Michael Brennan

Meet Europe's “Mr. High Definition”

Admired by his peers as an innovative and imaginative DP, Michael Brennan is a leading light in Europe’s world of HD production.

With a name like Michael Brennan, could he be anything but Irish?  While his parents were indeed Irish and English, Michael was born and raised worlds away from ancestral lands – in a town called  Bendigo, Australia (about 100 miles northwest of Melbourne).  Settled in the 1850's when a certain Margaret Kennedy discovered gold in Bendigo Creek, over the next 100 years more than 20 million ounces of gold were mined from Bendigo’s rich gold fields. 

Growing up in a community with auspicious and interesting beginnings, Michael was the youngest of six Brennan tads.  His father was a successful builder, and the Brennans no doubt had their hands full, managing a business and raising Michael, his four brothers and sister.  They did a good job; all the Brennan "kids" have had successful professional careers.

After studying Illustrative Photography at the acclaimed Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Michael worked for several years in Melbourne - writing and directing/shooting TV commercials.  Always the adventurous maverick, he soon gave up his opportunity to become an Australian broadcasting executive, to try his luck and talents in the international arena

At the tender age of 22, Michael left Australia for the “big time” in the UK.  While he expected to start at the bottom, "maybe sweeping floors at the BBC", his previous experience in commercial television made rapid progress possible for this energetic video “young gun” In the busy and productive years since, Michael has earned himself a distinguished place in the realm of video and digital photography, most recently in “establishing the technical boundaries of HD in the cinema, and TV world, using 35mm film as a reference.”

Michael has not so much climbed, as flown up, the ladder of success.  Having shot a wide range of subjects on HD, Michael is on the leading-edge of HD production – and enjoys developing this exciting medium in new and creative ways.  We don't have space here to document all his artistic and technical achievements (please see www.hd24.com ).

"Bubbles" - Brennan frame grab from Sony F900 with Tiffen Warm Soft/FX 1 filter.

His impressive list of accomplishments includes shooting Europe’s first full length action feature on HD, and being the first freelance DP in Europe to acquire a Cinealta f900. Whether working in HD, or on producing never-before special effects, Michael’s research orientation is rigorous and relentless.  In demand for documentary production and as a TV series consultant/DP, Michael has been honored with many awards, including a Golden Globe for Strings, Bows and Ties (Best Arts Program), and a BAFTA Award for Summer on the Estate (Best Newcomer). 

What makes Michael tick?  He is a maverick who will not take no for an answer – an impatient and inventive perfectionist who is persistent and perseveres.  He appreciates individuality, and dislikes corporate, government and institutional sloth.  Above all, Michael enjoys a challenge.

Michael ordered some DSC test charts after attending a Santa Fe HD Workshop, which uses CamAligns.  Over the past several years, Michael has made a number of suggestions for new patterns - and for improving existing ones.  We developed the CamFocus Cards (DSC’s new mini backfocus and white balance card) after Michael mentioned that a regular back focus chart held next to an actor's eyes made critical focusing easier.

Because there are a so many variables in the technology we use today, not only within the electronics of the camera system but also the optics, quality and color temperature of the light - for me it's great to be able to view a frame grab of the chart on my home computer.“

For Michael, "CamAligns have raised the bar over other test patterns, because they have more information - and are so reliably made that you can really put your career on the line with them.  CamAligns give me enough data to go into an edit suite and discuss monitor setup.  A few years ago I wouldn't have done that.  I would have said, ‘Oh well, whatever you guys think, you're the experts in the edit suite’.  Now I can interpret what they're trying to do, and better understand what they want to do with my pictures."

In addition to his work as a DP/consultant, Michael also lectures at IBC and other venues.  He was recently a guest speaker at the Cork, Ireland Film Festival.  Michael lives with his wife and two young children in the countryside outside London.