Rodrigo Prieto

  Rodrigo Prieto has worked as a cinematographer on a number of films, both Spanish and American, including We Bought a Zoo, Water for Elephants, Brokeback Mountain, and 8 Mile. The most noticeable and consistent feature in Prieto's work is his use of light and shadow, shallow depth of field, the use of texture, and color. Pools of light flood certain areas of the frame while shadows create contrast. For example in 8 Mile,  a large portion of Jimmy's face is often times lit while the edges of his body and the rest of the frame is filled with shadow. Low key lighting is prominent in several of Prieto's films. Shallow depth of field exists throughout many of the cinematographer's work as well. It is seen mostly in close ups in Water for Elephants, 8 Mile, and Brokeback Mountain. This technique puts us as audience members closer to the characters and in their heads and worlds. Texture comes into play with the use of fog and gives Prieto's images a gritty, realistic feel. In almost every film of Prieto's that I have seen has fog to create texture. The best examples of Prieto's color grading is seen in Brokeback Mountain, We Bought a Zoo, and Water for Elephants. In Brokeback Mountain, blues and greens are dominant creating a cool, yet almost sad at times, tone. We Bought a Zoo has lots teal and yellow as well as green, perfectly fitting the outdoor and nature settings. Water for Elephants is washed in reds, browns, and yellows, adding to the flashback/antique nature and tone/feel to the film. All of the above characteristics of Rodrigo Prieto's work is what makes him one of my personal favorite cinematographers, as well as arguably one of the best modern cinematographers in the industry.