Raeford specializes in photographing and producing custom high resolution, large scale scenic backdrops for film, television and theater applications. The following projects are just a few of the most well received over the years.
NBC Sports
Regional Sports Network Rebrand
Jack Morton/PDG
2019
The new studio design reflects the vibrancy of NBC Sports, with an expansive, open layout designed for movement and flexibility, and is being rolled out across all markets, including Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, The Bay Area and Washington DC.
Full-height windows frame dramatic 360• views of the each market's cityscape. Custom photography, captured and composited by Raeford Dwyer from multiple viewpoints in the city, offer identical day and night versions of the skyline. The set walls trace the irregular shape of the studio, built off the concourse of the arena. A grid of illuminated lines criss-crosses the space creating a united framework. Echoes of the NBC logo ripple across the walls, creating a subtle, architectural reminder of the brand. Color-changing light boxes are laced throughout the studio, providing instantaneous shifts from one team color to the next.
Large displays are seamlessly integrated into the architecture, making every part of the studio an engaging broadcast location. A sleek LED display runs along the length of the room, forming the backdrop for the main anchor area. The visual center of the space is a dynamic Demo Area, with a large wall display and an LED floor inset in a sparkling acrylic platform, all framed by glowing arcs and a forest of portrait monitors. This powerful area offers unique and exciting ways to break down all of the action.
With attention placed on creating a bright and airy space – including desks and other furniture – the set is designed to be open and sculptural, inviting viewers to draw closer to the talent.
© 2016 Raeford Dwyer Photography
Anderson Cooper 360˚
Jack Morton/PDG
2004
CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360˚ set won the 2005 BDA Gold Award for Best News Set. It was designed to look like a modern downtown loft with a roofdeck overlooking a New York Skyline.
Raeford created a 40’ wide rearlit skyline backdrop from different location shoots around the city to create a fantasy skyline with a branded water tower for this newshour. 3D previsualisation was used to plot camera positions and shots, and to place the host within this 360 degree emersive media environment.
© 2016 Raeford Dwyer Photography
The skyline was bookended with classic New York City Brownstone facades complete with backlit window treatments and apartment scenes.
The set was designed as a 360 degree shooting stage and was an extremely versatile space. Anderson Cooper was in a different position and a new context everytime we came back from commercial.
Paula Zahn Now
Jack Morton/PDG
2004
CNN’s Paula Zahn Now set was designed to be an intimate penthouse high up in the heart of Manhattan with floor to ceiling glass curtain windows
Raeford shot the principal photography on medium format film from the Millenium Plaza Hotel and other locations.
© 2016 Raeford Dwyer Photography
The resulting images were then composited together to produce a panoramic rearlit that covered 180˚ of the studio and was featured in virtually every shot of the show
© 2016 Raeford Dwyer Photography
The Michael J Fox Show
NBC
2013
The series aired on NBC from September 26, 2013, to January 23, 2014.The show had a positive reception from critics, with many praising Michael J. Fox and Betsy Brandt's performances. It was called one of six new shows to keep an eye on of the 2013-14 television season by Entertainment Weekly
Raeford shot and produced 2 backlit skyline murals, one daytime and one nightime, for the NBC newsroom in the show. The view is from the top of 30 Rockefeller Center.
© 2016 Raeford Dwyer Photography
The Joy Behar Show
Clickspring Design
2009
This popular news/talk show premiered in the fall of 2009 on CNN, and took over the Anderson Cooper 360 studio
The fantasy New York skyline was custom designed for Joy's one shot, and was tinted a cool blue to contrast with her fiery nature and red hair.
