JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • Home
  • Portugal 2023
  • About
  • Gallery
    • This Was STC Santorini 2023
    • This Was STC Miami 2021
    • This Was STC Santorini 2018
    • This Was STC Miami 2016
    • This Was STC Santorini 2015
    • This Was STC Miami 2015 – Temple House
    • This Was STC Miami 2014
    • This Was STC L.A. 2013
    • This Was STC Bahamas 2013
    • This Was Miami – STC Oct 13-14, 2012 Seminar / Workshop
    • This Was STC Miami 2012
    • This Was STC Vegas 2011 – 2
    • This Was STC Vegas 2011 – 1
    • This Was Miami 2011
  • Model Search
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Contact

Blog

Stanley Kubrick held his own camera, so why shouldn’t you?

Posted on: 10-30-2012 Posted in: Photography

Even though we seen most of Stanley Kubrick’s films and read a fair bit about him, I was surprised to recently discover that he always did the hand-held camerawork for his films. It was less a surprise to the extent that he, famously demanding and meticulous, had a specific vision which needed to be realized, but more-so a surprise that he would take on the task himself instead of delegating to his crew.

Why would a director like Stanley operate the hand-held camera for all of his movies? By this point, Kubrick had released many critically and commercially successful films, so he could likely hire any camera operator he desired. Actually, that is exactly what he did. Stanley only worked with the best on his films. So then why would he, needing to manage countless tasks while on set, choose to operate the camera over his best-in-the-business cameraman?

In this 1972 interview from Sight&Sound magazine, conducted after the release of A Clockwork Orange, Stanley bluntly answered why:

“Yes, all of the hand-held camerawork is mine. In addition to the fun of doing the shooting myself, I find it is virtually impossible to explain what you want in a hand-held shot to even the most talented and sensitive camera operator.”

You see, Stanley started his career as a photographer in New York City in 1946. Soon after, in the early 1950s, he began making films. His first few projects had minuscule budgets which required him to fill almost every duty, including director, editor, lighting, sound effects, and cameraman.

As Stanley’s film career continued, he operated on a different frequency, dictatorially controlling even the minutia in a manner which surprised and frustrated most crew members. As such, he could see every shot in his mind’s eye so clearly, it was seemingly impossible to delegate. It’s not that he didn’t trust his camera operator, but Stanley was legitimately the only person who could do the task in the way it needed to be done.

 

Craftsmanship and Execution

Lately it has started to feel like our society respects “vision” more than the actual craft of execution. We believe that we can hand off orders for someone else to execute upon. As long as we guide them to complete our vision then everything will be fine. It is sometimes desirable as we become successful or start working on teams to start delegating seemingly basic, inconsequential tasks, yet we should be careful to not fall into this trap.

Whether we’re filmmakers, designers, product managers, photographers, software engineers, or something much different, we should try to be aware of and cultivate most of the skills required to finish any project. We easily forget that the crux of a project comes together in the details, and the person executing on the vision is in the strongest position to have an impact here.

Many people want to become the director, the boss, the one who gets to sit back and tell everybody else what to do. Forget that. Let us be the ones who help execute the vision while also setting the vision. Strive to continue executing for yourself, and only hand over the reigns of a task when you absolutely cannot do it yourself any longer.

You will hopefully notice that this approach requires us to do less overall and to increase our focus on each unique task. Our surroundings have pressured us to believe that doing less and moving slower are negative characteristics, but I see them as a obvious advantages. We could all use some more pacing and care in our work, particularly in this era of overabundance.

Remember, even Stanley Kubrick got down in the dirt with the camera in his own hands, because if he let go then he would have lost control. Stanley knew that life was long, and compromise is an unfortunate game.

 

 

  • Popular Posts
  • Related Posts
  • Write for us sponsored posts
    Write for us sponsored posts
  • Learning how to take the best photography
    Learning how to take the best photography
  • Sarah Lyons - From STC Attendee to FHM Cover Model
    Sarah Lyons - From STC Attendee to FHM Cover Model
  • How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
    How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
  • Write for us sponsored posts
    Write for us sponsored posts
  • Learning how to take the best photography
    Learning how to take the best photography
  • Sarah Lyons - From STC Attendee to FHM Cover Model
    Sarah Lyons - From STC Attendee to FHM Cover Model
  • How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection
    How Your Photography Portfolio Can Help You Avoid Rejection

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Twitter Feed

    Twitter not configured.

Archives

  • February 2025
  • August 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • April 2022
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • September 2010

Search Blog

Recent Posts

  • Write for us sponsored posts Write for us sponsored posts
    02-20-2025
  • Learning how to take the best photography Learning how to take the best photography
    02-20-2025
  • Sarah Lyons - From STC Attendee to FHM Cover Model Sarah Lyons - From STC Attendee to FHM Cover Model
    08-17-2023

Popular Posts

Every photographer has a story to tell …
© 2011-2023 Shoot The Centerfold. All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy
  • Customer Support
  • Ordering Details FAQ
  • Payment Methods
  • Return Policy FAQ
  • License Agreement
TwitterStumbleUponRedditDiggdel.icio.usFacebookLinkedIn