A cinematographer is in charge of the camera and the lighting crew, responsible for creating the look, colour, lighting, and framing of every single shot. Usually, the director and cinematographer work closely together as the main job of the cinematographer is to ensure that they can work to support the director’s overall vision for the film.

Additionally, they may also act as the camera operator on more low-budget productions.

Some duties which might be expected of a cinematographer could be to choose a visual style for the film, to establish the camera setup for every shot, to determine the lighting for scenes, explore locations and to elevate the main vision of the director.

As inspiration for cinematography, I would probably choose to focus on Robert Bridge Richardson, winner of the Academy Award for Best Cinematographer three times, for his work on JFK, The Aviator and Hugo.

One of the most identifiable techniques is his famous ‘halo’ look. It can be seen in some of the most famous films the cinematographer has worked on, notably Scorsese’s Casino and The Aviator, and Tarantino’s Kill Bill and Inglourious Basterds. The unique approach with which Richardson attempts to reinvent film is fascinating and arguably an efficient example to follow, stating: ‘On The Aviator, we did not attempt to re-create the choreography of period-style camera moves.’

SOURCES (in order):

masterclass.com

wikipedia.org

premiumbeat.com

theasc.com