Guide to the Cinematography of Vikings Season 5 Who Shot Season 5? Vikings Season 5 (2017–2018) was primarily shot by two directors of photography:

Peter Robertson (main cinematographer for the majority of episodes) Suzy Lavelle (key cinematographer for several episodes, especially those directed by Ciaran Donnelly)

Both worked under the overall visual direction of series creator Michael Hirst and the production’s consistent post-production color grading team. Visual Style & Philosophy Season 5 marks a tonal shift: the civil war between the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok (Ivar, Bjorn, Hvitserk, Sigurd) demands a grittier, more chaotic, and emotionally fractured look compared to earlier seasons. Key characteristics:

Increased contrast: Shadows are deeper, mimicking the moral ambiguity of the characters. Desaturated color palette: Blues, greys, and muted browns dominate, with occasional bursts of blood red or fire orange. Handheld intensity: Much of the battle footage uses shaky, intimate camera work to place the viewer inside the shield wall.

Signature Techniques & Equipment 1. Natural & Practical Light (Pushed to Extremes)

Day interiors: Scenes in Great Halls often use only firelight, smoke, and shafts of daylight through doorways. Underexposure is common. Night exteriors: Moonlight is simulated with large HMIs bounced off muslin, but Robertson/Lavelle deliberately let shadows swallow faces to heighten paranoia.

2. Lens Choices

Wide-angle anamorphic lenses (most likely Cooke S4 or similar): Used for battle formations, landscape shots of Kattegat, and moments of character isolation. Long lenses (135mm+): For Ivar’s emotional breakdowns – shallow depth of field makes the background abstract, trapping the viewer in his fractured mind.

3. Camera Movement

Dolly & Steadicam for strategy scenes: When Bjorn or Lagertha plans, the camera glides slowly. Handheld for violence: During raids or battles, the camera lurches, stumbles, and reframes wildly – mimicking a soldier’s panic. Snap zooms (rare but used): To emphasize a sudden realization or a death blow.

Episode Spotlight: Key Cinematographic Moments Episode 5.1 – “The Departed” (Dir. Ciaran Donnelly, DP: Suzy Lavelle)

Opening sequence: The funeral pyre. Lavelle uses extreme backlight and smoke to turn flames into a hazy, dreamlike curtain. Ragnar’s ghost appears in soft focus – a deliberate shift from the show’s typical sharpness. Ivar’s entrance: Low-angle wide shot with Ivar framed against a stormy sky, making his small chariot feel monumental.