Nomadland Cinematographer Joshua James Richards Reflects on His Favorite Film Shots

The beauty of Nomadland rests in the hands of its direction by Chloe Zhao and its gorgeous camera work by Joshua James Richards. Some of the best work in 2021 has been delivered by young, consummate professionals, who are speaking volumes to the future of cinema and where its heading. From vibrant colors to emotional

The beauty of “Nomadland” rests in the hands of its direction by Chloe Zhao and its gorgeous camera work by Joshua James Richards.

Some of the best work in 2021 has been delivered by young, consummate professionals, who are speaking volumes to the future of cinema and where it’s heading. From vibrant colors to emotional lighting, there seems to be a chemical reaction to how a filmmaker and director of photography challenge and explore each other’s artistry. Reflecting on Richards’ previous works may seem premature for someone who has only shot four feature films thus far, but hearing the symbolism and connection he has to each of the frames shows what we could be in store for the near future.

“Nomadland,” which tells the story of Fern, a woman who decides to live as a van-dwelling nomad during the Great Recession, has been not only revered by critics and audiences but has been solidified as the frontrunner for best picture at the upcoming Oscars, where it’s nominated for six total awards — including director, adapted screenplay, editing (all for Chloé Zhao), actress (for Frances McDormand) and cinematography. It’s also nominated for seven BAFTA awards. The film has won over three dozen critics awards for best picture and Richards has been the leading winner of cinematography prizes this year.

At the Oscars, he’ll be going up against some big names in the business, including Sean Bobbitt (“Judas and the Black Messiah”), Erik Messerschmidt (“Mank”), Phedon Papamichael (“The Trial of the Chicago 7”) and Dariusz Wolski (“News of the World”).

“Nomadland” is his fourth feature film following “Songs My Brothers Taught Me” (2015), “God’s Own Country” (2017) and “The Rider” (2017). In his lates film, he elevated the tender and intimate story to new heights, further bringing more notoriety to the awards season steamroller from Searchlight Pictures.

Here are Richards’ favorite shots from his four features so far, and his thoughts on those memorable moments and how they shaped his approach to cinema.

  • Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)

    Director: Chloé Zhao
    Writer: Chloé Zhao
    Stars: John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Irene Bedard

    Synopsis: The film is centered around a young native man named Johnny and his life on the reservation known as Pine Ridge. He is torn between leaving his hometown where his mother, incarcerated brother and younger sister Jasuana live in order to be with his high school sweetheart, who is leaving after graduation to start college in L.A. Aside from caring for his little sister, Johnny doesn’t have a lot to leave behind in this oppressive small town.

    “Collective trauma, felt on reservations across the country, is particularly palpable on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where we shot “Songs My Brothers Taught Me.” Here, the great and beautiful Irene Bedard mourns her estranged ex-husband with her back to the church (a symbol of colonization) whilst her children look on, unable to relieve her grief or express their own. A scene like this might call for a softer or more nostalgic lighting approach. However, we decided to embrace the ‘ordinariness’ of funerals in this part of the world.”

  • God’s Own Country (2017)

    Director: Francis Lee
    Writer: Francis Lee
    Stars: Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu, Gemma Jones

    Synopsis: Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path.

    “Johnny Saxby and Gheorghe Ionescu walk through a controlled burn on the Yorkshire Moors. Before shooting, director Francis Lee and I discussed how to create a moment the boys move through, taking the audience into a different emotional space.”

  • The Rider (2017)

    Director: Chloé Zhao
    Writer: Chloé Zhao
    Stars: Brady Jandreau, Mooney, Tim Jandreau

    Synopsis: After suffering a near-fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for a new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

    “This 40-minute take, shortened in the cut, was never meant to happen. We were setting up a driving shot whilst Brady discovered this completely wild horse. Chloé decided to abandon the shot and shoot this moment, which would become one of the most important scenes in the film as humans and animals form a bond in front of our eyes. It is everything I love about making movies.”

  • Nomadland (2020)

    Director: Chloé Zhao
    Writers: Chloé Zhao (based on the book by Jessica Bruder)
    Stars: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie

    Synopsis: After losing everything in the Great Recession, a woman embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

    “This shot was one of the first images I had in my head: this lone woman carrying a little camping lamp through the Badlands back to her trusty van. It speaks to the sublimity of nature and the fragility of this woman. These shots came from many takes following Fern through various terrains. The camerawork invoked Fern’s transience, always drifting and moving forward with her.”

  • Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)

    Director: Chloé Zhao
    Writer: Chloé Zhao
    Stars: John Reddy, Jashaun St. John, Irene Bedard

    Synopsis: The film is centered around a young native man named Johnny and his life on the reservation known as Pine Ridge. He is torn between leaving his hometown where his mother, incarcerated brother, and younger sister Jasuana live in order to be with his high school sweetheart, who is leaving after graduation to start college in L.A. Aside from caring for his little sister, Johnny hasn’t a lot to leave behind in this oppressive small town.

    “During shooting, our lead, Jashaun St. John, suffered a terrible tragedy when her grandfather’s family home burned down in an accident. Here, we captured the moment of her grieving amidst the ruins. This was a hard scene to shoot, but one Jashaun bravely insisted she wanted to do. It was a humbling moment I will not forget.”

  • The Rider (2017)

    Director: Chloé Zhao
    Writer: Chloé Zhao
    Stars: Brady Jandreau, Mooney, Tim Jandreau

    Synopsis: After suffering a near-fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for a new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America.

    “Working with Lane Scott and capturing his friendship with Brady on camera was one of the joys of my career. Lane taught me what courage really means.”

  • Nomadland (2020)

    Director: Chloé Zhao
    Writers: Chloé Zhao (based on the book by Jessica Bruder)
    Stars: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie

    Synopsis: After losing everything in the Great Recession, a woman embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

    “Frances McDormand looks so beautiful in these shots. It was also a welcome time for the crew to relax and refresh. I was barefoot, handheld and finding moments. It was about exploring Fern’s physicality and femininity and capturing the power of that. When she floats in the water, she is divorced from her ego; she becomes part of the environment. Chloé used these shots in a remarkable way. For me, they are as profound and powerful as any in the movie.”

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