Nigel Bluck (born 1971) is a New Zealandcinematographer known for his work in feature films and television across New Zealand, Australia and the United States. He made his feature film debut as cinematographer withStickmen (2001) and later worked as a second unit cinematographer onThe Lord of the Rings trilogy.^[2]

He completed his high school education at Dunedin’sLogan Park High School.^[3] Bluck studied cinematography at theAustralian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).^[4] After graduating, he worked in commercial production before transitioning to feature films.^[4]

Bluck's first feature film as director of photography wasStickmen (2001), directed by Hamish Rothwell. The two had previously collaborated on multiple television commercials. The film employed ableach bypass technique during theinterneg stage, a decision Bluck described as bold at the time. Due to Bluck’s relative inexperience, theNew Zealand Film Commission appointed cinematographerAlun BollingerMNZM as the A-camera operator and mentor on the project.^[1]

Early in his career, Bluck worked as a second unit cinematographer onThe Lord of the Rings trilogy. At the time, he had recently completedStickmen, inWellington. His involvement with the project came through a connection with cinematographerAndrew Lesnie, whom he met via his partner, who was working as a camera assistant on the production. Lesnie attended the premiere ofStickmen and offered Bluck the position despite the film containing no visual effects. Bluck later described the experience as a significant learning opportunity, involving nine months of stage work focused on bluescreen lighting and early visual effects techniques.^[5]

Bluck has stated that his work on the Australian filmSon of a Gun contributed to him being hired forTrue Detective. According to Bluck, his agent presented the film to executive producerScott Stephens, who expressed interest after multiple viewings. He noted thatTrue Detective marked his first experience working in television and within a multi-director format. Fitzgerald served as the second unit director of photography on the series.^[3]

InTigertail, Bluck shot the flashback sequences on 16mm to give them a hazy, half-remembered memory look.^[7]

Bluck was awarded Best Cinematography at theSan Sebastian Film Festival for his work onHalf Moon.^[4]

Joyce King Heyraud reviewedHandsome Harry inPsychological Perspectives: A Quarterly Journal of Jungian Thought and stated that "The photography (Nigel Bluck) captures the light and mood reminiscent of American artistEdward Hopper".^[8]

Stephen Holden, in the opening paragraph of hisNew York Times review, wrote that "here, on the edge of the outback, the environment is so luminous that every outdoor shot has an aura of magical realism" in reference toThe Tree (2010), a French-Australian co-production shot by Bluck.^[9][10]

Bluck resides inLos Angeles with his wife, cinematographer Jacueline Fitzgerald, who is originally fromChristchurch, and their son.^[3][11]

2nd unit director of photography

• 2001 -The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• 2002 -The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
• 2003 -The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Additional photographer

• 2004 -In My Father's Den
• 2016 -Deadpool

• Nigel Bluck atIMDb

• 1971 births
• Living people
• New Zealand cinematographers
• Australian Film Television and Radio School alumni

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