Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Season 1 of the Marvel Studios series Loki finds the titular God of Mischief (played by Tom Hiddleston) in the custody of the Time Variance Authority. The organization sets Loki on a timeline-traversing adventure that offered cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC, director Kate Herron and their collaborators the opportunity to craft a richly textured look across the seasons six episodes. Durald Arkapaw's work on the series, which streams on Disney+, earned the cinematographer a Primetime Emmy nomination (for Episode 3, Lamentis ).
Durald Arkapaw worked with Panavision Atlanta to assemble a camera and lens package that included modified T Series anamorphic optics and a Panavised Sony Venice camera. Here, the cinematographer discusses how she approached the show's visual style, the inspirations she and her collaborators shared, and what initially sparked her interest in pursuing a career behind the camera.
Panavision: How would you describe the look of the series?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC: We wanted the visuals in the series to stand out, to have a voice. This was a new platform for Marvel and a new environment for Loki to inhabit and explore. The design needed to be as bold as the character.
I approach each project as if I were shooting on film, and its important to me that the lighting is also a character. I'm always trying my best to make the image feel textured, nostalgic and cinematic. I appreciate a more vintage look, and with Loki that was already built into the story.
Were there any particular visual references you looked at for inspiration?
Durald Arkapaw: Our director, Kate Herron, and I had a deep appreciation for Zodiac, Seven, Blade Runner and Brazil. All of these films have a very distinct visual style and mood. We set out from beginning to do the same with Loki to make strong visual choices in each episode and take the audience on a journey with our characters as they searched for answers. Much like our references had done, we also wanted to build tension with framing and have characters playing in the shadows.
What brought you to Panavision for this project?
Durald Arkapaw: I've worked with Panavision my entire career, so there was no doubt that I wanted to shoot Loki on Panavision anamorphic. Kate also appreciated the wider field of view to tell our story.
Throughout the years, Panavision has been a huge part of my creative process, and I adore everyone I work with there. [Marketing executive] Mike Carter and [senior vice president of optical engineering and lens strategy] Dan Sasaki were amazing in supporting our long show with our difficult shooting schedule and the new challenges we all faced in production in 2020.
What were you looking for in terms of optical characteristics that drew you to a modified set of T Series lenses?
Durald Arkapaw: I react emotionally to lens characteristics, so it's very important to me that my choices aid in telling the story. The first thing I do on any project is obsess about and choose the lenses. I believe that is the first creative choice I make that the audience will inherently feel.
When working with Dan Sasaki on the characteristics for our set, I gave him the original Blade Runner and The Yards as references. Dan knows my deep love for anamorphic and how much I appreciate all the elements that go into making and modifying those lenses. It's always amazing collaborating with him and having him be a part of the creative process.
How did Loki differ from other projects in your career?
Durald Arkapaw: This project was one of the most creatively rewarding experiences. Kate and our producer Kevin Wright did an amazing job of putting together a beautiful team of filmmakers that shared the same sense of taste and passion for storytelling. Having Marvel's support from the beginning and being able to collaborate on this level of project was very satisfying. Having the trust of the filmmakers around you makes for the best creative environment and overall film.
What inspired you to become a cinematographer and what keeps you inspired today?
Durald Arkapaw: I went to undergrad at Loyola Marymount University for art history. After taking a film-genre course, where we watched and wrote papers on Raging Bull and Broadway Danny Rose, I started to research what a cinematographer was. I already had a background in photography and made short films about my friends on the weekends. I looked up who shot one of my favorite films, Blow, and I saw that a woman named Ellen Kuras [ASC] shot it. After that, I was inspired and determined to learn this craft. Learning about Ellen and her work made a big impact on me pursuing a career in cinematography. That was a big inspiration early on, that women were rare in this field and that I had a unique voice to contribute.
Today I am constantly inspired by my friends and colleagues. It's rewarding when I can be a part of work that resonates with people and is affecting. I've recently enjoyed working hand in hand with the VFX department. It's been fun collaborating with like-minded creatives who are driven by making the work better and solving problems. That's a very gratifying place to be when you're telling big stories with lots of moving parts.
Everyone's life experience is so faceted and subjective; that plays such a huge role in how you photograph a story. I believe you bring your life experience into every decision you make as a DP, from lens choice to how you light a scene. Your personal taste and background are ultimately infused into the work.
Images courtesy of Marvel Studios.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Multiview available via SaaS for streaming platforms and operators through broadpeak.io, with live demonstrations at IBC2026
Broadpeak , a leader in streaming ...
20/08/2026
Techex, a leading provider of live broadcast infrastructure solutions, has appointed Stuart Almond as Chief Revenue Officer, further strengthening its executive...
20/08/2026
Avid today announced that MediaCity Studios has upgraded its production infrastructure with an enhanced end-to-end Avid production ecosystem, including the dep...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
20/08/2026
It's a new way into the cloud.
GeForce NOW welcomes Firefox support to the cloud, opening up another way to jump into high-performance PC gaming straight ...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Season 1 of the Marvel Studios series Loki finds the titular God of Mischief (played by Tom Hiddleston) in the custody of the Time Variance Authority. The organization sets Loki on a timeline-traversing adventure that offered cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC, director Kate Herron and their collaborators the opportunity to craft a richly textured look across the seasons six episodes. Durald Arkapaw's work on the series, which streams on Disney+, earned the cinematographer a Primetime Emmy nomination (for Episode 3, Lamentis ).
