The film is the equivalent of a walk through a cinema museum.  The doc interviews many modern-day directors of photography and they illustrate via examples their best work and the scenes from films that influenced them to pursue their art. 

They discuss their craft and pay homage to the cinema pioneers like Gregg Toland, Billy Bitzer, James Wong Howe and John Alton.  The practitioners also explain the origins behind many of their most indelible images in cinema history. 

Awards

Wins

New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award; Best Documentary; 1993. 
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: BSFC Award Best Documentary; 1993. 
National Society of Film Critics Awards: NSFC Award; Best Documentary; 1994.