Inspired by real events, the Apple TV+ limited series Black Bird tells the story of Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), who, in exchange for early release from his 10-year prison sentence, agrees to be placed in a maximum-security prison where he's tasked with eliciting a confession from suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser). The heart of this story is a character study that dives deep into a complex examination of misogyny and the spectrum of evil that lies within humanity, says cinematographer Natalie Kingston, who photographed all six episodes. My goal for the cinematography was to create a darkly textured and viscerally unnerving feeling to this underground prison world.
Kingston worked with Panavision New Orleans to assemble a camera and lens package that included Panavision H Series optics and a Panavised Alexa Mini LF camera. Panavision recently caught up with Kingston to discuss her work on the show, which began streaming on July 8.
Panavision: How would you describe the look of Black Bird?
Natalie Kingston: Much of the series is centered around the disturbingly intimate relationship between the two main characters, Jimmy Keene and Larry Hall. We spend a large amount of time inside their conversations, which take place within the confines of a jail where they are physically unable to escape. I wanted the audience to feel uncomfortably immersed in that space where Jimmy grows to confront his own demons. Large format's wide field of view was a tool that helped create that visual metaphor. That format paired with a 2:1 aspect ratio allowed me to frame the characters in a way that felt vast and expansive, where the viewer feels every subtle, nuanced expression.
The lighting was always rooted in naturalism but shaped and sculpted in a way that aimed to enhance the tension and disturbing nature of the story. The prison gets darker and more unsettling as the series progresses, as does the inmates' relationship. I tried to maintain rich contrast with a subdued color palette that would transport you to this gritty, haunting world.
Were there any visual references you looked at for inspiration?
Kingston: My main visual reference was Gordon Parks' 1957 photo essay, The Atmosphere of Crime. I was extremely inspired by the rich, pastel-like palette of the photos. The vivid contrast and striking compositions Parks created really resonated with me. The way he used available light felt considered but expressive. These were all elements that I wanted to infuse into Black Bird.
What brought you to Panavision for this project?
Kingston: I've been working with Panavision since the beginning of my career. They have supported me and my projects, large and small, throughout the years, so there was no question that I would work with them on Black Bird.
What optical characteristics did you see in the H Series lenses that make them the right match for Black Bird?
Kingston: Before I even tested lenses, I had a strong feeling that the H Series would be the ones I'd use to shoot this project. I had used them before on a handful of commercials and fell in love with them. There's a subdued feeling to the color palette, like that pastel-like quality that I was after. There's also a slightly textured feel with a soft roll-off that is very filmic and appropriate for this story set in the 1990s.
How did Black Bird differ from other projects in your career?
Kingston: This was my first television project, and I shot all six episodes. It was a new challenge for me, and I felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to create and maintain the look of an entire series. Up until that point, I had shot independent features and commercials, so it was the longest shoot I had done, with the most resources.
What inspired you to become a cinematographer and what keeps you inspired today?
Kingston: My infatuation with the camera began when I was around 10 years old. I would check out stage-play books from the library and turn them into little movies that I'd shoot with my parents' VHS home video camera. The idea of telling stories with a camera stuck with me. Even though at the time I didn't know what a cinematographer was, I think that was the first seed planted that ultimately led me down this path.
I'm always so energized with every new project as it's a new opportunity to create a visual language for a world that's never existed before. The possibilities are endless. Looking at still photography is a big source of inspiration for me. I also draw a lot from the mundaneness of everyday life. There's so much visual magic in it if you just sit with it and observe.
Images courtesy of Apple TV+.
Watch a conversation with Natalie Kingston here: The Making of Black Bird
Europe Stories
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
22/12/2025
For a decade, popular German podcast Fest & Flauschig has hosted an annual Chris...
22/12/2025
Monday 22 December 2025
Sky extends PGA TOUR partnership until 2029, as Sky Spo...
22/12/2025
Siobh n McSweeney, Rory McIlroy, Elon Musk, Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin, Ivan Yates and Traitor Paudie Moloney lead new characters for Callan Kicks the Year 2...
22/12/2025
Winner announced in the picturesque surroundings of Wicklow's Avondale Tower and Treetop Walk
Andrew Trimble wins the show in his first series as coach
Th...
