After your national service, you eventually worked as a camera assistant with Hugh Fowler. From Hugh, I learned what cinematography is really about. It is about telling a story, and when actors are involved it is about seeing their eyes so that the audience can connect to the emotions of the characters. I was hooked. I sat in on the editing sessions of all the projects we shot and learned how it all pieced together.
Timing is everything.
My biggest influence was from seeing all the films Nestor Almendros shot. Days of Heaven was beautiful and I always felt inspired after seeing good work. I realized that in spite of budgets, I could be creative. Nestor shot films using available light, which is key in lower budget work-using what is available, using your eyes and your senses. Even midday sun and shadows can be used creatively.