Understanding the Cinematography of Christopher Doyle

Download your free blueprint to making a movie or film: wolfcrow.com/how-to-make-a-mo...
I go through some of Christopher Doyle's cinematography techniques to help you understand his unique style.
Just to be clear: Christopher Doyle changes his style to suit the movies he shoots. 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.
Don't forget to subscribe to this channel!
What's in my camera bag: wolfcrow.com/recommended-gear/

[@francescolisboa903]

You fucking nailed Wolfcrow, you fucking nailed!!! Congrats from South of Brazil, the Hong Kong Doyle look shaped a lot of my adolescence :D

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@nicp2344]

wolfcrow nice video the best I seen done you touched on a lot of works. I was wondering if you can do something on pen ek ratanarouang since last life in the universe is my favorite film

[@fareastmanilavideoproducti4499]

cris doyle is my idol! he isnt afraid to experiment. he doesnt follow commercialism or formulas in cinematography

[@kevinkino400]

I've watched at least 20 videos about Christopher Doyle's cinematography, and this is by far the best. Thank you for making this and please keep it up!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@michaelbailey7554]

recommendations for others?

[@byronkleoyang]

You're the man, Sareesh! This was a beautiful essay. Thank you so much. I've been waiting for this one. :D

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nateessin]

You're a huge inspiration to me. Every time you upload a video essay on a cinematographer, I learn and am inspired. Thank you.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@Cazaq]

Awesome work as usual. Thanks for breaking down Doyle's work.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@okkohuopainen8373]

Great channel ! Could you do next a video of Mark Lee Ping Bing, the cinematographer mostly associated with Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Wong Kar-wai. That would serve as a nice companion piece to understand the cinematography of the films of Wong Kar-wai.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@karthikpandian5315]

Just watched HERO....breathtaking visuals....Clearly,Doyle is the hero of HERO....Waiting for ur video on Santhosh Sivan ASC

[@crumbdouglas]

great video, dude! your passion really shines through

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@GabrielGarciaRosa]

Thank you for making this video. You did a great job.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@antonkollo1311]

Wow, you did a great job here man, It is very informative! Thank you

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@jbtube73]

I love his work with Wong Kar Wai's movies especially the unforgettable camerawork of In the Mood for Love. He's done a great body of work. Thanks for sharing this info on him.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@bartlettbigx]

Great stuff. Informative and enlightening. And I say that as a film journalist. Bravo.

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you!

[@redcaptain5037]

your videos are fantastic. keep it up!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@kaemmili4590]

wow ! WE WANT MORE =D only technic analysis on youtube that is not dumbly focusing on the technic and the intellectualisation of it , But rather focusing on the whole atmosphere in which ist been created ..showing as well how its playfull and adaptative and not a well planed prophecy . so grateful for what ur doin bro !

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@yosoyalbertico]

Christopher Doyle is other of great photography director that i admire. Great channel wolfcrow.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@mankriter]

Great work once again mate.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@dutchvideoshooter]

Im just starting an edit of a seminar with Christopher Doyle and Ed lachman and 6 others. Such a great person Christopher is!

[@drcrowlee]

I love these videos

[@mayankimmortal]

Really great video! Keep it up.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@12345maddyful]

Grt work .... Thanks a lot for ur upload ...

[@wolfcrow]

you're welcome!

[@ruff1draft]

Been watching Wong Kar Wai and Christopher Doyle's works for years since senior school

[@jasononedash222]

thanks for answering my request!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@kissmyasthma3155]

Love to see a video on Jack Cardiff, a man Martin Scorsese considers to be the best technicolor cinematographer of all time.

[@Cotygeek]

Cardiff and Geoffrey Unsworth would be fantastic on here.

[@rafaelbolivar3571]

Love you work, always with nice technical informations such as light brands used, diaphs, positioning, and so on... May I suggest Nestor Almendros? Keep on! Greetings from Paris.

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, he's on the list!

[@eXorrist]

Awesome stuff!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@MinamiSen]

Very nice, thanks!

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

Thank you as always. I'll always be here and I hope you continue to notice that I'm here watching.

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you! Appreciate it.

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

wolfcrow Would you ever consider interviewing young aspiring directors/cinematographers like myself?

