Continuing a very busy week on terms of guild announcements, the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) have come out with their list for the best achievements of cinematography of 2015. Voted on by members of the ASC, this years’ crop includes some of the most acclaimed and photogenic pieces of filmmaking that graced theaters last year as well as name-checking many of the most distinguished cinematographers currently working in the industry.
Take a look at the nominees below:
- Bridge of Spies– Janusz Kaminski
- Carol– Ed Lachman, ASC
- Mad Max: Fury Road– John Seale, ASC, ACS
- The Revenant– Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC
- Sicario– Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC
Kaminski, acknowledged for his work in Steven Spielberg’s Cold War drama Bridge of Spies has previously been acknowledged five times prior by the American Society of Cinematographers, yet has never won the prize. Most acclaimed for his frequent collaborations with Spielberg, Kaminski has also been nominated for six Academy Awards, winning the prizes twice for Schindler’s List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). He was most recently nominated for an Oscar for his work on Spielberg’s 2012 film Lincoln.
Lachman, nominated for Carol (in which he shot in Super 16mm), has worked as director of photography on an eclectic assortment of projects spanning the indie and mainstream corners of cinema for several years now including Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides (2000), Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey (1999) and Erin Brockovich (2000) and the controversial indie Ken Park (2002). Perhaps most renowned for his collaborations with director Todd Haynes, Lachman earned Oscar and ASC nominations for his work on Haynes’ 2002 film Far From Heaven. He earned an additional ASC nomination for Haynes’ HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce.
Seale came out of semi-retirement to shoot George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road (his first since the 2010 film The Tourist). One of the legends of the industry, Seale has earned four Oscar nominations throughout his career (winning for the 1996 epic The English Patient) and four previous ASC nominations (also winning once for The English Patient). Seale also received the ASC International Award back in 2001.
Lubezki, nominated for natural-light wonder of The Revenant, is one of the most acclaimed and eagerly sought after cinematographers in the industry. Known for his collaborations with filmmakers that include Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life), Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (The Revenant), Lubezki is one of the most innovative and esteemed of modern directors of photography. Throughout his career, he has earned seven Oscar nominations and won the prize that last two years in a row (for Gravity and Birdman)- if he wins again this year, that would mark the first time a cinematographer ever won three consecutive Academy Awards. Additionally, he has previously been nominated for five ASC awards, winning three (The Tree of Life, Gravity, Birdman).
Another giant in the industry, Deakins was acknowledged for his work in Sicario. Known for his frequent collaborations with Ethan and Joel Coen, Deakins’ holds a distinctive filmography. He’s also a famous Oscar bridesmaid, having amassed twelve Oscar nominations throughout his career (for films that include Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Skyfall and Unbroken) yet has never taken home an Academy Award. He’s done a bit better with the ASC, where he’s previously earned three wins (The Shawshank Redemption, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Skyfall) out of thirteen tries. He also nabbed the guilds’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
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