John Read built a career in cinematography and production for British children's television. A co-founder of AP Films, he worked with Gerry Anderson, Sylvia Anderson, Arthur Provis and Reg Hill as the company developed puppet adventure programs. His camera credits included Four Feather Falls and the live-action feature Crossroads to Crime, both released in 1960, followed by Supercar and other increasingly elaborate miniature productions.

Read served as director of photography on Stingray and Thunderbirds, contributing the lighting and camera work through which small sets, vehicles and puppets appeared as coherent screen environments. Production credits distinguish his role from the model effects directed by Derek Meddings and from the programs' writing, design and puppetry. His work formed part of the collaborative technique marketed as Supermarionation, in which filmed marionettes and miniature action were integrated into television narratives.

He moved into associate production on the second series of Thunderbirds, the feature Thunderbirds Are Go and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. He returned to cinematography for the 1969 feature Doppelganger, then worked on other children's productions, including The Adventures of Rupert Bear, Here Comes Mumfie, Cloppa Castle and The Munch Bunch. His later credits extended into producing and directing as well as photography. Read died in 2006 after more than four decades of work in film and television.