Today we’d like to introduce you to David Morrison.
Hi David, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I moved from Savannah, GA to LA in 1989 to pursue a career in Cinematography and I’ve been here ever since. There have many ups and downs and simply put, the ups keep getting higher, and the downs have leveled out. The most important lesson for me was learning to never stop developing as an artist. In spite of strikes, pandemics, slow periods, health crises…never take your foot off of the accelerator and lean heavily into what interests you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been smooth at all. I wanted to be an overnight success, and when that failed to materialize at age 30 I felt like a failure. Thankfully my dreams didn’t happen on my timeline, I wouldn’t have had the wisdom or life skills to deal with it. At 57 I realize that I’m a slow-burn and it’s taken me my entire lifetime so far to blossom and I haven’t fully done that yet. I had an unhealthy relationship to my career, it was like a bad relationship. I was jealous, needy and felt my well-being and happiness was dependent on getting attention from my work. I’ve filled those wholes in my life and since have put my vocation in its proper place…at least most of the time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Cinematographer, and I’ve worked in Television (Fear The Walking Dead), Music Videos (Beck/Girl), Commercials (Uncle Drew& Like A Girl), and many Documentaries. I’m usually most proud of the most recent project I’ve shot, which is the final season of FTWD. My work has always had two consistent themes throughout the years as it continues to evolve and those are adherence to cinematic naturalism and an emotional connection to the performer or subject. I want you to feel what I feel while shooting and to be transported into the environment. I’m not sure if that “sets me apart from others”. There are many amazing DPs that I learn from constantly, but those two aspects of my work are what seem to draw new collaborators and returning clients.
I’ve been a photographer since the age of 16 and I’ve recently opened a print store. It’s taken me my lifetime to curate my favorite images. My still work definitely feeds my motion work.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think realizing how much is enough is a key for me. The satisfaction of having a “hit” and hitting a peak is a temporary fix. It’s just a matter of time until you want more, in that state of mind you’re always chasing. That’s partly OK because that’s how we evolve but it’s dangerous, at least for me to base my happiness on career success. It’s only part of the equation. If I had to stop tomorrow I’d be ok because I know that I tried my hardest and I’m further than I was when I started. The rest is luck. It really is, but we attract our luck with hard work and preparation.
Lastly, I refuse to quit. I’ve been rejected many times and still am. I always tell myself, “It’s not your time and they don’t get you yet”. You have to be an undeniable force, that can look like a lot of things but I’ve won my audience 1 gig at a time and I put everything into my opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.davidrmorrison.com
- Instagram: davidrushmorrison
- Other: https://www.davidrmorrison.com/print-store
Image Credits
All photographs by David Morrison
