Candela: Photography & Cinematography Masters

There Will Be Blood cinematographer Robert Elswit

Oscar-winning director of photography Robert Elswit joins hosts Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton to discuss his long-running partnership with director Paul Thomas Anderson, making the sky rain frogs in 'Magnolia', going fruit shopping with Daniel Day-Lewis in character as oil baron Daniel Plainview during filming on 'There Will Be Blood', and much more.

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Where in the world to shoot?

Alan's often asked which his favourite countries are to shoot in. In this episode, he and Chris discuss the unique visual aspects to different environments around the world, and what the pair do to get the most out of travelling – both creatively and recreationally. Also, an addendum on location shooting in cinema.

Cristina Mittermeier

How does lighting and lens choice work underwater? Photographer Cristina Mittermeier joins hosts Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton to discuss the majesty and the difficulty of shooting marine life, 'split photography' that captures both what's beneath the waves and above it, and her mission to create healthy and abundant oceans with the initiative SeaLegacy.

Compromise

Almost all projects – from amateur to the highest levels – involve sacrifices, but when should you make concessions and when should you stick to your guns? In this episode, hosts Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton discuss compromise in creativity. 

Inception & The Dark Knight cinematographer Wally Pfister

Academy Award-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister talks to hosts Alan Schaller & Christopher Hooton about his collaborations with Christopher Nolan, his beginnings as a news cameraman, a life-changing chance meeting with Robert Altman, managing to surprise Sir Michael Caine with unscripted camera movements, and what it was like seeing Heath Ledger's Joker character in front of the lens for the first time.

The relationship between camera and subject

You've got a great scene or subject in front of you, now where are you going to position the camera? Angles and perspectives are the focus of this episode, with hosts Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton explaining how they think about them both in terms of photography and cinematography.

Vincent Peters

Vogue and GQ portrait photographer Vincent Peters joins Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton to discuss modern celebrity, the need to leave something "unavailable" in an image, and the possibility that digital content is becoming to our brains what plastic has become to the Earth.

How important is the camera you use?

In this episode, hosts Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton consider to what extent fancy cameras and equipment bring you better results, how this differs in terms of photography and film, and the hidden advantages of lower-end kit.

Game of Thrones and Ozark director Daniel Sackheim

Dan Sackheim has become a go-to director for television in Hollywood, directing episodes of Game of Thrones, Ozark, Better Call Saul, True Detective, The Leftovers and other major shows. He joins Alan Schaller and Christopher Hooton to discuss the specific set of skills required for TV, how budget worries remain even when you're shooting a show the size of GoT, and how his passion for photography intersects with his day job in moving images.

Titling work (or 'There are 4 kinds of title')

Giving work a title can be an awkward thing. Too ambiguous? Not ambiguous enough? What about commercial or categorisation considerations? Alan and Chris chew all this over, Chris gives his theory that there are generally four kinds of title, and the pair look at trends that they see in the naming of photos and films.