bio
A native of Northern California, Art Adams spent ten years in LA -- first at film school and then working in the film industry. He started out as a camera assistant on low budget features and worked his way into spots, music videos, features, sitcoms and episodic television shows. He transitioned from assistant to operator to DP by the time he returned to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Currently Art focuses his energies on shooting spots, virals and high end corporate productions, as well as special venue, VFX and blue/green screen projects. His first love is lighting faces. His second love is shooting projects that make his brain hurt with creativity and technical challenges.
Currently Art focuses his energies on shooting spots, virals and high end corporate productions, as well as special venue, VFX and blue/green screen projects. His first love is lighting faces. His second love is shooting projects that make his brain hurt with creativity and technical challenges.
work ethic
Art works quickly, efficiently, and pleasantly, and has a very dry sense of humor. He likes to work with crew and vendors who are like-minded. He's got a list.
He likes to stay current on new technology, and shoots film as well as film-style HD.* He's experienced with all flavors of HD cameras, big to small and fast to slow.
*Film-style HD consists of capturing images with strong compositions and beautiful lighting, and really has nothing to do with film—except that, traditionally, you've seen more of it on film. But nearly any medium can yield great pictures. Hint: it's not the equipment that matters.
"The camera never lies. But watch out for the cameraman." -Anonymous
He likes to stay current on new technology, and shoots film as well as film-style HD.* He's experienced with all flavors of HD cameras, big to small and fast to slow.
*Film-style HD consists of capturing images with strong compositions and beautiful lighting, and really has nothing to do with film—except that, traditionally, you've seen more of it on film. But nearly any medium can yield great pictures. Hint: it's not the equipment that matters.
"The camera never lies. But watch out for the cameraman." -Anonymous
writing
Art is currently a regular contributor to ProVideo Coalition where he writes educational articles about practical cinematography and new camera technologies. Past articles were published in American Cinematographer, Australian Cinematographer, Camera Operator Magazine, HD Video Pro Magazine, CineSource and Film/Tape World.
consulting
Art helped design the color profiles, form factor and user interface for the Kelvin Tile broad spectrum LED motion picture light, 2006-2007. He worked with Element Labs marketing director Rich Pierceall, salesman/development manager Bill Streed, and engineer John Henkel to bring to market the first broad spectrum variable color temperature LED light.
The Kelvin Tile was originally distributed by Kino Flo and is currently distributed by Gekko Lighting UK, who bought the Kelvin Tile intellectual property before Element Labs was purchased by Barco.
Gekko's current product line utilizes a control interface that looks remarkably similar to one that Art designed for Element Labs, but that Element Labs chose not to use. It works really well.
The Kelvin Tile is still the best looking broad-spectrum LED motion picture light in existence.
Other companies for whom Art has consulted include Sony, Arri, Tiffen, and DSC Labs (manufacturers of the best color calibration charts in the world). He also serves on the steering committee of the Cinematography Mailing List, the premiere online information-sharing service for cinematographers and related craftspeople worldwide.
Art also participates in panel discussions related to emerging technologies and cinematography at NAB and for groups such as the Digital Cinema Society.
The Kelvin Tile was originally distributed by Kino Flo and is currently distributed by Gekko Lighting UK, who bought the Kelvin Tile intellectual property before Element Labs was purchased by Barco.
Gekko's current product line utilizes a control interface that looks remarkably similar to one that Art designed for Element Labs, but that Element Labs chose not to use. It works really well.
The Kelvin Tile is still the best looking broad-spectrum LED motion picture light in existence.
Other companies for whom Art has consulted include Sony, Arri, Tiffen, and DSC Labs (manufacturers of the best color calibration charts in the world). He also serves on the steering committee of the Cinematography Mailing List, the premiere online information-sharing service for cinematographers and related craftspeople worldwide.
Art also participates in panel discussions related to emerging technologies and cinematography at NAB and for groups such as the Digital Cinema Society.