Jeff Cronenweth

Jeffrey Scott Cronenweth, (born January 14, 1962) is an American cinematographer known for his work in music videos and his collaborations with filmmaker David Fincher. He has received nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Born in Los Angeles, California, and son of the influential cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth, he studied at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He worked in music videos before transitioning to film with his debut being the David Fincher film Fight Club (1999). He went on to collaborate with him on three more films The Social Network (2010), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and Gone Girl (2014), the former two earning him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. He has also worked with filmmakers Kathryn Bigelow, Joseph Kosinski and Aaron Sorkin.

On television, he directed an episode of the science fiction series Tales from the Loop for which he was Primetime Emmy Award nominated. He has directed numerous music videos for artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Alanis Morissette, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga. He won an MTV Video Music Award for Macy Gray: Do Something (2000).

Early life and education Born in Los Angeles, California, and son of the influential cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth, he graduated at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Jeff Cronenweth started working with his father as a camera loader/2nd assistant camera while in high-school. He then worked as 1st assistant camera and camera operator until the mid-1990s.

Career He was able to work as director of photography for the first time in David Fincher's Fight Club. After working again with Fincher in three more projects, Cronenweth earned two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Style and recognition Cronenweth is known for his use of light (or the absence thereof) and composition to elegantly weave a visual language throughout a story as shown in his work on Fight Club, The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Gone Girl and including many of the iconic music videos and commercials he has photographed. On filming Fight Club, Cronenweth stated: "Whether we were inside or outside, we always wanted to embrace depth of field or the lack of as a key story telling element in guiding an audiences focus on what we wanted them to embrace."

In addition, Jeff and his brother Tim (known as "The Cronenweths") have worked as a director/DP team, doing numerous commercials and music videos in and out of Los Angeles. In 2004, he was invited to join the cinematographers branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Filmography Film

Short film Year Title Director 2025 Brighter Days Ahead Christian Breslauer and Ariana Grande

Television Year Title Director Note 2020 Tales from the Loop Mark Romanek Episode: "Loop"

Music video

Awards and nominations Organizations Year Category Work Result Academy Awards 2010Best Cinematography The Social Network 2011 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo American Society of Cinematographers 2010Outstanding Cinematography The Social Network 2011 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2026 Outstanding Cinematography in Music Video "Supernatural" BAFTA Awards 2011 Best Cinematography The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Chicago Film Critics Association 2010 Best CinematographyThe Social Network MTV Video Music Awards 1997 Best Cinematography in a Video Eels: Novocaine for the Soul Nine Inch Nails: The Perfect Drug 2000 Macy Gray: Do Something 2004 Christina Aguilera: The Voice Within No Doubt: It's My Life 2021 Lady Gaga: 911 2025 Ariana Grande: Brighter Days Ahead Primetime Emmy Awards 2020 Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour) Tales from the Loop San Diego Film Critics Society 2014 Best CinematographyGone Girl Satellite Award 2014 Best Cinematography St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association 2011 Best Cinematography The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2014 Gone Girl Washington D.C. Film Critics Association 2010 Best Cinematography The Social Network