Acclaimed Cinematographer Roger Deakins Reflects on His Craft

The '1917' and 'Blade Runner 2049' director of photography publishes a new book on the art of cinematography.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:36pm

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Roger Deakins, the acclaimed cinematographer behind films like 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'Fargo', and '1917', has published a new book titled 'Reflections on Cinematography'. The book offers technical insights into Deakins' craft, as well as an autobiographical story of his journey from a small English fishing village to becoming one of the most respected directors of photography in the film industry.

Why it matters

Deakins is widely regarded as one of the greatest cinematographers of his generation, with 16 Academy Award nominations and two wins. His new book provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the art and science of cinematography from the perspective of a master of the craft.

The details

In 'Reflections on Cinematography', Deakins shares his approach to translating a script into a visual story using lenses, lighting, and other technical elements. The book joins a small but influential canon of works on cinematography written by practitioners, including John Alton's 'Painting With Light' and Néstor Almendros' 'A Man With a Camera'.

  • Deakins was knighted in 2021.

The players

Roger Deakins

A renowned cinematographer with over 70 film credits, including 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'Fargo', 'A Beautiful Mind', and '1917'. He has received 16 Academy Award nominations for cinematography, winning twice.

John Alton

A pioneering cinematographer whose 1949 book 'Painting With Light' is considered a classic work on the art of cinematography.

Néstor Almendros

A Spanish cinematographer who wrote the influential book 'A Man With a Camera' in 1984, providing insights into the craft of cinematography.

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What they’re saying

“Any movie lover with half a mind knows that the auteur theory is bunk. Standing alongside the director of any given film are dozens of handmaidens willing the work into being: production and costume designers, score composers, casting directors and so on down the list of credits.”

— Ty Burr, Author

The takeaway

Deakins' new book 'Reflections on Cinematography' offers a rare and valuable perspective from one of the most accomplished cinematographers in the film industry, providing technical insights and an autobiographical account of his journey to the top of his craft.