Esther Vardy Director of Photography

Coming originally from a small and rural ex-mining village in the northeast, I was that kid with a camcorder that filmed everything. The imaginary world that dramas brought and the power of storytelling, combined with visuals to awake feelings was compelling to me. Since then I have worked hard to create my own opportunities. After realising I didn’t want to use my first class chemistry degree, I entered the world of media and became a Self-shooting Researcher, Operator for factual, then AD, to move into drama to be a Cinematographer. I have worked my way up through the camera department, gaining an understanding of how to work at a fast and efficient pace whilst collaborating and getting the desired creative results.

With such a career spanning a large range of roles, it has given me a unique and full understanding of all the angles, and disciplines required to make shooting a production run efficiently. As a camera assistant I observed many DOP/Director combinations and today I use what I believe makes the relationship work best. I have shot in every genre which has given me a stash of creative ideas and techniques. I like to explore the style closely with the Director, and adapt to each specific project.

I bring with me a vast knowledge of equipment having worked across large scale drama, documentary, live shows, music videos, factual, art pieces, studio, theatre adaptations and commercials. My background is such that I’ve lit / camera operated on many different sets. I’m adaptive, and resourceful, starting from self sufficient shooting, self lighting to leading full camera and spark teams.

My documentary operating experience, for example, means being reactive and instinctive with handheld shots which feeds into my drama shooting. From exploring possibilities with the Director and ideas of camera movement motivated by action, to stripped back and stillness, injecting ideas to them prior to filming for the shot sequence options to tell the story. I enjoy creating artistic beauty through composition and lighting, working closely with the director and their vision, supporting them whilst in a fast paced environment. Key planning means not wasting the budget, allowing room for reactionary ideas and positive energy during filming.

Here is an article where I was featured in the British Cinematographer Magazine. https://britishcinematographer.co.uk/esther-vardy/