Former Central TAFE student Denson Baker recently took some time out from his busy schedule as a cinematographer to return to the college and teach current students the finer points of his craft.
Denson, formerly of the Kelmscott/Roleystone district and now based in Sydney, already has an impressive body of work behind him.
He was the cinematographer on The Black Balloon starring Toni Collette which won an array of awards including one for ‘Best Film’ at the 2008 Australian Film Institute Awards.
He completed a Diploma in Art and Design majoring in film and television at Central TAFE in 1996.
Gradually building his career shooting commercials and short films, Denson soon built up an impressive showreel and now works on major motion pictures.
Denson met with students currently completing an Advanced Diploma of Screen. He ran a workshop illustrating different camera techniques, filters, uses of lighting and all the details that combine to convey the emotion of a scene.
Interviewed following a screening of The Black Balloon and Q & A with students, Denson was impressed with his former college and the range of technical equipment available.
“The facilities at Central TAFE are fantastic; I would say world class even. The main production studio is very well equipped. The post production facilities such as the edit suites and sound mixing rooms are just like what is being used in much of the Australian film and television industry,” he said.
“I am also particularly impressed with the production value of the recent student films at Central TAFE. I think the standard of work is quite high.”
See additional images and the full transcript of Denson Baker’s recent interview