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Roger Deakins

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Roger Deakins is a famous English cinematographer. A cinematographer is the person who manages the camera for a film. They decide how to use light and color to tell a story. Many people think he is one of the greatest in history. He has won two Academy Awards for his amazing work. He also won five BAFTA Awards for his skill.

Roger Deakins Feb-2011 02 (cropped)
Roger Deakins Feb-2011 02 (cropped)

Making a film's look involves many clever steps. Sometimes, he uses a method called bleach bypass. This keeps silver in the print to create a washed-out look. He used this for the film Nineteen Eighty-Four in 1984. For the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, he used digital tools. He changed green landscapes into a burnt, autumnal yellow color. This was the first time a whole film was digitally color-corrected.

Goldfinch 04 (48810058686)
Goldfinch 04 (48810058686)

Deakins grew up in Torquay, Devon, in England. His father ran a construction company. His mother was an actress and a painter. He studied graphic design at the Bath Academy of Art. He also loved photography very much. A guest lecturer named Roger Mayne inspired him. Deakins went to the National Film School in 1972. He met director Michael Radford while he was a student there.

He has worked with many famous directors over the years. He worked with the Coen brothers on many films like Fargo. He also worked with Sam Mendes on the film 1917. For that film, the shots look like one continuous take. He worked with Denis Villeneuve on Blade Runner 2049. That movie earned him his first Academy Award. He also helped with animated movies like WALL-E and Rango.

Roger Deakins Feb-2011 02 (cropped)
Roger Deakins Feb-2011 02 (cropped)

His life outside of movies is also very interesting. He married James Ellis in 1991. They met on the set of a film called Homicide. They now live in Devon and California. Deakins still loves to go fishing on his boat. He also enjoys running and taking still photographs. He even released a book of black-and-white photos called Byways. He even shares tips with others on his website.

Goldfinch 04 (48810058686)
Goldfinch 04 (48810058686)
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File:Roger Deakins Feb-2011 02 (cropped).jpg
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