Understanding the Cinematography of Sven Nykvist

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I go through Sven Nykvist's life and cinematography techniques to help you understand his unique style.
Just to be clear: Sven Nykvist changed his style to suit the movies he shot. The goal of this video and article is to drum up enthusiasm and a yearning to learn more.
Think of it as a tribute, nothing more is intended.
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[@bryanland6519]

Probably my favorite DP of all time. What a great name, too. Sven Nykvist. Looks awesome in print!

[@maxencemuller1947]

As a cinematographer myself... Amazing video and tribute. Thank you.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@vinnievictory1186]

He has been one of my main career inspirations whenever i looked beyond film's true golden age. Your tribute was very thorough. I have a BFA in Cinematography. This type of light artistry has been completely lost because our age is aural, not visual. We view art now nostalgically. Many thanks from deep inside the gallows of a lost Hollywood. Long live film, which digital has desperately tried to kill off.

[@ivanstoykovivanov]

"Bless characters to life with light" , well said .

[@andreaprodan5616]

Thanks for your passion and communicative prowess in dealing with The great Sven N.

[@josephcallahan1664]

Berman is a favorite of mine. Thank you for helping me understand one of his most important and outstanding cinematographers, Nykvist!

[@thenout]

Damn, I was a fan of Sven Nykvist before, but I admit this video really opened my eyes to the greatness of his work

[@Odank]

The most comprehensive and interesting analysis of a cinematographer I've seen up to now. Truly an amazing job. Thank you wolfcrow.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@HerotheValiant]

proud of your work and dedication by the way

[@majhee55]

This was a fantastic lesson. Thank you.

[@dlLshadow]

Thank you, this was a wonderful exposition of Sven Nykvist's work. As a photographer with a background in Film and eagerness to learn, I highly appreciate your videos.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@cherryblossom7944]

Thank you, I learnt a lot from this, and really enjoyed it.

[@dubbelhenke854]

Wonderfully and interesting! I first heard of him after seeing the Movie "Salka Valka" from 1954....I thought even as a mere teenager what beautiful photography, such light and clarity and atmosphere in it all....

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@okmachine]

Great video. Few years ago when I watched Winter Light, I was completely shocked by his image, and I wanted to know about him more specifically. This is the video satisfies my desire. Thank you!

[@edgarin]

I´ve just loved this

[@scrutinizer8]

great video ! Thank you very much for your work :)

[@ethidian3444]

Loving and appreciating your channel wolfcrow!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@addiforras]

Your video essays are beautiful and informative. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@korlow1]

Excellent. Thanks!!!

[@abeautifulhaze]

This was a great primer to one of the best to ever do it. I will be coming back to this many times. Thank you.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@dialecticsjunkie7653]

Sven Nykvist's "autopilot" movies blow other cinematographers' best work out of the water

[@nicholascorrea2997]

Wow, I really wasn't expecting this twenty minute video. Excellent!

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@vsdream]

Sven Nykvist is my all time fav cinematographer.. Really happy to see this video.. you almost covered everything about him.. There is so many starting points to learn from this video: lights, directors, life ect.... great work wolfcrow

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@hueseyineren3067]

wolfcrow

[@MCRparkour]

Woow tanks for taking the time to make this awsome content!!!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@theempire00]

Just found your channel, amazing content! Subscribed :)

[@iaintrimble1137]

Awesome!

[@uisdeanmurray]

Really interesting summary of his cinematography. Love Persona, such an incredible masterwork.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@AdamasMst]

As a lighting technician for me The Master of Light is "Good". Thanks for posting and good job!

[@sarathr1654]

amazing video...

[@starky497]

Fantastic thanks

[@FrancescoThall]

Thanks for this amazing video.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@MaxAndersonFilms]

Magnificent job!

[@wolfcrow]

Max Anderson Films Thank you!

[@leandrocerqueira9910]

Amazing work!!!! Thanks so much

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@ayannandi1453]

I loved your essay here as well as on Gregg Toland. I would like one on Subrata Mitra, the cinematographer of Satyajit Ray (for some ten films) and Ismail Merchant.

[@goodnbadnugly]

I cried in two eyes!

[@MikeOzmun]

brilliant, per usual.

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@Jack_makes808]

Thankyou Wolfcrow

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@Janen74]

Great film! Thanks!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@brandonramones823]

Great breakdown of Sven Nykvist

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@AllThingsFilm1]

As a traditional artist, and aspiring film maker, I have always loved Nykvist's work. Thanks for this video. By the way, what does the last statement in the video say? It's partially blocked by thumbnails. All I can see is, "A cameraman's work is not done until there is a properly lit and approved opening....."

