Breakdown and Approach:

The first line of the script for To Have and to Hold reads, “It’s hot. Damn hot.”

Right off the bat in this story of revenge, I knew it was important to convey the oppressive heat of Kentucky summer in a visual way. This heat is also a visual metaphor to the main character’s burning-hot anger; the scorched earth mirrors a scorched soul.

Colors:
I wanted a high-contrast look that felt dusty and faded, hot, and overall inhospitable. Muting cool tones amplified the warm tones in the palette, which were inspired by tobacco, earth, and dust.

Since much was being shot outdoors in forested areas, care was taken to push yellow in to the greens, which to me suggests a hot environment rather than being cool or lush.

Red was an accent color, symbolizing blood and contributing to the theme of the film.

Lighting Approach:
I primarily worked with natural or ambient light and augmented only when necessary. High-contrast, harsh daylight was acceptable in the frame as long as it wasn’t a distraction, and I made an effort to maintain shadow detail.