In a grand journey through time it would be easy to lose sight of the main character. The brief to the cinematographer was to create a sense of grandeur without losing a feeling of intimacy. CG was used to turn back the clock but it had to be just a backdrop to the human being at the centre of the story. The cinematography needed a feeling of simple portraiture to elevate the humble hero in an unpretentious way. The choice of a black and white film look opened the door to striking compositions and lighting that underpinned the quiet power of the protagonist's resolve.

The director wanted to work exclusively from vintage documentary photographs, rather than referencing other films or commercials. Setting this as the story's dogma was key to the end result, which felt authentic and real. The seamless collaboration of camera, production design and post production was central to the success of this project.