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Blood Diamond cinematography

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thornben

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Hi Guys,

I really like Eduardo Serra's work on Blood Diamond. I seem to remember there was an AC article on the production but I can't find it.

Does anyone known what lenses he used? I am pretty sure that it is shot with a mixture of anamorphic primes and zooms with anamorphic backs.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it was shot on Hawks or Cooke anamorphics, definately not Panavision... also at the end of the credits there is no 'Shot on Panavision' credit.

Anyone have any info? Anyone know? David?

Cheers!

Benjamin
 
It was shot on Hawk anamorphic lenses. They put the cylindrical "squeezing" element somewhere in the middle of the primes rather than the back or front, which reduces some of the classic anamorphic artifacts that some people find appealing. I snuck into a theater and saw ten minutes of outdoor scenes and I couldn't tell if it was anamorphic photography or not because the lens was stopped down.
 
David Mullen ASC said:
It was shot on Hawk anamorphic lenses. They put the cylindrical "squeezing" element somewhere in the middle of the primes rather than the back or front, which reduces some of the classic anamorphic artifacts that some people find appealing. I snuck into a theater and saw ten minutes of outdoor scenes and I couldn't tell if it was anamorphic photography or not because the lens was stopped down.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. That is the case, but at the top and bottom of the daytime frames you did get some "barreling" I think, soft and distorted slightly.

Some of the night scenes have the traditional anamorphic look of eliptical out-of focus highlights. It was quite a beautifully shot movie. There is definately some green glass filters being used (unless they did a DI), particularly on Djimon Honsou - worth a look David if you can be bothered. Leo is quite good in it actually. It is a very "standable" movie especially for the photography-inclined.

Having seen these in action also in "Sunshine" I like these Hawks. Wish we had some in NZ. Or any PL anamorphics for that matter. Pooh.

Benjamin
 
So many Australian movies over the decades have been shot in anamorphic (mostly Panavision) you'd think you could find some anamorphic lenses down under... "Phantom Menace" was shot in Sydney with Hawk Anamorphics, but I think they came from Arri Media and Vantage in Germany.
 
Yes you can get PV anamorphics shipped in - none locally held - but zero PL anamorphics locally owned sadly.

This is not to disparage Panavision NZ or PV Anamorphics in any way, I love 'em (both the lenses and the people)! I mean that literally, Panavision have always been really good to me.

Speaking of which, being in LA and all, have you seen the new Panavision 'G'-Series Anamorphics? The shape of them is so beautiful and so small! And front-element zooms! Wowza. If I lived in LA I would be there now physically licking them like oh so much candy. There is nothing more exciting in the world than a beautiful lens.
 
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