notes that there were no film schools in England when he began his career. Future cinematographers learned their craft by apprenticing and the emphasis was much more technical. Technology also imposed limits. Williams recalls that he recorded his first color movie on a 50-speed negative. He remembers that it required a lot more attention to details in lighting for proper exposure values than today's faster films which also provide a much broader range of exposure latitude.
Cinematographers have more freedom today to concentrate on aesthetic and creative issues.
The camera is more fluid and the use of colors and postproduction techniques have become more important. His advice to young filmmakers, who are considering careers as cinematographers, is that they have to be born with some talent and an eye for images, and they also require an ability to work with other people in a collaborative environment. If you are really determined, one day you are going to meet someone who is going to give you a chance. How far you climb depends on all manners of things. A lot of people with the talent quit before they get a chance.