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/
Production Credits
BUTTERCUP
DoP / Operator
Tigerlily Productions
BBC
Dir: Julia Samuels
Prod: Jenny Monks
WHAT WOULD YOU DO FRIDA?
DoP / Operator
BBC Drama Short Form
Savvy Productions
BBC
Dir: Lily Levin
Prod: Justine Potter
THE LAST TESTAMENT OF LILLIAN BILOCCA
DoP / Operator
Drama Documentary
Northen Town
BBC Three
Prod: Edward Morgan
Dir: Maxine Peake
Dir: Venessa Stockley
THE ATHENA
A Camera & Movi Operator
Episodes 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11
Bryncoed Productions
Sky One
Prod: Paul Mckenzie
Dir: Paul Walker
DoP: Sarah Bartle-Smith
THE ENGLISH GAME
B Camera Operator
6x60'
42 Management Production
BBC Drama
Netflix
Prod: Rhonda Smith
Dir: Birgitte Staermose
DoP: Erik Molberg Hansen
FREE REIN
Series III
2nd Unit DoP / Operator dailies
Episodes 1,3, 6, 9 & 10
Lime Pictures
Netflix
Prod: Tim Compton
Dir: Angelo Abela
Dir: Beryl Richards
Dir: Mark Losey
DoP: Phil Wood
KATY
DoP & Movi Operator
3x30'
BBC Studios
CBBC
Prod: Jonathon Wolfman
Dir: John McKay
COLD FEET
Series VI
Camera Operator
8x45'
ITV Studios
Prod: Rebecca Ferguson
Dir: Terry McDonough
DoP: Shane Daly
WOLFBLOOD
Series V
Camera Operator
10x30'
BBC Studios
CBBC
Prod: Jonathan Wolfman
Dir: John Dower
Dir: Steve Hughes
DoP: James Moss
THE DUMPING GROUND
Series VI
2nd Unit DoP / B Camera Operator
BBC Studios
CBBC
Dir: Duncan Foster
Dir: Delyth Thomas
TRACEY BEAKER RETURNS
Series I
Camera Operator
Episodes 1, 2, 3 & 4
BBC Studios
CBBC
Prod: Gina Cronk
Dir: Neasa Hardiman
DoP: Chris Goodger
MONSTER
DoP / Operator
BFI
Dir: Lily Levin
Prod: Steven Atkinson
BLOODSTAINS
Short Film
DoP / Operator
New Creatives
BBC Arts
Prod: Naomi Ayres
Dir: Carrie Battram
SO PERFECT IT HURTS
Short Film
DoP / Operator
New Creatives
BBC Arts
Prod: Barrington Paul Robinson
Dir: Alice Cornelia
TIME AWAY
Short Film
DoP / Operator
Vox Pictures
BFI
Prod: Adrian Bate
Dir: Maxine Peake
SHATTERED
Short Film
DoP / Operator
Guardian Media
Prod: Laurence Topham
Dir: Maxine Peake
THE PEBBLE AND THE BOY
Film Promo
DoP / Operator
Dir: Chris Green
FINDING JOY
Pilot Taster
DoP / Operator
LA Productions
Dir: Justine Potter
SAKINA & THE LIONESS
Documentary
DoP / Operator
Short Form Films
BBC
Dir: Isobel Williams
ALL OR NOTHING
Tottenham Hotspur
Documentary
Camera Operator
72 Films
Amazon
Prod: Charlie Ferriday
Prod: Phillip Wood
Prod: Leo Fawkes
Prod: Clare Cameron
Prod: Felicity Cross
Dir: Antony Philipson
DEEP IN VOUGE
Documentary
Camera Operator
FilmRise
BBC Three
Prod: Danny Fisher
Dir: Amy Watson
Dir: Dennis Keighron-Foster
DoP: Shaun Atherton
LIAM GALLAGHER 'AS IT WAS'
Feature Documentary
Camera Operator
Screen Media Films
BBC Two
Prod: Skoti Collins
Prod: Liz Stirling
Dir: Charlie Lightening
Dir: Gavin Fitzgerald
WHAT IF WOMEN RULED THE WORLD
Live theatre show
Camera Operator
Dir: Yael Bartana
Dir: Vicky Featherstone
Writer: Abi Morgan
SHELTER
TV Commercial
DoP / Operator
Shape History
Dir: Louise Cowley
LITTLEWOODS TOPSHOP LAUNCH
Online Content
DoP / Operator
The Gate
Dir: Rhiannon Lewis
PUREGYM
Commercial Series
DoP / Operator
BrainCandy Films
Dir: James Clancy
ADIDAS ATHLETICS
Online Campaign
DoP / Operator
Rosco Productions
EVERTON FC
Promo Campaign
DoP / Operator
Ahoy Creative
Dir: James Kennedy
TIDE BANK
TV Commercial
DoP / Operator
Sidekick
Prod: Rupert Mason
TEACHING MAKES PEOPLE
For the Scottish Government
TV Commercial
DoP / Operator
Greenroom Films
Dir: Mark Lediard
TOPPS MATCH ATTAX CARDS
Online Content
DoP / Operator
ABF Pictures
Dir: Matt Barraclough
KING PONG
Online Content
DoP / Operator
Greenroom Films
Dir: Mark Lediard
FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES
Commercial
DoP / Operator
Beautiful Productions
BOTB DREAM CARS
TV Commercial
Camera Operator
ABF Pictures
Dir: Matt Barraclough
DoP: Tim Follin
KEELEY FORSYTH
'Debris'
Music Promo
DoP / Producer
Bloc & Blur
Dir: Maxine Peake
CHERRY GHOST
'Clear Skies Ever Closer'
Music Promo
DoP / Producer
Bloc & Blur
Dir: Maxine Peake
SARAH CRACKENLL FT NICKY WIRE
'Nothin' Left to Talk About'
Music Promo
DoP / Producer & Director
Bloc & Blur
Dir: Louise Cowley
THE COURTEENERS
'Small Bones'
Music Promo
B Camera Operator
Chief Productions
Dir: Joe Connor
INSPIRAL CARPETS
'Let You Down'
Music Promo
DoP / Producer & Director
Block & Blur
Dir: Louise Cowley
LONE LADY
'Hinterland'
Music Promo
DoP / Producer
Block & Blur
Dir: Juliet Ellis
NANCY ELIZABETH
'Simon Says Dance'
Music Promo
DoP / Producer & Director
Block & Blur
Dir: Louise Cowley