25 years of telling stories with images
Adam PW Smith is a Vancouver-based photographer and cinematographer, specialising in music and documentary projects.
“Adam has all the qualities a documentary film director looks for in a DOP. Technically, he is always prepared for any eventuality that can crop up in the uncertain world of documentary. He reacts quickly and calmly to those golden unplanned moments that often occur spontaneously and he can be relied on to produce beautiful pictures in even the most difficult circumstances. Most importantly, people like Adam and his friendly gentle manners so that even nervous or reluctant film subjects quickly relax and become comfortable and natural in front of Adam’s camera. As a result he is able to capture moving and poignant images.In the documentary world where small crews and even smaller budgets are the norm,Adam has proved to be an uncomplaining hard worker who is popular with his colleagues both on and off location.”
John Zaritsky
Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker
Many skills and resources, one focus – telling stories with images.
Adam began taking photographs at an early age, but the digital photography revolution reignited his love of the form and pressed him into pursuing it with passion and focus.
In 2010 he began shifting his focus more towards film and video work. He still works as a photographer for a list of long standing and trusted clients, but most of his work these days is in documentary and music-related video and film projects.
Cinematographer
Adam is familiar and comfortable on very small crew projects – from three or four people – down to working solo and covering all the bases.
He finds expressive and honest frames and images in shifting and unpredictable environments.
Music Photographer
A long history of working with available light in difficult environments has gained him a reputation for being unobtrusive to both artists and audience. Primarily working directly with artists he has developed strong relationships in Vancouver, across Canada, and throughout the US and England.
Event and Portrait Photographer
His photojournalistic approach produces photos that portray an accurate and human record of the events he photographs.
Similarly, his portrait work is always location-based, choosing environments that are meaningful and comfortable to his subjects.
Live Streaming
Fully resourced for small and medium sized live streams, Adam has produced live streams for community, arts, and music clients.
“Always operating just beyond the edge of the performer’s addled perception, Adam PW Smith snatches precious nano-seconds from the space-time continuum and seals them like dry roasted peanuts for all of human history to enjoy”
JON LANGFORD
I’ve know and worked with Adam PW Smith since 2007. Our first session together was at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver and I was immediately struck by Adam’s calm, courteous manner. He also took great photographs! And so he continued to work from time to time with me on projects at CBC that benefited from some photographic documentation.
For several years now he has worked with me at CBC as a video camera op. I can always count on Adam’s eye to deliver beautiful shots that work in the edit room. And on the shoot he combines social skills with technical knowledge to help keeps us on track with the schedule. On top of all that – he’s reliable.
JON SIDDALL – CBC MUSIC
I am always delighted to see Adam at a show, whether it is my own or someone else’s. It means that there will be a frank and emotionally charged photographic record of a musical event. His images stand easily within the history of music photographs, and reinforce my belief that something cool is happening in vancouver. Plus he’s got great hair.
VEDA HILLE
Contact
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