Oscar-Nominated Cinematography For 'Train Dreams' Powered by ZEISS

Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso has garnered international acclaim, including a Best Cinematography nomination for the 98th Academy Awards, for his work on "Train Dreams," directed by Clint Bentley.

Following its successful premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and subsequent acquisition by Netflix, the film has been praised for its quiet, observational visual language that tracks the 80-year life of a railroad worker in early 20th-century Idaho.

To achieve the film's signature look, Veloso paired the ARRI Alexa 35 with ZEISS Super Speed Mark II lenses, a combination that allowed him to shoot wide open at T1.3 and rely almost exclusively on authentic candlelight, oil lamps, and campfires for the interior sequences.

'Train Dreams' recounts the 80-year life of Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a railroad worker and logger in early 20th century Idaho. The quiet, contemplative film follows Robert through love, loss, and the profound changes of America at the turn of the century. For Veloso, the project resonates on a deeply personal level.

"He's a quiet character who reacts to things in a very similar way that I do, I think." Veloso draws a parallel to life as a cinematographer, reflecting, "He has a crazy life that consists of going away from home to work, staying away for several months with a bunch of people he doesn't know, and then when he goes back home it's hard to reconnect–which is basically our lives."

The cinematographer's approach prioritized creating intimate, observational moments that allow the character's internal life to shine through. "Having an actor like Joel Edgerton who can really play with his body language and his face was amazing. We knew that we didn't have to rely on dialogue or narration all the time," Veloso notes. "We could just grab those moments of Joel doing his thing."

Filming took place across Washington State. For the camera package, Veloso selected the ARRI Alexa 35, "mainly because of its dynamic range." The lens choice proved crucial to achieving the film's contemplative visual language. "We shot Jockey with the Zeiss Super Speed Mark IIs, so we wanted to use those lenses again," Veloso recalls. For the film's interior sequences, the filmmakers chose to rely on Super Speeds as the primary tool. For day exteriors, Kowa Cine Prominars were used along with Angénieux Optimo Zoom for select scenes.

The Super Speeds' capabilities were essential in "Train Dreams'" most emotionally complex scenes. Two pivotal dinner sequences feature Robert Grainier and his wife Gladys. "They're eating and talking inside their cabin, in both scenes," Veloso explains, "but the tone is very different." In the first, optimism and connection fill the frame. "The conversation is positive, they're having fun, they're connected. We wanted warmth around them, so we put candles on the table and around the room so you can see the cabin."

The second dinner unfolds differently. "…there's a misunderstanding between them; they're arguing. We wanted them isolated, more disconnected, so the light was just on them. We let the cabin fall into darkness," he adds.

The ability to work in such minimal light without compromising image quality allowed the production to maintain its commitment to authenticity. This naturalistic approach required perfect synergy between lens, camera, and lighting philosophy. Veloso worked closely with gaffer Kevin Cook and key grip Ryan Fritz, who enhanced the fire and candlelight to be flattering while maintaining its essential character.

Indeed, every flame seen on screen is real. The decision to use actual fire throughout wasn't merely aesthetic–it was fundamental to the film's emotional authenticity. "Everything–candles, campfire, oil lamps, are real. Fire has a color and movement you can't fake," Veloso explains. "Kudos to our focus puller, Nick Kelling, we were wide open most of the time, but we didn't miss a thing."

Working with the Super Speeds at T1.3, Veloso could capture the subtle gradations of candlelight with remarkable precision. "Being able to shoot wide open and still hold a clean, consistent image at 800 ISO made a huge difference."

The results speak for themselves. As the film continues its awards season journey, Veloso's work stands as a testament to the power of thoughtful lens selection and collaborative filmmaking. By pairing the ZEISS Super Speed Mark IIs with the Alexa 35 and maintaining an observational, character-driven approach, Veloso has crafted a visual language that allows the quiet dignity of Robert Grainier's life to resonate across a century.

"Train Dreams" is currently streaming on Netflix worldwide.
Watch Veloso's interview with Zeiss at Camerimage 2025: www.youtube.com/watch?v=41yS5m6UU3E

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