Ranking 10 Best Cinematographers Working Today
2. Emmanuel Lubezki
The Mexican-born cinematographer (also known as Chivo)'s incredibly fluid style has enabled him to work with directing greats such as Alfonso Cuaron, Terrence Malick, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and his work with the latter led to him achieving great success on awards circuits.
His career spans more than thirty years and ranges from sci-fi epics, survivalist thrillers, and even coming-of-age tales. He infuses these varied projects with a gritty feel that helps place them in reality, or a state close to it regardless of the setting.
He furthers his immersive style with lengthy and uninterrupted handheld camera movements, naturalistic lighting (especially in exterior scenes), and a dynamic colour range, ensuring viewers experience scenes and their details, regardless of how minute and insignificant they appear to be. The camera movements in particular create tension and/or the build-up to it, enhancing the visuals and the story at the same time.
As mentioned earlier, he has found success in various awards ceremonies, becoming the first cinematographer to win three back-to-back Academy Awards between 2014 and 2016 and being nominated for a further five.