Reflections: On Cinematography

From a two-time Academy Award winner widely regarded as the greatest cinematographer of all time--a one-of-a-kind visual memoir, telling his life's story by way of his iconic, beloved films.

Cinematography is both an art and science--capturing motion requires a combination of skill, ingenuity, and artistic genius. Lighting, camera movement, and framing are just a few of the important components in the process of turning words on a page into unforgettable moving images.
Over the course of a brilliant 50-year career, Sir Roger Deakins has proven to be the greatest artist & visionary that the craft of cinematography has ever known.

In Reflections: On Cinematography, Deakins offers his fans and film enthusiasts a one-of-a-kind look into his life and improbable road to Hollywood immortality. Readers will discover how "the boy from Torquay, England" overcame a troubled childhood to enter his way into art school; his fortuitous entry into world of documentary filmmaking (including a yacht race around the world); to shooting groundbreaking music videos such as Herbie Hancock's "Rock It," to his singular film career, including his longtime collaborations with the Coen Brothers, Sam Mendes, and Denis Villeneuve.

Filled with never-before-seen storyboards, sketches, and diagrams, Rogers shows readers how he created some of the most iconic scenes in the most beloved films of all time. Through candid, lyrical prose, Deakins reflects on his life and each of his projects; how he helped shape them, and how they shaped him.

A truly unique visual memoir, Reflections is for film fans and general readers alike, and for anyone looking to find inspiration, beauty, and creativity by looking through the singular lens with which Roger views the world.

Author: Roger Deakins
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 11/11/2025
Pages: 416
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 3.62lbs
Size: 10.16h x 8.25w x 1.25d
ISBN: 9781538771501


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2025

About the Author
Sir Roger A. Deakins is widely regarded as the greatest cinematographer of all time. Roger has been nominated for 16 Academy Awards, winning twice for Blade Runner 2049 and 1917. He has also been nominated 11 times for the BAFTA award, winning on five occasions. Roger has been awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Society of Cinematographers, the British Society of Cinematographers, and the National Board of Review. He is also the sole cinematographer to have been honored with a CBE, in 2013, and a knighthood, in 2021. Roger splits his time between England and California, with his wife and longtime collaborator, James. You can follow them @team.deakins.

ROGER DEAKINS FILM CREDITS

Welcome to Britain--1975
The Marquis de Sade's Justine (aka Cruel Passion)--1977
Chimurenga, The War in Zimbabwe--1977
Around the World with Ridgway--1978
Eritrea: Behind the Lines--1980
Van Morrison in Ireland--1980
The Southeast Nuba--1980
Blue Suede Shoes--1980
Raj Gonds: Reflection in a Peacock Crown--1981
Wolcott--1981
Then When the World Changed--1983
Another Time, Another Place--1983
The House--1984
1984--1984
Return to Waterloo--1984
The Innocent--1985
Shadey--1985
Defense of the Realm--1985
Sid and Nancy--1986
Personal Services--1987
The Kitchen Toto--1987
White Mischief--1987
Stormy Monday--1988
Pascali's Island--1988
Mountains of the Moon--1990
Air America--1990
The Long Walk Home--1990
Barton Fink--1991
Homicide--1991
Thunderheart--1992
Passion Fish--1992
The Secret Garden--1993
The Hudsucker Proxy--1994
The Shawshank Redemption--1994
Dead Man Walking--1995
Fargo--1996
Courage Under Fire--1996
Kundun--1997
The Big Lebowski--1998
The Siege--1998
Anywhere but Here--1999
The Hurricane--1999
O Brother, Where Art Thou?--2000
The Man Who Wasn't There--2001
Dinner with Friends--2001
A Beautiful Mind--2001
Levity--2003
Intolerable Cruelty--2003
House of Sand and Fog--2003
The Ladykillers--2004
The Village--2004
Jarhead--2005
No Country for Old Men--2007
In the Valley of Elah--2007
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford--2007
Revolutionary Road--2008
The Reader--2008
Doubt--2008
WALL-E (animation consultant)--2008
A Serious Man--2009
The Company Men--2010
True Grit--2010
How to Train Your Dragon (animation consultant)--2010
Rango (animation consultant)--2011
In Time--2011
Skyfall--2012
Rise of the Guardians (animation consultant)--2012
Prisoners--2013
The Croods (animation consultant)--2013
Unbroken--2014
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (animation consultant)--2014
Sicario--2015
Hail, Caesar!--2016
Blade Runner 2049--2017
The Goldfinch--2019
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (animation consultant)--2019
1917--2019
Vivo (animation consultant)--2021
Empire of Light--2022