
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 ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
30/03/2026
Manifold Technologies, a Germany-based provider of cloud infrastructure for live broadcast production, will demonstrate support for 400GbE COTS FPGA accelerator...
30/03/2026
Boland Communications will introduce its QD4K315HDR10, a 31.5-inch QD-OLED monitor, at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C3519, April 18-22). The company is also introducing...
30/03/2026
PTZOptics will demonstrate its Move 4K PTZ cameras and Horizon web-based control platform at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N1902).
Move 4K with Horizon is now available...
30/03/2026
Net Insight will demonstrate the next version of Nimbra Edge, its orchestration and control layer for live media services across multi-domain environments, at N...
30/03/2026
Appear ASA will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W1531, April 19-22, Las Vegas). The company completed an IPO in November 2025.
Our customer-first approach is ...
30/03/2026
Harmonic has announced new capabilities for its sports streaming platform, covering multiview, programmatic advertising, in-stream advertising, and content wate...
30/03/2026
Ateme (Booth W1723) will demonstrate broadcast, streaming, and AI-driven media workflow solutions at NAB Show 2026.
GenAI and Agentic AI
Ateme will demonstrat...
30/03/2026
Bitmovin has announced new capabilities for Player Web X, its web video player, ...
30/03/2026
The 2026 NAB Show (April 18-22, exhibits April 19-22, Las Vegas Convention Center) will host Brazil's Minister of Communications, Frederico de Siqueira Filh...
30/03/2026
EVS will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth N1841), highlighting new products and updates across its live production portfolio, including the debut of T-Motion med...
30/03/2026
Solid State Logic will demonstrate its virtualized System T platform at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C6907). Demonstrations will include the VTE1 virtual DSP engine, ne...
30/03/2026
Globecast will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W3335), highlighting its hybrid service model spanning satellite, IP, fiber, and cloud.
The company will demonst...
30/03/2026
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA), and the Video Services Forum (VSF) have announced that the IP Showcase w...
30/03/2026
At NAB Show 2026 BBright will present a demonstration of its One Stream for the World concept, showing how a single ST 2110 playout stream can simultaneously ...
30/03/2026
OpenDrives will demonstrate new products at NAB Show 2026, with two locations in the West Hall: a pod (W3443-E) in the Sports Business Hub and a cabana at W1158...
30/03/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and repo...
30/03/2026
The economics of live sports streaming have changed. New rights models, cloud production tools, and lower-cost distribution have made it possible for high schoo...
30/03/2026
MPE-capable chamber strings library announced
Alongside their collection of Kontakt instruments, Sonora Cinematic have been steadily introducing a series of...
30/03/2026
Latin-inspired percussion instrument announced
Built on a newly developed engine and interface, UJAM's latest instrument has been designed to create Lat...
30/03/2026
Latest Eduardo Tarilonte collaboration announced
The latest library to join Best Service's ever-growing range includes four solo wind instruments that c...
30/03/2026
We want to hear from you!
Complete our SOS Quick Survey and enter the prize draw for a chance to win one of three $50 Amazon vouchers!
Sound On Sound carri...
30/03/2026
CC-330 Husky. 2024 Eric Desbiens Photography.
Used with permission for the announcement and related communications. No residual rights....
30/03/2026
L3Harris Technologies will provide WESCAM CMX -8 sensor systems for integration on new Uncrewed Aircraft Systems from MDA Space, enhancing the Royal Canadian Na...
30/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
30/03/2026
Synamedia today announced that Mileto Tecnologia, one of Brazil's largest pay-TV operators, has chosen the Synamedia Go platform to support its rapid OTT ex...
30/03/2026
FOR-A's Software-Defined, AI-Powered Development Advances with Nippon TV and...
30/03/2026
Give Your Astrophotography REAL Depth - After Effects Tutorial
Graham Quince March 30, 2026
0 Comments
In this tutorial, I talk you through the full w...
30/03/2026
Alfalite returns to NAB Show alongside FOR-A, showcasing LED solutions for broad...
30/03/2026
Introducing WO Aurora WideOrbit is pleased to introduce WO Aurora, a new name fo...
30/03/2026
Sky welcomes Karen Blackett CBE to its DAC and thanks Baroness Prashar and Ndidi Okezie as they step down after five yearsMonday 30 March 2026
Sky announces ch...
30/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Announces the Reunion for Love is Blind: Sweden Season...
30/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix unveils new images from the second season of Gangs of Galicia
Entertainment
30 March 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Do...
30/03/2026
Back to All News
The Latest on Netflix Anime, Unveiled at AnimeJapan 2026
Entertainment
30 March 2026
GlobalJapan
Link copied to clipboard
From romance an...
30/03/2026
Leading Taiwan Broadband Operator Drives Fiber Deeper with Harmonic SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 30, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that KBRO, a lea...
30/03/2026
Tyngsboro, Mass., March 30, 2026 - City councils, county commissions, school boa...
29/03/2026
Cloud-based production, real-time engagement, and creator-driven storytelling ai...
28/03/2026
Now features DiGiCo console integration
Harrison's live recording and virtual soundcheck software has just reached its third major version, which among ...
28/03/2026
MPE-capable chamber strings library announced
Alongside their collection of Kontakt instruments, Sonora Cinematic have been steadily introducing a series of...
28/03/2026
Globecast, the leading provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, will showcase its reimagined approach to media operations at the 2026 NA...
28/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
27/03/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
27/03/2026
Comcast Business deployed network infrastructure for the 2026 PLAYERS Championsh...
27/03/2026
Czech production company CS live has equipped its newest outside broadcast van w...