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Bradford Young
FilmmakerKnown for:
Oscar-nominated cinematographer and lens designer with a naturalistic, available-light approach
Education:
Howard University
Bradford Young is an American cinematographer who in 2017 became the first African-American nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, for his work on Denis Villeneuve's Arrival. He studied film at Howard University under Ethiopian filmmaker Haile Gerima, with early influences from painters Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence. His credits include Selma, A Most Violent Year, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and the Netflix series When They See Us. He co-founded TRIBE7, which produces the BLACKWING7 line of tunable cinema prime lenses.
Gear & Materials(6)
ARRI/Zeiss
Connection note
Entire A Most Violent Year shot with just three focal lengths (35/50/75mm)
High-end anamorphic cinema primes with controlled flare and bokeh characteristics.
Hawk/Vantage
Connection note
Anamorphic lenses on
Selma (2014); described as "very aggressive"
Front-anamorphic cinema lenses with organic flares and distinctive bokeh.
Cooke
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Last updated March 18, 2026