ABOUT
I'm a Cinematographer Based in Birmingham UK, but im available both Nationally and Internationally for work.
I have a passion for visual storytelling, Ive often been described as "an old head on young shoulders" and I pride myself on my hard working, positive and approachable attitude, always working calmly and effeciently under pressure to achieve the directors vision and keeping sets both functional and fun places to be, whether it be drama, commercial or otherwise.
I love the technical side of Filmmaking but I also have a deep artistic and theoretical understanding of framing and lighting .
I have experience in a wide range of production styles and Genres.
from small two or three person teams upto crews of 30+ and everything in between, having shot Drama/Film, documentary, Music videos aswell as branded content and commercials. working for clients such as The BBC, Warner Brothers and M&C Saatchi.
I have also shot award winning pieces such as the short neo noir "Io Selezinero" , Feature Documentary "Tax Shelter Terrors" and Feature Film "Hello Darlin".
I studied Media as a broad subject for 6 years, mostly focusing on Film and Television, Earning a BA hons 2:1 degree in television production, a HND and a BTEC Level 3 diploma. I own a variety of equipment but i am equally comfortable working on a wide range of cameras including but not limited to: ARRI, RED, Sony FS7/FS5/FX9 and Canon C series, among others.
I also offer my services as a Gaffer and Colourist.
I have also Completed the Screenskills Coronavirus basic awareness on production course.
AWARDS
Won:
"Best Cinematography"
Io Selezinero,
Spectacul: Rio de Janeiro 2016.
"Director's Choice Award"
Tax Shelter Terrors 2017"
Sydney's Night of Horror festival .
"Best Film"
Hello Darlin.
Birmingham Film festival 2019.
Nominated:
"Best Cinematography"
Hello Darlin'
European Cinematography Awards 2020.
"Best Micro Short film"
Tom, Dick & Harry, Chrismas special.
Birmingham Film Festival 2019.
Testimonials:
"I recently had the pleasure of working with Ash on a commercial project. Right from the off, his craftsmanship and collaborative nature were obvious. We met up to chat through the concept and the kind of thing I was hoping to achieve. Ash was quick to offer suggestions and solutions to problems I was anticipating with the way the film would need to come together...
On the shoot day, Ash was punctucal, professional, and most importantly just lovely to work with. I was really happy with the image, and because of the extensive work he’d put in before the shoot day he confidently managed his team and got set up really efficiently. The commercial we were shooting had some incredibly personal and vulnerable performances from the talent, and Ash was very respectful at all times, and helped foster an atmosphere that was conducive to getting great performances, and making the whole cast comfortable.
I’d strongly recommend working with Ash - he’s a lovely guy, and his work is top notch. His commitment, attitude and extensive technical knowledge would make him an incredibly valuable asset to any production.
Will Dolan, Director, Firewood Pictures.
"Ash Connaughton is the consummate professional. Not only is his work of a very high standard but his attitude on set is only comparable to his knowledge. I have worked with Ash on a number of occasions and have always found him to give 100%. He works well with other heads of department and is good at working to schedule. In pre-production he offers solutions to problems before they have even been mentioned and is always ready to accept alternative suggestions. I wouldn't hesitate to put Ash forward to any production."
Benjamin Field, Director/Producer, Holo Media.
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"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ash on many projects, and he always proves to be an invaluable and key senior crew member. His creative skill, combined with outstanding technical expertise, means we can rely on consistently high quality and engaging imagery that we use across our videos. He also has excellent client facing skills (this can be hard to come by in DPs!).
Ash has always given me invaluable support in the pre production phases as well, helping to ensure the right equipment is selected for the project/ location.
This is reflected in his overall approach to any project as well, whilst I’ve found Ash is always conscious of his role, he is always mindful of the rest of the production, and all the other aspects of planning that need to be considered. As a director, I’ve also found one of Ash’s key abilities is to take my (sometimes poorly articulated!) guidance on the look and feel I am trying to create, and translate it into the frame. So to summarise, highly skilled, creative and an all round invaluable resource for our projects, and for this reason he is my go to DP,
I can highly recommend Ash!
Ally Adams, Director, EpicTech Media.
"Ash was a fantastic Director of Photography for our short film “White Feather”. I had met him on set a year previously and was impressed with his attitude and dedication to his craft. He did not disappoint in his role on my film. Very professional, knowledgeable and easy to work with. The quality of his work exceeded what I had hoped for and he will be my first choice for future projects. (He is also the highlight of my facebook feed!)"
Daniel Arbon – Director, Middle Realm Productions Ltd.
When I first met with Ash, I knew he was going to be the right DP for my short film. He understood what I was trying to achieve with the script and was already making suggestions on scenes.
On set, Ash is on the ball and keeps the camera department under control and on task. He ensures everything is set up and packed away safely. He makes sure that the shot list is 100% what I’m after for the scene and keeps the shoot within the time allocated. If we finish with time to spare, there are shots that he suggests we can film as extra options. Not only has Ash been a great DP, but he is like an AD and a line producer rolled into one. He is an absolute professional and I’d love to work with him on more projects if I get the chance.
Rebbeca Harris-Smith- Director: "Out of Time"
Ash is an awesome Director of Photography and a brilliant addition to any set. I worked with Ash on a series of commercials in December 2019. From the first meeting, it was clear that he was professional, hardworking and ready to tackle any challenge we threw his way.
We had a very tight schedule, so it was fantastic to work with someone who remained so positive and kept a cool head under pressure. Ash is a great collaborator with extensive technical knowledge. I am delighted with how the project has turned out. I highly recommend Ash; he truly lights up any set he sets foot on (no pun intended)!
Lucy Alder- Freelance Director.
I have worked with Ash previously on a couple of short films and I was impressed with his work ethic and ability. He is best described as having an old head on young shoulders and his technical ability is second to none.
In pre-production he worked alongside the Director creating visually stunning storyboards and very detailed shot lists. From talking to the Director I know he enjoyed working alongside Ash,
and he was a well-liked guy on location, good to work with, good communication and gets great results. You can rely on Ash to get the best out of every shot and will work with the Director to get the most from any situation.
I have plans to make several Feature films in the forthcoming years and I will certainly be calling on Ash again.
Patrick Carney Junior, Producer: Sutopia Films
“I had the pleasure of working with Ash on a short film I produced and directed, his creative and professional attitude made my work so much easier and he was a joy to work with.”
Philippe Ashfield, Executive Producer, instant Entertainment.
“Ash is my go to DOP, he is able to make anything look great! After working with him on multiple projects across vastly different genres, I can comfortably say that he will always be my DOP any shoot I have and I cant reccomend him enough!
Ethan Frain, Director, Drakon FX.
Ash is a super hard-working and professional DP, who achieves outstanding results. Not only is he wonderfully talented in cinematography, he is also a powerful creative force with a genuine desire to craft good stories and is an incredible soundboard to bounce ideas with. He goes above and beyond and I'm excited to work with him again on future projects."
Chloe Brown, Freelance Producer.