Color As A Cinematographer

A cinematographer understanding coloring at a colorist level will only elevate their artists and help ensure that the creative intent and visual integrity of the final image are fully realized. Color grading is not just a technical step after production, it’s an extension of the cinematographer’s storytelling. By understanding how colorists manipulate contrast, saturation, hue, and luminance, a cinematographer can make more informed choices on set regarding lighting, camera settings, lens filtration, and exposure that translate effectively into post-production.

If I'm coloring other cinematographer’s work, I'm staying true to the intent of the cinematographer because I understand how important that truth is. I also understand post workflow pipelines that help me anticipate how the image will respond to different color spaces, dynamic ranges, and looks in various deliverables (theatrical, streaming, HDR, etc.). Ultimately, a strong grasp of color grading principles helps me as a cinematographer to design images that hold their emotional tone and visual consistency from camera to final master, and I want to help other cinematographers that may not have a strong sense of post color processes.