During his final years at school, he devoted a significant amount of time to composing a thesis on the future of film, a topic that would later influence his career in the industry.
Upon leaving school, he joined Gaumont British Studios at Lime Grove, where he apprenticed under a stills photographer for a period of one year. This experience, he would later claim, taught him more about the art of photography than any other form of training or education could have.
He then transitioned to B.I.P. Studios at Elstree, where he took on the role of a clapper boy. Shortly thereafter, he moved to British Dominion, where he became a camera assistant. His next move was to Pinewood, followed by a stint in the military, during which he served as a one-man film unit based at Aldershot.
While serving in the war, he had the opportunity to hone his craft and learn new skills, although he would later admit that he did not learn as much about soldiering during his time in the military as he did about his profession.
Following the war, he returned to Shepperton Studios, where he worked for the renowned film director Alexander Korda, as well as the acclaimed filmmaking duo Powell and Pressburger. He also had the privilege of collaborating with the esteemed director John Huston on the production of 'Moby Dick', for which he was responsible for all second-unit photography and special effects.
