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James Melrose | UK Director of Photography

Director of Photography for commercials, branded content and factual television.

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James Melrose is a UK Director of Photography, Lighting Cameraman and Self-Shooting Producer Director working across commercials, branded content, documentaries and television.

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Great start to the week with a location recce at S

Great start to the week with a location recce at St James’ Park ahead of an upcoming shoot.

A chance to work through camera positions, lighting and logistics before the cameras roll.

#DirectorOfPhotography #DOP #LocationRecce #StJamesPark #Newcastle

A confident on-camera performance starts with the

A confident on-camera performance starts with the right setup behind the scenes.

For presenter-led films and corporate content, an autocue helps contributors deliver key messages clearly while keeping their performance natural and engaging.

Combining the right camera, lighting, sound and on-set support creates an environment where the person in front of the lens can concentrate on delivering their message.

#DirectorOfPhotography #DOP #SonyFX9 #Autocue #CorporateVideo #BehindTheScenes #VideoProductionUK

A little on-set ingenuity at Anfield. For this mu

A little on-set ingenuity at Anfield.

For this multicamera shoot, one camera needed to capture dedicated portrait content, so we put together a DIY L-bracket to keep it securely mounted in a true 9:16 orientation.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. The important thing is getting the camera exactly where it needs to be.

#DirectorOfPhotography #DOP #Multicamera #PortraitVideo #VerticalVideo #CameraRig #BehindTheScenes #Anfield #UKDOP

A recent corporate film I shot for Metador. Manuf

A recent corporate film I shot for Metador.

Manufacturing films are about more than showing a factory floor. The strongest frames come from finding the people, precision and movement that bring the process to life.

From the scale of the facility to the detail in the finish, the aim was to create a clean, considered visual story that reflected the care behind every stage of Metador’s work.

#DirectorOfPhotography #DOP #Cinematography #CorporateFilm #IndustrialFilming #ManufacturingFilm #BrandFilm #FactoryFilming #LightingCameraman #UKDOP #BehindTheScenes

Throwback to filming on The Secret Life of the Zoo

Throwback to filming on The Secret Life of the Zoo at Chester Zoo.

Observational documentary work is a real test of camera operating. Animals rarely repeat an action or wait for you to refine the shot, so you need to anticipate their behaviour, react quickly and remain ready for the unexpected.

Filming ranged from following stories around the zoo to capturing some of its smallest inhabitants in close detail. This grasshopper was filmed using a macro lens, revealing an almost otherworldly level of detail.

Macro filming brings its own challenges. At such close distances, the extremely shallow depth of field means even the smallest movement from the subject or camera can shift the image out of focus.

A brilliant series to work on and a reminder that factual television cinematography is as much about patience, instinct and timing as it is about the kit.

#TheSecretLifeOfTheZoo #ChesterZoo #CameraOperator #FactualTelevision #DocumentaryFilming #ObservationalDocumentary #MacroFilming #Cinematography #DOP #BehindTheScenes

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info@jamesmelrosedop.com

UK-Wide Coverage

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

James Melrose on IMDb

Guild of Television Camera Professionals (GTC)

Performance Film & Media insurance

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