Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

who is the best DP

i am lucky to have collaborated with many of the DoP's that are coming up in this discussion and am currently working on a feature with chivo and i have got to tell you all that after 5 years, chivo continues to inspire me with new ideas everyday. whether it is 100 space lights for a GE commercial or no lights for a malick film, it always looks brilliant in the monitor, my favorite quote from a very famous un-named director that most of you like and that is a huge red proponent came while shooting a commercial on the red one back in 2008. the director said in a very authoritative way to chivo while he was framing an ongoing take, simply, CHIVO...MORE CHIVO! and the shot instantly got even better.

dino
 
That post appeals to me in so many ways it is difficult to articulate. =-)

dino g said:
i am lucky to have collaborated with many of the DoP's that are coming up in this discussion and am currently working on a feature with chivo and i have got to tell you all that after 5 years, chivo continues to inspire me with new ideas everyday. whether it is 100 space lights for a GE commercial or no lights for a malick film, it always looks brilliant in the monitor, my favorite quote from a very famous un-named director that most of you like and that is a huge red proponent came while shooting a commercial on the red one back in 2008. the director said in a very authoritative way to chivo while he was framing an ongoing take, simply, CHIVO...MORE CHIVO! and the shot instantly got even better.

dino
Click to expand...

Some of my favorites include, because their images have made an indullable imprint on my mind:
Deakins
Conrad L. Hall
Gordon Willis
Cronenweth now x2 with Scott and Fincher
Ballhaus
Toland
Néstor
Zsigmond
Robert Burks with Hitchcock
John Alcott with Kubrick
Bill Pope

Because when I watch him I never even think about the cinematography:
Tak Fujimoto

And it may be OT to list him here but for contributions to cinematography in general I feel it appropriate to include:
Garrett Brown.
 
Last edited:
Deakins and Lubezki have both made films in recent years that have had a great effect on me personally, getting me to think more of the art and to strive to always aim high in my own work. I wouldn't name anyone the best, though, as there are too many greats.
 
In no order, off the top of my head (probably forgetting some amazing DP's) ........

Marcello Gatti (Battle of Algiers)
Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver)
John Toll (Thin Red Line)
Emmanuel Lubezki / Alfonso Cuaron (Great Expectations) --- I think the real genius here is Cuaron, as Lubezki even admits Cuaron taught him !!
Janusz Kaminski (Diving Bell and the Butterfly)
Rodrigo Prieto (Biutiful)
Roger Deakins (Fargo)
José Luis Alcaine (Bad Education, Skin I live in)
Lance Acord (Being John Malkovich, Lost in Translation)
Giuseppe Rotunno (All that Jazz)
 
dino g said:
my favorite quote from a very famous un-named director that most of you like and that is a huge red proponent came while shooting a commercial on the red one back in 2008. the director said in a very authoritative way to chivo while he was framing an ongoing take, simply, CHIVO...MORE CHIVO! and the shot instantly got even better.

dino
Click to expand...

haha! I love it.
 
Also, Hoyte Van Hoytema has done some fantastic work in the last 5 years or so.
 
John F Seitz
Robert Burks
John Alcott
Vilmos Zsimond
Vittorio Storraro
Gordon Willis
Conrad Hall
Christian Berger
 
crash - karsten gopinath is a very talented guy as well, he has a great eye, does beauty as well as the best of the best and treats his crew as he would want to be treated. look for his star to continue to rise over the next 20 years as he is under 40...which should also be part of this discussion as some of the folks mentioned are at the end of their careers or have passed...

how about under 30, under 40, 40-60 which i think is a sweet spot for a DoP, then the over 60, over 70, over 80 and still working in their 90's. (haskell comes to mind) i think a lot of 30-40 year old guys that have embraced all forms of digital are going to see their stars rise as they get more experience and work on more and more challenging projects.
 
My favorites:

Roger Deakins
Christopher Doyle
Robert Richardson
Dante Spinotti
Robert Elswit
Philippe Rousselot
Peter Andrews
Emmanuel Lubezki
Vittorio Storaro
Bruno Delbonnel
César Charlone
David Mullen
Darius Khondji
Harris Savides
Conrad Hall
Jeff and Jordan Cronenweth
Wally Pfister
Michael Ballhaus
Seamus McGarvey
John Mathieson

I would also like to give a shout out to cinematographer Greig Fraser who is highly underrated and virtually unknown. His work is superb and I can see an Academy nomination in his future.

Check out his work: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292132/

The award for cinematographer I have learned the most from goes to David Mullen, his work is fantastic and he is a great teacher. David, your posts are invaluable.
 
Last edited:
Andrew Rieger said:
My favorites:

Roger Deakins
Christopher Doyle
Robert Richardson
Dante Spinotti
Robert Elswit
Philippe Rousselot
Peter Andrews
Emmanuel Lubezki
Vittorio Storaro
Bruno Delbonnel
César Charlone
David Mullen
Darius Khondji
Harris Savides
Conrad Hall
Jeff and Jordan Cronenweth
Wally Pfister
Michael Ballhaus
Seamus McGarvey
John Mathieson

I would also like to give a shout out to cinematographer Greig Fraser who is highly underrated and virtually unknown. His work is superb and I can see an Academy nomination in his future.

Check out his work: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0292132/

The award for cinematographer I have learned the most from goes to David Mullen, his work is fantastic and he is a great teacher. David, your posts are invaluable.
Click to expand...

great post I would just like to add Guillermo Navarro
 
My all time favorites:

Christopher Doyle - In the mood for Love
Emanuel Lubezki - The tree of life
Gordon Willis - Godfather
Conrad Hall - Pretty much everything
Gabriel Figueroa for his black and white work
 
So many great ones from classic Hollywood not to mention those of the independent cinema movement. Lots of great people on this list, but many others come to mind. Here's a random one -- James Wong Howe. Here's another -- Robert Surtees (or for that matter his son, Bruce Surtees). There are so many...
 
Conrad hall
Vittorio Storraro
Emanuel Lubeski
Caleb Deschanel
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top