Most people do their end-of-year posts in December, but I’m more of an end-of-February guy myself. I was lucky to hop on a project at the beginning of the year which delayed my time to work on writing this post. What I like about working in the film industry is that no two days are alike and having worked for more than a decade I’m noticing that no two years are alike as well. Some years feel like a lot more travel and other years feel like more local studio gigs. In other years I’ve worked a lot in fashion or food & spirits. It’s always interesting how the momentum of one thing can lead to more of the same thing. I think it has something to do with Newton’s first law of motion, but anyway I’m not here to write a Physics paper, because that would hurt all of us. I classify this year as “iconic.” In film, It’s common to work with all kinds of famous talent, but it’s rarer to work with people so prolific they reach iconic status. I had the opportunity to work with hall of fame golfer, Jack Nicklaus, celebrity chef, Emeril Lagasse, and tour with one of the founding fathers of hip-hop, GrandMaster Flash.

Teeing off the year with Jack Nicklaus: I found myself in the lush landscapes of Puerto Rico, capturing the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus in action. From the picturesque golf courses to the candid moments off the green, this project set the tone for an exhilarating year ahead.

Pictured above is my friend Taylor. We lived in the same building in Brooklyn for about 10 years and this was the first year we worked together. It was also the same year that my wife and I moved out of that building to our new home in Queens. We got close during the pandemic, during protests, the 2020 election…during a time when there was no work for either of us. Taylor is a class act and I’m honored for the opportunity to work with him.

Shortly after Puerto Rico, I found myself in the heart of New Orleans, filming with none other than celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse for his Roku TV show, "Emeril Cooks." The culinary magic unfolded on screen as we dove into the vibrant food culture of the city.

I was lucky to spend a couple of weeks in New Orleans during the famous Jazz Festival. I spent my weekends at the festival and was able to catch the closing night with Trombone Shorty. I’ve never seen anyone command the stage the way Trombone Shorty did with his instrument. Live music in New Orleans is like pizza in New York. It’s accessible everywhere.

The final day of shooting presented unexpected challenges, with heavy rain causing the set to flood. Despite the setback, the resilience of the team prevailed, creating a memorable chapter in my cinematography journey.

Despite the rain, I must’ve done a decent job, because I was asked to shoot for Emeril’s other show, “Emeril Tailgates.” This show is centered around sports fans and the cuisine made for game day. For any sports enthusiast the opportunity to film at Fenway Park in Boston is a dream come true. I lived out a childhood dream by running around this iconic field. I love the character of the old ball fields. I’m photographed in front of the scoreboard which is still operated by a few people each game manually inputting scores in real time. Fenway is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In November I joined Grandmaster Flash on tour, capturing the essence of his performances and the wisdom shared during a lecture at the prestigious Kennedy Center. It was a unique blend of music, culture, and storytelling that left a lasting impact on both the audience and myself. Tour life is much more difficult than the regular travel I do for production. Flight, sound check, show, hotel repeat. I understand now how a band can go out on stage and say the wrong name of the city.

Grandmaster Flash, Andy Whitlatch and DJ Fame

Dear Simone Screening at Dolby Cinema in March

The short film I lensed last year had a successful festival run with our lead actress and writer Jenny Piersol winning best actress at the Astoria Film Festival. We’re looking forward to releasing it online to the public in 2024. Thanks to Astoria, Big Apple, Northeast, Imagine This Women’s, Mental Filmness and Lift-Off New York Film Festivals for including us.

Serious filmmakers pictured from left to right: DP: Andy Whitlatch, actor/writer:Jenny Piersol, director: Kevin Deming

We had a private screening for crew, friends and donors at the Dolby Theater in Manhattan. It was a great turn out and I was incredibly touched to see so many friends and colleagues show up. This was one of my most fulfilling collaborations of my career. Working on films with people has a way of bonding you for life. I’m really lucky to know these two people.

I started a portraiture series last year, and I look forward to continuing in 2024. I’m shooting in Medium format, 35 mm, and digital formats. My first exposure (get it…exposure) to photography was in high school shooting 35 mm film and developing in a dark room. I missed this process and in my free time, I plan to work with more people to expand this series. Thanks to my beautiful friends Angel Brie, Nadia Brown, and Will Kraynyak for collaborating with me on this.

Adorama was incredibly helpful to me this year on my productions. Thanks Peter!

The goal in sharing this is to celebrate the wins and build a record for each passing year. I’m fortunate enough to be able to do this for a living. I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible experiences, challenges, and triumphs that shaped my year. Each project brought its own set of lessons, pushing the boundaries of my creativity and passion for cinematography. Here's to a new year filled with even more cinematic adventures and the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Thank you for being a part of my story.