22/12/2025
The 2025 winners have been announced today, Sunday 21 December, for Ireland's largest choral competition Choirs for Christmas hosted by RT lyric fm.
Ove...
21/12/2025
John Shortt named Young Sportsperson of the Year Kerry are the Team of the Year
...
19/12/2025
With Playout Release 2025.4, ToolsOnAir continues to push professional playout w...
19/12/2025
19 Dec 2025
VEON's Mobilink Microfinance Bank Launches Islamic Banking Oper...
19/12/2025
The six-part drama, set in a close-knit Welsh town fractured by an unspeakable c...
19/12/2025
Rohde & Schwarz drives the future of mobility at CES 2026 At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Rohde & Schwarz will present a powerful lineup o...
19/12/2025
RT is proud to return to the RDS to support the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & T...
18/12/2025
Canada's largest indoor arena has transformed its live production capabilities with a full ST 2110 infrastructure and Calrec's compact Argo S console. S...
18/12/2025
Long-term agreement includes the SES SCORE platform and hybrid distribution worldwide to deliver more than 5,000 hours of golf tournaments annually featuring th...
18/12/2025
18 Dec 2025
VEON Upgraded to Nasdaq Global Select Market, Enhancing Investor Visibility Dubai, December 18, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital o...
18/12/2025
Thursday 18 December 2025
Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the Masters ...
18/12/2025
Using the additive process of 3D printing, layer after layer gets printed until an object is as close to the final shape needed as possible. Historically, machi...
18/12/2025
In 2025, RT proudly supported 185 arts and cultural events across the island of Ireland, reflecting significant growth since the scheme was re-launched in 2014...
18/12/2025
RT Sports Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
18/12/2025
RT lyric fm presents a very special Winter Solstice edition of Ambient Orbit, l...
18/12/2025
At 7.45pm on 1st January 1926, the precursor to RT , then 2RN, delivered the fledgling new Irish state's first public radio transmission. From those first c...
18/12/2025
December 18 2025, 05:30 (PST) The Movie Experience SLO Becomes First U.S. Exhib...
17/12/2025
Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...
17/12/2025
The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...
17/12/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...
17/12/2025
Wuppertal December 17, 2025
Riedel Builds Global Communication and Commentary ...
17/12/2025
December 17 2025, 17:00 (PST) Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With ...
17/12/2025
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...
17/12/2025
RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...
17/12/2025
With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...
16/12/2025
Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...
16/12/2025
Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...
16/12/2025
2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...
16/12/2025
16 Dec 2025
VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...
16/12/2025
Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...
16/12/2025
RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December.
On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...
16/12/2025
Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...
15/12/2025
Cape Town, November 13, 2025 - SES and International artist and humanitarian, Fo...
15/12/2025
Luxembourg, December 15, 2025 - SES, a leading space solutions company, and Abra Group launched fast and reliable multi-orbit inflight connectivity service on t...
15/12/2025
15 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Delivers First Starlink Direct to Cel...
15/12/2025
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes
Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...
15/12/2025
Comscore Expands Cross-Platform Campaign Measurement to Include Audio and Social New capabilities strengthen cross-platform campaign reporting suite; CCR rebran...
15/12/2025
RT .ie has reached one billion page views this year and is on track to finish 2025 2% ahead of last year. Average time spent on the site is up 3% on 2024, with ...
12/12/2025
Last month, Spotify announced a new collaboration with the ATP Tour, the global governing body of men's professional tennis, aimed at bringing the next gene...
12/12/2025
Friday 12 December 2025
Ted is back! Seth MacFarlane's live-action comedic ...
12/12/2025
Uachtar n na h ireann, Catherine Connolly visited RT Raidi na Gaeltachta's...
12/12/2025
Ireland AM host Eric Roberts has been revealed as the sixth contestant taking to...
Inspired by real events, the Apple TV+ limited series Black Bird tells the story of Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), who, in exchange for early release from his 10-year prison sentence, agrees to be placed in a maximum-security prison where he's tasked with eliciting a confession from suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser). The heart of this story is a character study that dives deep into a complex examination of misogyny and the spectrum of evil that lies within humanity, says cinematographer Natalie Kingston, who photographed all six episodes. My goal for the cinematography was to create a darkly textured and viscerally unnerving feeling to this underground prison world. 
