The fastest way to develop an eye is to study the people who defined the craft. These profiles look at how individual cinematographers think, light and move a camera, and what a working DP can borrow from each of them. They cover the acknowledged masters alongside a few whose influence deserves more attention.
- The 20 Best Cinematographers of All Time
- Roger Deakins
- Christopher Doyle
- Emmanuel Lubezki
- Michael Barrett
- John Alton: Painting with Light
- Film Noir Cinematographers
- The Cinematographer as Author of the Image
Frequently asked questions
Who is considered the best cinematographer of all time?
There is no single answer, but the names that come up most are Roger Deakins, Emmanuel Lubezki, Gordon Willis, Conrad Hall and Gregg Toland. Deakins is the most decorated of the modern era, while Lubezki remains the only cinematographer to win three consecutive Academy Awards.
Which cinematographer has won the most Oscars?
Leon Shamroy and Joseph Ruttenberg share the record with four wins each. Among working cinematographers, Emmanuel Lubezki holds three, and Roger Deakins has two wins from sixteen nominations.
What makes a great cinematographer?
Technical command of light, lenses and movement is the baseline. What separates the great ones is judgement: knowing what the story needs, building a visual language for each project rather than repeating a signature, and leading a crew so the plan survives contact with a real set.