[@wolfcrow]

Not at this time.

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

wolfcrow Okay I hear yah. Cool cool. Be sure to let me know ;) And besides I'd just be a pleasure speaking to yah haha

[@Gambitheart]

One of the greatest ever..

[@AANasseh]

Great job as usual. Would be curious to see if you ever plan to do some directors. Obviously their job is beyond cinematography but that's the point, who do they decide to tell the full story beyond the visual. Keep it up! :)

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@transformers1121]

You are a hero to knowledge seekers :)

[@trieuhoangvu5172]

Thank you as always

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@retardedvaxxedliberal]

Thanks for another brilliant detailed video! Could you do a video about Claudio Miranda's cinematography?

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome, he's on the list!

[@eanur0]

Woooaaa! Thank you so much! I loved it! In the same genre, but darker and european - can we get a Benoit Debie (Enter the Void, Spring Breakers, Lost River, Irreversible) analysis? Thank you again! It's awesome and nicely edited! Great work!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@dornravlin]

Christopher Doyle is the balls

[@thegrocerytv]

Doyle and Chivo are my two main inspirations.

[@tarasshevchenko8917]

Doyle is the man!

[@EGDfilms]

Great! Can you do Gabriel Figueroa, Nestor Almendros and Raoul Coutard? (there are so many, it's hard to choose).

[@nm800]

Great video!! Please make slawomir idziak!!!

[@jacksongarland3272]

Great stuff as always. How about a breakdown of Dean Cundey, particularly his work with John Carpenter and other horror films in the '80s? (And of course, he did little-known films such as Jurassic Park and BTTF.)

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, he's on the list!

[@jomou4279]

Hey wolfcrow, what about Raoul Coutard, Larry Smith and Benoit Debie, Natasha Braier ?

[@wonderwiseM]

Cool thank you.

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@theyoungindia3631]

Could you do Darius Khondji? And refer to his work in 'Anything Else'?

[@bkkcedric]

Nicely done! Would be great to see something on Robby Muller when you get a chance...

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, sure!

[@MOABeats92]

Love your videos so much! You should do one on Bill Pope!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, sure!

[@MonsieurPTA]

Thnks! it was pretty awesome! can you do a breakdown for Pedon Pappamichael?

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome, sure he's on the list!

[@noorturk1988]

really interested to understand Bruno Delbonnel, please dissect his work

[@sadetwizelve]

Hero was my introduction to Doyle!

[@Unitedpersona]

it's awsome

[@nicholasxlee]

You should do one on Chung-hoon Chung!

[@Jack_makes808]

Harris Savides next Please Wolfcrow. Great work too!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@Vincentpun]

can you do a video on rodrigo prieto?

[@TheFichoman]

This was great, would you do Yûharu Atsuta or Benoit Debie, they're both amazing

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, I'll add them to the list.

[@michaelaherne453]

Excellent work! May I suggest Robby Muller as a possible future video?

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@mellymel425]

anyone know where the bike scene is from at 3:25?

[@GlenCollinsOfficial]

Hey Wolfcrow, can you do david tattersall please?

[@kwane5241]

are camera movements specific with the cinematographers? if yes then you should definitely talk about them. thanks for all your work!

[@celebritystrudel1923]

k wane I think it varies mainly with the directors preference. For example David Fincher likes all of his shots clinical, composed and still in many cases so his main DP Jeff Cronenweth films primarily with tripods or steadicams. Danny Boyle and Wong Kar Wai utilize a lot more movement and expression so a lot of handheld is dealt with them

[@drcrowlee]

Have you done a video about Roger Deacon? I would love to see that

[@wolfcrow]

Done already, check it out!

[@QUAD00DLE]

This is so great! Thanks or making these videos. Maybe Robby Muller eh?

[@QUAD00DLE]

*for

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@sclogse1]

If I had a cinematographer to recommend for your analysis, it would either be Geoffrey Unsworth, or Jack Cardiff. I mean....really...

[@edbrotherton36]

I was going to suggest Jack Cardiff as well. When I scrolled down to type this I see someone else had already mentioned him.

[@Karolinapersempre]

Could you please enable cc for all of your videos? would be very useful for some people that can't hear what you are saying! keep up the good work!

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks, it's already there.

