Scott Ward (1966-2013)

Scott Ward, who died in early February, was a cinematographer and a teacher of cinematography.

He taught cinematography for both documentary and drama in Edinburgh College of Art's Film and Television Department for nearly 10 years.

You couldn’t work with Scott without learning, not because he would lecture as he worked, but because of the questions he asked and the conclusions he reached, and the sensitivity with which he put a plan into action.

Always calm, but briskly decisive when he had to be, he made all his collaborators look good, by framing and lighting expressively, always taking the most interesting and courageous route but never overstating an effect or being guilty of the obvious.

He raged - gently - against the “default film”, where decisions are made for reasons other than creativity.

In his words: “You’re making a film so you think you need the latest camera and the best lights and the most expensive actors, but until you ask what the film is about, none of that can be assumed. You might not even need a camera at all!”

The whole film department at Edinburgh College of Art was shocked at this loss of an essential colleague and friend, somebody who could be consulted on any project.

You could ask him about any technical or creative question, and his answers were beautifully practical, telling you about what you were trying to achieve as well as how to achieve it. All delivered with enthusiasm, spirit and vision, generosity and humour.

Notes

This obituary was written by film & television lecturer David Cairns.

It will be published in the spring edition of Bulletin.