Education

training

Epsom School of Art and Design now known as (UCA) 1979

Owen gained a scholarship to the Epsom School of Art and Design now known as The University of Creative Arts (UCA) Epsom where he studied for a degree in graphic design and commercial art. This has provided Owen with a very creative eye and amazing insight and perspective.

He went on to gained experience in the world of advertising working in London’s West End working in a top level advertising photographic studio where he was trained in studio lighting and subject framing for creating glossy magazine and billboard adverts.

Music Works Diploma in Sound Engineering & Music Technology 

Two year diploma course in Sound Engineering and Music Technology 1993-1994

Owen spent several years working in the music industry as a sound engineer and music producer designing and building several professional recording studios as well as briefly working as a boom operator. It was his experience in working in sound that lead him to

North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT) 

Broadcast Television and Radio Production 1994-1995

Broadcast Television and Film Production Training

Owen was fortunate to have gained a lot of training working on set with highly experienced directors and directors of photography he gained a lot of one to one training under several seasoned and highly experienced industry professional on his personal journey to becoming an experienced Director of Photography in his own Right.

Camera & Electrical Dept Training

After leaving NESCOT Owen was fortunate to be introduced to a former Hollywood Lighting Cameraman from the UK at a music industry party in Surrey who took Owen under his wing and taught him how to light a set and set up basic framing such as Mid shots Close ups and big Close ups and extreme lose ups on camera.  He also showed own how to set up and develop a media production company in real and practical terms which set him on his path to a career on camera in broadcast television and film.

Whilst Owen experienced the tail end of analogy ENG cameras such as the BetaCam SP cameras and 16mm film cameras at the beginning of his career in media production. Much of his skills were gained in more recent years working on SD and HD digital cameras working his way up to being a lighting cameraman to the level of operating 4K UHD cameras sutch as the RED camera and Arri Alexa. Owen wanted to become a master in his field and choose to briefly step down to gain solid experience working in the camera & electrical dept choosing to work briefly as a Second Assistant Camera Technician to fully learn and appreciate the skills and work needed to carry out that roll.

Before moving back up to operating camera and Director of Photography Owen wanted to hone his skills as a dedicated First Assistant Camera Technician /Focus Puller learning how to build and managed varying different big sensor digital movie cameras he spent time learning different cameras and working as a First AC/ Focus Puller  and today Owen prides himself on being able to build a RED camera in the space of around five minutes.

Whilst today most of Owen’s credits are as the Director of Photography however Owen still enjoys the role of working as a First AC/ Focus Puller and says he finds it therapeutic and a great skill to have. Owen says that one should never stop learning and by working with other operators and DoP’s in the role of 1st AC / Focus Puller he gains insight to other methods and approaches to film making which inspires him to work in new ways.

Camera Grip Training 

Owen later trained and gained on set experience working under key camera grip Jose de Cozar see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0208165/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Owen learnt to lay track and and operate basic camera dollies as well as setting up camera jib equipment whilst working as a trainee camera grip under the watchful I and supervision of Jose de Cozar from The London Grip company and A1Grips in the mid to late 1990’s. Owen remarks that this training has provided him with additional technical skills that can give him a better perspective as a Director of Photography  as to what can be achieved technically speaking and provides him with a high level of production value he can achieve when working with the camera.

Lighting Skills and Training

Since 1995 Owen was been trained by experienced lighting crews DoPs on the best way to light for different types of productions and is regularly seen planning the lighting on set and getting his hands dirty in order to get the best lighting possible with the available lighting kits. Whist working on his first big crew feature as a unit drive he was asked to assist  with the lighting the crew when not driving and assisted the best boy who is an experienced lighting Gaffer by the name of Bill Hogg see:  Owen says he gained practical knowledge and valuable experience in lighting for drama.

Shooting Film & Television Drama 

Gaining experience and training shooting documentaries and sport is not shooting drama and requires a different level of technical understanding for telling a story and and capturing a drama shooting a feature film, short film or television drama requires different skills and technical ability Owen has gained the experience and technical skills to shoot high end production values needed for feature film and television drama. After working on many sets with highly experienced and seasoned Directors and Director of Photography who have imparted their skills and knowledge to Owen who has built up an extensive knowledge about his craft.

Skills Training 

Over the last few years Owen has been involved in the technical training of new camera & electrical crew and has written training programs for the role of Second Assistant Camera Technicians and has developed practical training for the role of First Assistant Camera Technicians / Focus Pullers  choosing to train his own crew team which he is able to bring on set with him on shoots. Owen continues to provide training and support of interns hoping to build a career in the camera and electrical department.