I started with an Arri 2C with a varo pot motor gip, built and modified it with a regulated battery pack to shoot sync then I brought a sync flat base, I love geared heads so much I brought one too (my old faithful Moy which still comes on set with me regularly). After finishing a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree I took that geared head and Arri and I began my career in filmmaking photographing as many short films and music video as I could (over 150 music videos back then) all with the intention to get involved in miniature effects… And along came the RED ONE… and everything changed S-8, 16, 35 became a memory… It was cheap, immediate and the directors and producers I worked with loved that.

Much has changed technologically over the last 20 years yet my love for lighting and framing has remained regardless of the tools be it film, digital or even phones! Lighting is still lighting and that's what I love most (and I still want to shoot miniatures…) Now my craft involves not just on set photography but it has extended into lighting design and pre-vis lighting rendering to virtual production.

I have been a member of the NZCS in the past, Kevin Riley asked me to be involved in helping with the NZCS when it formed in 2008 which was a step NZ cinematographers had for a long time deserved. NZ Cinematography in its formative years built from whats on hand to a sophisticated industry with global respect and skillsets that surprise even the best. Nice work, deserving of letters after ones name. It’s good to be back on the list.

~ Richard Harling