Robert Elswit Robert Christopher Elswit is an Academy Award - winning cinematographer who , very early in his career , was a visual effects photography on as a member of Apogee , Inc . . He attended the University of California , Los Angeles ( UCLA ) , the University of Southern California , and the American Film Institute , graduating from the latter in 1977 . After " Star Trek " , Elswit left Apogee and joined Industrial Light & Magic as an effects camera operator . During his time at ILM , he photographed effects for " Star Wars : Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back " , " Raiders of the Lost Ark " , " Poltergeist " , " E . T . the Extra - Terrestrial " and " Star Wars : Episode VI - Return of the Jedi " . Elswit ultimately became a full - fledged cinematographer . Some of his early cinematography credits include ' s " The Sure Thing " , ' s " Moving Violations " ( featuring Sally Kellerman ) , and ' s " Desert Hearts " ( starring Denise Crosby ) – all released in 1985 . The following year , he received a Daytime Emmy Award for the " CBS Schoolbreak Special " entitled " The War Between the Classes " . For director , Elswit photographed the 1986 TV movie " The Children of Times Square " ( starring Joanna Cassidy ) and the films " Bad Influence " , " The Hand That Rocks the Cradle " ( starring Matt McCoy and John de Lancie ) and " The River Wild " ( featuring William Lucking and Glenn Morshower ) . In addition , he photographed three projects starring Virginia Madsen and directed by Martin Davidson : the 1987 TV movie " Long Gone " , the 1989 film " Heart of Dixie " ( also featuring Barbara Babcock , Kurtwood Smith , and Tom Wright ) , and 1992 ' s " A Murderous Affair : The Carolyn Warmus Story " ( co - starring Chris Sarandon , Bruce Gray , Lenore Kasdorf , and s Robert Picardo ) . In 1995 , Elswit lensed the independent thriller " Hard Eight " ( aka " Sydney " ) for director . Elswit ' s work in this film ultimately earned him a nomination from the Independent Spirit Awards for Best Cinematography . Elswit later worked with Anderson on several more films , including " Boogie Nights " , " Magnolia " and " Punch - Drunk Love " . Elswit ' s other credits include : the eighteenth James Bond film , " Tomorrow Never Dies " ( starring Teri Hatcher ) ; the thriller " 8MM " ; ' s " Heist " ; the infamous " Gigli " ; and the 2003 drama " Runaway Jury " , which features the likes of Bruce Davison , Bruce McGill , and Leland Orser . He also photographed the acclaimed 2005 drama " Syriana " , whose cast includes Alexander Siddig , Christopher Plummer , and Robert Foxworth . In 2005 , Elswit reunited with " Syriana " star to shoot the historical drama " Good Night , and Good Luck . " , which Clooney also directed . Elswit ' s work on this film earned him numerous accolades , including an Academy Award nomination . He also won Best Cinematography prizes from the Independent Spirit Awards , the Boston Society of Film Critics , and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association . Elswit again re - teamed with Clooney for 2007 ' s " Michael Clayton " , while Elswit ' s cinematography on the film " There Will Be Blood " has earned him a second Academy Award nomination and his first win . More recent films include David Mamet ' s " Redbelt " and Tony Gilroy ' s " Duplicity " .