They're the unsung heroes of any film shoot. Heading into awards season, The Hollywood Reporter's Carolyn Giardina and Matthew Belloni gathered six of the top cinematographers in the business -- Dion Beebe ("Nine"), Roger Deakins ("A Serious Man"), Greig Fraser ("Bright Star"), Stephen Goldblatt ("Julie & Julia"), International Cinematographers Guild president Steven Poster ("The Box") and Eric Steelberg ("(500) Days of Summer," "Up in the Air") -- to talk shop.

The Hollywood Reporter: How do you define great cinematography?

Roger Deakins: I'm open to suggestions! (Laughs.) No. If it tells a story. If it's a seamless mix with all the other elements of the film. I've got this thing against images that strike you as being wonderful for their own sake.

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