[@timespace.productions7513]

Beautiful montages!

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@lucasbautista4705]

Thank you for this.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@alterdings]

Incredible video, as always. I would love to see an anlysis of Owen Roizman or Darius Khondji in the future!

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you, sure!

[@sky44david]

Honoring the greatest.

[@xinzukin]

Well done, sir!

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@nicolasschiavoni4963]

Master!

[@SuchetB]

Awesome 😇👌🏽👍🏻

[@LexArias]

Excellent

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@hernandezurbina]

thanks for the video!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@Sound8VisionVibe]

Great job!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@zarathustra8789]

Wow, bloody fantastic video! Wouldn't mind if it was longer and it analysed more thoroughly some specific shots or sequences. In any case, I have a few other suggestions of cinematographers for you to take on, which I believe are some of the greatest of all time, although maybe not as well known: Mark Lee Ping Bin, Sergey Urusevsky, Kazuo Miyagawa, Giorgos Arvanitis, Vadim Yusov, Slawomir Idziak. Keep up the great job. PS: Obviously subbed.

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you, they're all on the list!

[@VVIPWORLDUSA]

awesome!!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@pantheravisuals3393]

Amazing! I would wish for an analysis of Michael Ballhaus as well! Thank you for your work!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome! He's on the list!

[@DBROstalos]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@DBROstalos]

And I think Michael Ballhaus deserves analysis

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you, sure, he's on the list!

[@Babues]

I think Gabriel Figueroa is another great master

[@Film_musings]

Hi, I'm not a cinematographer but I aspire to become one even when I'm old. Love your analysis. Owen.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, Owen.

[@pettaspro]

accidentally clicking like to the video when it was really meant for the ad

[@aleccotugno]

Sean Bobbitt is great as well.

[@MeesTW]

Please make a video about Georgy Rerberg. He and Andrei Tarkovsky pulled of some very impressive cinematic work, and there's a lot to cover from Tarkovsky's book "Sculpting In Time." Would be great to see!

[@wolfcrow]

Yeah it's a great book!

[@jairtapia3595]

this is wonderfull work. Thanks! Could you do Nestor Almendros??

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, sure!

[@mariojuarezm]

Great video. You should do one about mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa. He worked in various films with Luis Buñuel.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, I'll add him to the list!

[@linusfotograf]

I'd love to see a video on Karl Freund or Fritz Arno Wagner!

[@brauliomorrison]

A+

[@paulenochkoh]

I know he is not seen as a great director, but it would be great to learn what you think about Michael bay or his cinematography?

[@bobunitone]

What's the Juliette Binoche film he shot?

[@alex.quintero]

Really great. I hope you do Christopher Doyle

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, sure!

[@rafaelmendezgarcia2817]

I do not understand much of the tecnisisms, please help me.

[@Tamoltion]

Robert Elswit, Andrew Lesnie, Dante Spinotti, Guillermo Navarro, Dariusz Wolski, Matthew Libatique, Bill Pope and Barry Ackroyd please!! :)

[@wolfcrow]

Absolutely!

[@rockhero2274]

How about Nestor Almendros, Greg Toland and Don Peterman

[@Whoa802]

Great video. Ever thought about doing one on John Seale?

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, yes!

[@dneconchasumadre]

What about Georgy Rerberg's work with Tarkovsky?

[@kieranl5249]

Edvard Aviles who shot Nostalghia?

[@FelixalPorto]

Edvard Aviles Not sure, even though they are incredibly beautiful films, he has only made 2 with him

[@ahmedarif5197]

Tarkovsky's best work was with Vadim Yusov

[@elleshadeen427]

Rerberg shoot "Stalker" (first part)

[@DavronMananov]

Film at 9:36?

[@danielhardy8510]

You should do Raoul Coutard!

[@shifukillahyabish3793]

Stockholm is in Sweden, other than that, nice video!

[@nicenice-go5zs]

Gunner fisher please

[@Kryptonius15]

Robert Yeoman and Michael Balhaus

[@AtlantaTerry]

It should be noted at 10:50 you give an incorrect name for a film. You say "Canary" which is a bird. But the film is "Cannery" which is a factory where fish are prepared then put into cans for sale. There is a difference. www.imdb.com/title/tt0083717/combined

[@HBarnill]

The only modern day DP who comes close to Sven is Chivo.

[@magic___window]

William A. Fraker? Or perhaps Jordan Cronenweth!

