"Pacific Bonsai Museum: Capturing Living Art"

Immersing oneself in the Pacific Bonsai Museum is to walk alongside living history. As Director of Photography for a project that celebrates these timeless treasures, I collaborated with Director Nils Cowan and Hemlock Productions LLC to create a series of live learning labs and a captivating 30-second introductory spot for the museum.

The intricate beauty of bonsai demands a visual approach that is both delicate and deliberate. In bringing these live labs to viewers, we employed multi-camera setups with a live switcher, allowing us to capture the finesse of bonsai artistry in real-time. For the museum welcome spot, the Angenieux zooms provided the necessary versatility, while the smooth movements of a Dana Dolly added a cinematic quality that complemented the profound tranquility of the bonsai exhibits.

Our production required methodical cooperation, working intimately with the bonsai artists and museum architects. Together, we forged a visual language that reflected the museum's ethos and enhanced the majesty of the bonsai—a highlight being a 150-year-old tree that witnessed the resilience of Hiroshima. This was not just cinematography; it was storytelling with a reverence for life and legacy.

The result? A series of videos that have not only enriched the Museum’s YouTube channel but also offered viewers a portal into the world of bonsai—inviting increased virtual footfall and fostering a deeper appreciation for this exquisite art form.