A glimpse into the world of filming

Sunflowerbee
Sep 17, 2020
1 min read

Updated: Jul 26, 2023

My friend Elijah and I were chatting about blogs recently, when he asked if I'd be interested in doing some photography of a scene due to be filmed on location for his forthcoming project, Hope.

So, early on a Sunday morning, I headed off to the location with my beloved Nikon D500 and a couple of lenses in tow. I was excited, and a bit nervous as I had never done any photography of this type before.

Fast forward five hours...and I felt like I'd been on a real journey of discovery. I had never seen any filming at close quarters and had never realised how much time, work and patience goes into capturing a scene lasting just a few minutes. I felt really welcomed on set by Elijah, Emiko and Kupjazz, and found the whole experience absolutely fascinating.

From a photography point of view, my skills were really put to the test as I wrestled with the changing natural light and sunshine. It's so good to have a challenge, to struggle, and to learn.

I love the way Elijah describes the film: "Hope is a mixture of drama, magic and combat set in a dystopian future." He has invited me along to the filming of the next scene, where there'll be lots of combat. Fast shutter speed at the ready....can't wait!

Elijah is a visual and performance artist based in London. Follow him on Instagram: doctor_flex5