[@apaldelhi]

Would be nice to have something similar on Subrata Mitra, Ashoke Mehta. Amazing videos, looking forward to watching many more.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, they're on the list!

[@yojoeo9067]

Would you do a video on Wally Pfister?

[@imarmcewan1384]

Larry Fong & Zac Snyder please :)

[@HerotheValiant]

gasper noe cinematography pretty interesting can you do one on him

[@wolfcrow]

Sure

[@imiy]

Came back to Sweden from... Stockholm??

[@TheAppus090]

Alain-Marcoen SBC, Belgian cinematographer

[@fatnoodle5057]

Greg Tolland!!!!

[@nathanshipley8314]

ROBERT ELSWIT!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

[@wolfcrow]

Sure!

[@MoralFoil]

Caleb Deschanel would be excellent for your analysis. I think his collaboration with Carroll Ballard represents some of the greatest short films ever made. You may enjoy an essay I wrote about one of these shorts: directors-vision.com/2017/02/13/greatest-film-youve-never-seen/

[@june.bubbles]

Please do Robert Yeoman (Wes Anderson's DOP)

[@wolfcrow]

He's on the list!

[@darrelhicks9740]

Sorry but one more suggestion, Matthew Libatique

[@wolfcrow]

Keep them coming!

[@darrelhicks9740]

Wally Pfister or even Steven Soderbergh (under his alias Peter Andrews)

[@wolfcrow]

Sure!

[@mankriter]

That was a great video and a great history lesson at the same time. A director and a cinematographer have a lot to learn from one another if they are open to it. Niqvist's case reminds me of Giorgos Arvanitis (www.imdb.com/name/nm0002187/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) who started off as a self taught cinematographer working for not that demanding comedies shot mostly in studios ,to rise up to the most important Greek cinematographer up to date when his road crossed with Theo Angelopoulos who brought a lot of fresh ideas from Paris. There is a funny story about how they couldn't understand one another when they first worked together. Since you are interested in old school cinematographers maybe you want to take a look in Walter Lassally's work.Check out what he considers his best work ever here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpqZk5SOgtVkaZo (unfortunately ther are no greek subs in this one)

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@aadityaraj6566]

U have been researching styles of numerous cinematographers...but u missed a greatest of great cinematographer.."Subrata Mitra"

[@vinnievictory1186]

Tarkovsky is only modernist worthy serious academic study. Bresson being the other GREAT modernist. Oh and we call it "magic hour" not golden hour with Almedros being THE master of that look.

[@qqqAvi]

what about the architecture and the clothes of that era? What about the landscape? Nobody talks about it. Are you sure is only the light and composition that make a good photography? If you say that cinematography is all about punctum and not a mixture of it and studium, then all the movies should be filmed in some backyard. Definetelly, a soviet building in the background from the 70´s won´t create the same visual impact, definetelly other. I´ve watched low budget movies with good comp or light, still looking crap, just because the clothes of Julio Caesar didn´t have very much detail on them or because of the fake wall behind him. Every person I know find 1930´s- 1960´s photography very pleasing because of the ¨texture¨ of that era. Marlyin driving an old Cadillac vs. Kardashian in some Ferrari, Wtf. Sven´s photography of some modern movies is crap compared to his b&w movies because the props or location don´t help. Some Woody Allen´s movies look like old Van Damme´s movies, they look crap. Is very easy to make a good photography when the background also helps. The job ot the photographer is limited by the location, which is limited by the budget of the film.Even your story is limited by location even though you may afford the best DP in the world. Be creative, they say, yeah that´s simple to say. ¨Give me a camera and a good lens. That´s all I need¨ Really? I want you to shoot Predator. I can´t really shoot Predator in my own garden, can I? I can´t afford to go the the jungle or just to recreate it. Or just shoot the same scene in a room with white walls in a modern kitshy house with modern clothes and it will probably look crap, not the same effect, impact, etc because it is very difficult to photograph. Imagine Sven´s b&w movies in colour shot with some crappy digital camera. Still great, but not the same impact. Film is still film. Let´s shoot that Sven´s cabbin from his ¨low budget¨ movie because it looks good. I can´t even find a simple wooden cabbin in my area, there are only of concrete with kitschy architecture. It will cost me a fortune to build one from scratch. In my story there´s a wooden cabbin. No wooden cabbin, not my story.

[@wolfcrow]

Of course it's important. You can make good architecture look ugly through poor lighting.

[@andreaprodan5616]

Thanks for your passion and communicative prowess in dealing with The great Sven N.