Photography Heroes

Kate Bishop

Donald McAlpine

McALpine is an Australian cinematographer who shot some of the films

that raised Australias movie industry to worldwide prominence.
The cinematographer has exhibited a range of techniques and style
through his films.
This is exemplified through comparisons between sci-fi movies such as
X-men andNarnia or the works of Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!
and Romeo and Juliet). The latter two have prominent colour coordination, highlighting the setting and plot.
This is further emphasised by his common use of colour-enhancing
film.
His shots also utilise props to intensify the atmosphere and frame the
shot.
The speed of the shot, depth of field and camera angle add focus
amongst the chaos, also providing such a dramatising effect.
These techniques make McAlpines film scenes each an artwork of
corresponding features.

Robbie Ryan
Born and raised in Ireland, Robbie decided to become a
cinematographer at 14 after beginning to make short films
with his fathers Kodak S8.
His work ranges from music videos and commercials to
feature films (such as Fish Tank and Catch Me Daddy).
He depicts everyday scenes, subtly altering them to capture
you. For example, creating a glaze of lighting to illustrate
the mood of the character or quietly coordinating colours.
Ryan shows a trend of using films with quite a raw
aesthetic, adding a more realistic feel.
Many of his shots focus on one figure.
Therefore, Robbie Ryans style is more realistic with hints of
crafted beauty. This opposes McAlpines more fantastical,
over-the-top style.

Dennis Hopper

Dennis Hopper not only starred in many pinnacle films of

Hollywood history but captured a time of great social and
political change through his photography.
The Hells Angels, Hippies, the street life of Harlem, the Civil
Rights movement and the urban landscapes of East and West
coast America, as well as some of the biggest stars of our time
all were captured by Hopper.
Working in black and white film, the images display everything
from portraits and landscapes to textures and patterns. It
seems that this is the result of Hoppers casual attitude
towards photography, capturing the life around him as he
pleased.
Because of the lack of colour, the use of shadow and light is
made more obvious, as well as other compositional techniques.