May And The Woodsman

Feature Film - 2025

May and the Woodsman is a tender romantic survival story where two lonely souls find intimacy in the midst of a vast wilderness.

Shot entirely in the mountains and forests of North Carolina, the film’s visual language was built around the concept of unfiltered nature resulting in beauty. The environment was unpredictable and often uncontrollable, requiring constant adaptation. Rather than fight the elements, the cinematography leaned into texture: shifting light, dense foliage, and shifting shadows became part of the emotional atmosphere. Anamorphic lenses were chosen to draw out the texture of the leaves and canopy, capturing the layered depth of the woods.

Lighting design balanced naturalism with intention. Hard light pushed through branches created contrast and definition against organic backgrounds, while larger soft sources were reserved for select emotional beats. With nearly half the film taking place at night, we developed a dedicated day-for-night LUT used throughout production. This approach preserved visual continuity while allowing for efficiency and flexibility. It also protected performance, ensuring actors could remain present in their work without unnecessary physical strain. All of my choices were guided not only by aesthetic goals, but by how they would affect the cast and crew’s ability to focus fully on the story.

May and the Woodsman is currently in post-production and scheduled for release Winter 2026.

Camera: Blackmagic Ursa Cine 12K LF
Lenses: Altas Mercury Primes
Shot on Location in North Carolina