James E. Hinton

James E. Hinton (sometimes credited as Jim Hinton) was an American filmmaker and photographer. He was known as a documentarian of the civil rights movement; he worked on more than 70 documentaries as a cinematographer and director; but, Hinton is most especially known for his groundbreaking cinematography on the cult film Ganja & Hess. He founded his own production company—James E. Hinton Enterprises—in 1971. He directed and lensed a number of commercial, industrial, and educational films; a set of films for the National Endowment for the Arts; a set of films for the U.S. Department of Labor; and TV documentaries. Hinton's work was included in the 2025 exhibition Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985 at the National Gallery of Art.

Select filmography

Identity Crisis (1989) (cinematographer, co-producer) Greased Lightning (1977) (associate producer) Ganja & Hess (1973) (cinematographer) Don't Play Us Cheap (1973) (second unit director)