About
Ben is U.K. based Director of photography with 28 years experience and a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) .
He studied film in the UK to degree level and then film production at Vancouver Film School in the early 90s graduating with with a post-graduate diploma in cinematography.
Ben has filmed projects across many genres; feature length drama, Television docudrama and over 40 music promos. Television Documentary and Commercial production has been his primary focus in recent years. His television experience includes 13 years as a principle director of photography on the Emmy award winning BBC series Top Gear and 5 seasons as DOP of the “The Grand Tour” for Amazon Studios
His factual documentary work has taken him extensively through all 7 continents including projects for Nat Geo in Antarctica, and 20 Top Gear/ Grand Tour “specials” with locations as diverse as the magnetic North Pole, and Mauritania. Other credits include "Our Universe, Water World" narrated by Morgan Freeman for Netflix, "Welcome to Earth" with Will Smith and "Limitless" with Chris Hemsworth for Disney+.
Ben's has extensive experience of running large scale multi camera crews. His ability to foster a creative and collaborative atmosphere amongst colleagues has often been essential to the visual success of a project. Elegant composition, attention to detail, and a considered approach, honed in stills, is expressed in his moving image work coupled with and ability to hustle and "run and gun" if the situation requires it. Skills that have served him well particularly during his time on Top Gear and Grand Tour in testing environments and tight schedules with both shows enjoying significant global success and praise for their visuals.
His work in commercials has included shoots for agencies REDWOOD, TBWA, AMV/BBDO, CHI, Saatchis and JWT. and production companies Rogue, Chimney, Outsider, Casper & Co and Mother . Bens Commercial clients include Waitrose, Ferrari, Lexus, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Hyundai ,Cadillac, Aston Martin, Nissan, Polaris, Minolta, Goodyear and Unilever.
Since 2019 Ben has branched in to directing including 8 global brand films for Ferrari
Drama credits as DOP include the BAFTA nominated BBC children’s drama “Behind Closed Doors” (2003) and BBC drama “Thunder Road” (2001) written by John Godber and Nic Copus. His B-unit Director of Photography credits include Power TV’s “Day of the Triffids” remake (2009) and 2nd unit DOP on the internationally successful TV mini-series, “The Summit” (2008) produced by Shaftsbury Films Toronto. Ben also served as a camera operator for DOP Antony Dodd Mantle ASC,DFF,BSC , on Ron Howards 2012 F1 feature film “Rush” during several of the films dynamic race sequences.
When not filming you can find him running with his dog Laika on the South Downs...