Ten cinematographers having left their undeniable mark in film history
Directors and actors are considered to be the most prominent names of a film but a cinematographer is equally important, heading the choices of the camera, filters, lenses lighting and all the intricate visual details that are crucial to the success of the film. Here are ten of the most important cinematographers of all times.
Kazuo Miyagawa utilized years of study on light exposure in his work
Being the most important cinematographer in the history of Japan, he is most famous for his work on Rashomon. He was the first person to point the camera at direct sunlight and also known for multiple camera setups and sharp close-ups.
Vittorio Storaro is most famous for his work on Apocalypse Now
Vittorio Storaro a three-time Academy Award winner in cinematography hails from Rome, Italy. He is famous for his work on Apocalypse Now, Reds, and The Last Emperor and is inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s theory of colours.
Sergei Urusevky has earned mythical status among cinematographers
He is famous for his work in films like I am Cuba and The Cranes are Flying. He is believed to be ahead of his time due to an unbelievable combination of acrobatic tracking shots, deep focus, and subjective perspective along with other great cinematographic tricks.
Sven Nykvist transformed surreal images
He transformed surreal images into reality in front of the camera. In addition, he was well known for his simplicity, subtlety and naturalistic lighting to perfect the art of storytelling.
Gregg Toland nominated five times for best cinematography
He is famous for his perfection in Citizen Kane which allows characters in the fore and background to be shot in focus at the same time. He is often accredited with his work related to — low angles, high contrast, dark shadows. He also worked on Disney’s Song of the South that combined action with animation.
Gordon Willis is famed for his innovative cinematography
He is also known as the ‘The Prince of Darkness’ due to his brave use of dark colours. His most prominent work is The Godfather film. He pioneered the use of use of warm, fuzzy, amber glows to represent nostalgic scenes of the past.
Christopher Doyle made his mark by photographing Asian films
Hailing from Australia, he is known to be one of the most important architects of Asian films. His prominent work includes the use of a vivid splash of colours and high saturation.
Conrad Hall is famous for adding the concept of mistake to cinematography
He liberated the concept of filming by adding natural “mistakes” like blemishes as the sun hits the lens, dirt on the lens, and other obvious distractions.
James Wong Howe was the most sought after in the 1930’s and 1940's
He had over 130 films to his credit and his work spans from black and white to the coloured era. A two-time Academy Award winner, he used handheld camera techniques and shot using unusual light sources like candlelight.
Charles Rosher worked from the early days of silent film through the 1950s
Hailing from London, he was one of the most sought-after cinematographers in the 1920s. A two-time Academy Award winner, he is famous for his work on Sunrise.
