Deakins has done one James Bond film, and he made it count, working with director Sam Mendes to create some of the most dazzling action set pieces in the franchise’s history (the fight in the skyscraper! The mansion on fire!) as well as images of natural beauty, as seen above. The cinematography was a major component of what made the film the most successful Bond entry yet, but it wasn’t quite enough to take down the cinematography Oscar winner that year, Claudio Miranda for Life of Pi.