Saving grace

New Zealand-raised cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh is praised for his work on the Mira Nair-directed film Amelia, about pioneering American aviatrix Amelia Earhart. The Observer’s Philip French writes that the film is “beautifully photographed” by Dryburgh and the California Chronicle goes as far to say that: “It’s not the stars of the movie who shine in this dull biopic about Amelia Earhart — the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic — it’s Stuart Dryburgh, Stephanie Carroll and Kasia Walicka-Maimone. They are the cinematographer, production designer and costume designer, who earn their wings and most of the praise. Top marks go to them for making a technically sumptuous looking movie but in terms of story and direction Amelia fails to take off.” Dryburgh earned an Oscar nomination for The Piano. His credits include The Perez Family, Lone Star, The Portrait of a Lady, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Kate & Leopold, In My Father’s Den, The Painted Veil and Nim’s Island. Dryburgh’s next film is the 2010 American production of The Tempest, starring Helen Mirren and David Strathairn.