Firm focus on USQ

Since first picking up a camera at USQ last year, Andrew Railton has captured the smiles of hundreds of staff members.

'I've done lots of staff portraits – at least 25 a month. Sometimes 25 a day,' Andrew said with a laugh.

'It's been a good way to meet people around campus.'

The talented photographer and film-maker joined USQ's photographic department eight months ago and has often been seen around campus carrying an impressive-looking camera.

At present however, Andrew, who is an experienced first camera assistant, has been lending his expertise to the Audio-Visual Department, where he is working on a 15-minute documentary of the USQ Artworks production Spirits in Bare Feet.

The story is based on the sacred indigenous stone arrangement site of Gummingurru, hidden in Toowoomba's own backyard, and is filled with colourful creatures, live didgeridoo music and important life lessons.

'We are currently shooting the documentary, which is a behind the scenes look at the production,' he said.

Andrew grew up in Airlie Beach and graduated from high school in 1991. Since then, he has worked on various film productions, television commercials and other commercial ventures.

'I always wanted to work in the film industry as a director of photography and even though I've branched out into still photography, I still like to keep abreast of what's occurring in the film industry,' he said.

Andrew's first job was as a projectionist and camera assistant for Crystal Cinema in Windsor, where he worked under the direction of Brian Benson, a former cinematographer for the Queensland Government.

The highlight of his assisting career was in 2002, when he scored a job as a focus puller (first assistant cameraman) on the $100 million Gold Coast production of The Great Raid.

'My job was to manage the technical aspects of the camera and ensure that the picture was always in focus,' he said. 'Working on a film project of that scale was a great experience.'

After working on several films, documentaries and hundreds of commercials, Andrew decided to try his hand at photography.

'When I first started out I bought a Nikon D70, which is a low-cost DSLR,' Andrew said. 'For me it was a starting point and a chance to develop up a whole new understanding of the digital imaging process.'

For three years Andrew ran a photography business on Bribie Island, where he built up a commercial client base in the Bribie Island and Brisbane region, before moving to Toowoomba last year.

As well as working at the University, Andrew is currently involved in several commercial projects and is looking for opportunities to work on documentaries and other media productions.

'I'm very interested in documentary opportunities that have a global appeal. Not so much ‘fly on the wall' productions, but those documentaries that are contributing to a global conscience. I'm a capitalist with a social conscience,' he said.

'It's a challenge to find commercially-viable projects that benefit the world socially and environmentally.'

Media Contact: Madeleine Tiller, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1163 or 0406 937795