[@andresduranworeley8712]

How about a video about Timo Salminen. the Aki kaurismäki's cinematographer. You should do a video about him. Please.

[@dvivek2858]

Please describe works of Rogerdeakins and Avinash Arun

[@zacharyantle7940]

Man I hope you don'r get striked like Criswell and Cinematography Database ;_;

[@fastenbulbous]

RIP Fair Use

[@diegoalonso8915]

What movie is it from 1:39 ?

[@Theeditgirl107]

Great work, please next Nestor Almendros

[@wolfcrow]

Thanks!

[@trevorpinnocky]

In terms of cinematography Hero is probably the only martial arts epic I've seen that I would put in the same class as Kurosawa.

[@wolfcrow]

I have to disagree with you there. It's KUROSAWA! :)

[@Kryptonius15]

You could do Wally Pfister and Robby Müller

[@bobunitone]

I like Paranoid Park (If you were knocking on all of his Gus collabs).

[@wolfcrow]

No, only Psycho!

[@raksh9]

Fantastic. I'm a great fan of Christopher's work with Wong Kar Wai, and that 'neon influence' is something I greatly enjoy. 2046 used a lot of close ups and off-centre composition, often shooting from behind an obstruction, which I love. Thanks again. Any chance of a breakdown of Philippe Lesourd's work in The Grandmaster? Similar techniques of lighting, composition and lens obstruction were used in the work he shot for Louis Vuitton. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4HdqaB_jLyYppI theinspirationroom.com/daily/tag/philippe-le-sourd/

[@PawelChyrowski]

Thanks. Maybe Peter Weir next?

[@wolfcrow]

You're welcome!

[@atticmichael]

In my opinion, the work of the cinematographer is mostly centred around Light, lenses and things like that. Where composition, framing, etc. is the work of the director... Wes Anderson worked with different cinematographers, but still, all his films have symmetry. Same thing with David Fincher, but still, his films often share the same framing and camera movements. Even with colours, it's the director who wanted brightly colored neon lights... Doyle didn't "pack his actors in a dark alley"... The director wanted to have this effect, so the cinematographer used the proper lenses to achieve this effect. I just think that we shouldn't give ALL the aesthetic intentions to the cinematographer... Especially when the director is freaking Wong Kar-Wai

[@celebritystrudel1923]

Michael Charron you make a very valid point but a lot of DP’s especially ones with almost 20-30 years in have enough grit in the game to work hand in hand even with heavyweight directors. Roger Deakins who has been The Coen’s mainstay has been credited with coming up with a lot more of the visual style they are known for and sometimes he directs the sets

[@jakewolfert4069]

Literally every one of Wes Anderson’s live action features have been shot by the same DP, Robert Yeoman

[@fatnoodle5057]

Michael Charron shut the fuck up

[@jimadkleas8271]

John Toll, Seamus McGarvey, John Seale

[@VishalHanda]

5:17 movie?

[@Urbanlensman]

pause @ 7:08 - what's that about?

[@Madsterforever]

Next Rodrigo Prieto and Slawomir Idziak

[@henningradlein9089]

Check out this interview with Chris Doyle: 100.arri.com/interviews/filter/search/event/599822cbf0c74b7d49b61f94

[@polo567890]

Benoît Debie next pls

[@TheHamchoitong]

oh i missed the old school of TELECINE !

[@MizzVict0ri]

Brought here by looking at Anthony Bourdain's Twitter. RIP Bourdain

[@wolfcrow]

Can you send me a link?

[@MizzVict0ri]

wolfcrow twitter.com/Bourdain/status/1003274353071546369

[@MizzVict0ri]

wolfcrow kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaquf2dmeryHhrc here's the episode

[@wolfcrow]

Thank you for sharing. What a lovely video.

[@NoPainNoGain200]

Rockstar as they come?

[@sclogse1]

Hope this is seen by a lot of people. Cinamatography Database just got a strike and he's pulled all his videos. Thanks for this insightful video. I make film. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnmap5edbdJsg7s

[@todaywiththeCJB]

Be careful, you're videos may be flagged like Cinematography Database.

[@triviatum7236]

So his cinematograhy technique is as random as his personality.

[@MeAlexSenna]

Not a fan of his work