Through The Lens

About the Book

This is a rare chance to read one of the very few books written by a Television Film Cameraman. It is a lighthearted story by Gary Hughes, winner of ten awards in News Documentary and Drama. Depicting life on the road during the last 50 years, seeing many changes in working techniques and the attitude of the public to Press and Television.

As a qualified pilot, specialising in aerobatic filming, made a full length documentary about the world famous “RED ARROWS” giving a graphic account of what it is like to be part of the team.

Stories that will amuse and interest the reader include many personal encounters with all walks of life from ROYALTY to the orphans of Romania, in locations throughout the world.

It reflects an earlier time in history when VIP’s would stand and wait whilst the gentleman of the press took their pictures, before thanking everyone politely, then walking in a dignified fashion into the venue. (When did they ALL start running?)

This book tells amazing stories of how difficult life was in the early years, with equipment not designed for portable filming for Television. Impossible deadlines gave endless problems getting footage back to the studio for transmission. Frequently parcels of film were sent on mid morning steam trains to London from stations in the midlands and the north of the UK, to make the Evening late night National News.

In contrast today’s CLICK & SEND technology allows instant uplifting from around the world.

About the Author

Ambitions to become a cameraman originated in my early teens whilst still at school, having confused family and friends in what I could possibly achieve in life, not to mention earning a living. Music and art a strange distraction and photography an obsession.

The use of the our primitive ‘KODAK BOX BROWNIE’ and a D.I.Y darkroom processing kit produced a few fuzzy curled up photographs and a mass of brown chemical stains in the family bathroom. The door would be locked for hours and the windows covered with sheets to darken the room. This irritated my three sisters, who were denied basic access when getting ready to go out.

I was forever gazing at books about photography, when I made a gem of a find, a book entitled ‘Shoot First’ written by a cinema newsreel cameraman Ronnie Noble, nearing the end of a long and fascinating career. His account of a working life full of adventure and creativity embraced all of the interests flooding my young and impressionable mind. The inspiration I gained from this window onto the world of the film cameraman gave me the driving force to go on to achieve my own ambitions – A LIFETIME BEHIND THE CAMERA- with a specialty for aviation.

I would like to think my book continues to provide such a window, giving an interesting, but lighthearted insight into life on the road for film and television crews over the last 50 years, right through to the present day.