Robert Elswit

A long time director of photography who had his start filming optical effects, Robert Elswit made his name being the personal cinematographer for director Paul Thomas Anderson. Having shot all of the young director's films thus far, Elswit created his most challenging work and earned his highest praise shooting "Boogie Nights" (1997), "Magnolia" (1999) and "Punch Drunk Love" (2002). Outside of working with Anderson, he was no less successful, creating unforgettable camera work on "Syriana" (2005) and the black-and-white "Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005). Though not as well known as Roger Deakins or Janusz Kaminski, Elswit nonetheless was considered to be in the upper tier of cinematographers, thanks in large part to his Academy Award-winning work on Anderson's sprawling western, "There Will Be Blood" (2007).