7. Robert Elswit (1950–Present)
Robert Elswitmay not be the biggest name on this list, but he’s an important player in 21st century filmmaking.
He’s been honing his craft for decades while working in Hollywood, and it all led up to his best work when he collaborated with long-term pal Paul Thomas Anderson onThere Will Be Blood(2007).
Indeed, Robert Elswit’s work onThere Will Be Bloodearned him the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
Sure, his name isn’t as renowned or memorable as Emmanuel Lubezki or Roger Deakins, but make no mistake: the look of an Elswit picture is distinct and unique to that man behind the camera.
Over the years, he’s not only worked with some of the best in the business, but he also continues to be one of those people who manages to bring his own magic to everything he works on.
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6. Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999)
Okay, soStanley Kubrickwas technically the director—not cinematographer—for his movies. But when you take away his directing prowess and his eye for layering a story, you’re left with a master of the camera and setting up phenomenal shots.
He’s the one who cultivated the looks and feels of his own films,reportedly telling one of his cinematographers to “sit down and shut up"and taking over when that cinematographer moved the camera to a different spot when Kubrick wasn’t looking.
The sweeping Steadicam shots that madeThe Shiningso intensely dreadful, the natural look of the 1800s inBarry Lyndon, the captured nature of war inFull Metal Jacket—all of it made Stanley Kubrick a master of cinematography.
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5. Janusz Kamiński (1959–Present)
Janusz Kamiński’s work has been tied to that of Steven Spielberg for decades now, and together, they have created a unique style of cinema that has changed the art form forever.
FromSchindler’s ListtoBridge of SpiestoReady Player One, Janusz Kamiński’s stamp has left an indelible mark upon large parts of Spielberg’s greatest works, making Kamiński one of the most versatile cinematographers of all time.
The way Kamiński adapts to Spielberg’s worlds—from the horrors of war-torn Germany inSchindler’s Listto the virtual realities ofReady Player One—is the hallmark of a master craftsman and somebody at the peak of their cinematographic powers.
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4. Orson Welles (1915–1985)
Orson Wellesmight just be the single greatest filmmaker that ever lived, whose feature-length directorial debut was the legendaryCitizen Kane, who then followed up with several other classics.
And like Stanley Kubrick, Orson Welles may have technically been director for many of his films, but so much of the looks and feels of his films can be attributed to how Welles wanted them to appear.
He wasn’t “the cinematographer” in the strictest sense of the word most of the time, but there were times when he did the work himself—and in those instances, it was the work of a camera master.
In every category, Welles managed to craft his own way—so when you watch a Welles film (beyond his maiden effort), every element you see on screen is his own.
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3. Emmanuel Lubezki (1964–Present)
Emmanuel Lubezkiis one of the greatest cinematographers in the eyes of the public, as his recent string of successes have found him a kind of fame that’s abnormal to his craft.
Much of his public fame came from Leonardo DiCaprio, who kept thanking Lubezki duringThe Revenant’s awards run.
But apart from that, Emmanuel Lubezki (better known by his nickname Chivo, which means “goat” in Spanish), has worked with some of the best modern directors on a consistent basis.
His collaborations with popular directors like Alejandro González Iñárritu and the Coen brothers helped get his cinematic style in front of mainstream audiences.
Emmanuel Lubezki is the man who will become what Roger Deakins currently is in Hollywood (more on Deakins below). In other words, Lubezki is the heir to the throne of cinematographers, who sits with the greats as one who’s perfected his style over decades.
Related:The Greatest Movies With the Best Cinematography
2. Roger Deakins (1949–Present)
Roger Deakins' approach to camerawork is almost an art form at this point. His talents have been a point of pride for many film directors, who thank him for bringing their visions alive on the screen.
On top of working for some of the industry’s most venerated and famous filmmakers, Deakins has garnered his own cult following.
Indeed, many cinephiles have become pure Deakins fans. Being a fan of a cinematographer would’ve been unheard of just a decade or two ago, such is the impact of Deakins' work.
He won two Academy Awards (forBlade Runner 2049and1917) along with 15 more nominations prior, which all felt like snubs by the Academy until he was finally honored with the big W—a win that drew a standing ovation in the Dolby Theatre that night.
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1. Gregg Toland (1904–1948)
Gregg Tolandwas the man who pioneered modern cinema’s most celebrated camerawork innovations. It’s as simple as that.
InCitizen Kane—a film that he made in collaboration with New York wunderkind Orson Welles—Toland used techniques that no one else had tried before,like the use of deep focus shots.
However, it’s more than just his willingness to try new things. It’s the fact that Toland executed so well, his shots and angles ended up being copied by almost every cinematographer since.
In other words, modern film wouldn’t look and feel the way it does without the genius of Gregg Toland. For that reason, I’m confident in ranking him as the best cinematographer of all time.
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