Poland’s Camerimage is the preeminent global cinematography event, and its 24th festival last month was pretty much dominated by ARRI cameras. More than three-quarters of the films in competition were shot with ARRI products; the top prize winner was cinematographer Greig Fraser, who filmed Garth Davis’s Lion with Alexa XTs. ARRI shooters took the second and third prizes as well—​Bradford Young for Denis Villeneuve's Arrival and Anthony Dod Mantle for Oliver Stone’s Snowden, both of whom used the Alexa system.

ARRI has now released an extended version of the reel that they showed at Camerimage, which highlights some of the best High Dynamic Range (HDR) footage captured since the company’s Alexa system launched in 2010. Although HDR is only recently becoming commercially available as a viewing format, ARRI claims that all images captured with Alexa since its launch are “technically HDR, and can easily be prepared for HDR delivery by undertaking an HDR color grade of the original ARRIRAW or Log C material.”

Cinematographers are enamored with HDR’s ability to display more vivid colors, highlights, and richer shadows. Though the video provides no details about which cameras shot which scenes, its stunning landscapes, detailed actions, low-light interiors, glamorous product shots, and cinematic close-ups make us want to get out in the field and create gorgeous images immediately.

Do you shoot with any of the ARRI cameras? What do you find are their pros and cons?

camerimageARRIalexahdrhigh dynamic range
Cinematography & Cameras