For the past 15 years I’ve worked in the motion picture feature film, television, and commercial industry dedicating my career to stories of the American West, those not often heard. I am a horseback rider, athlete, and father to Ayla MoonSong Baker.

BIOGRAPHY

Hunter Robert Baker is a New York City, Los Angeles, and New Mexico based Emmy® Award winning feature film, television, and commercial Director of Photography and Producer. His work has also been nominated for 4 Emmy® Awards. Hunter has photographed 7 feature-length films across the world. Hunter has worked on Navajo Nation for over a decade bringing powerful stories from the frontline of desert communities to the front pages of publications and media outlets around the world. From fiction to non-fiction Hunter’s work has been rooted in under-reported stories and voices not often heard. Most recently, Baker worked in the Northern Alaskan Arctic Circle with the Inupiaq tribe, on the award-winning fiction anthology series HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, Starring Jodi Foster and Kali Reis.

True Detective: Night Country received 19 Emmy® Award nominations including Best Anthology Series and Best Cinematography and three Golden Globe Awards including Best Limited Series.

Hunter Robert Baker is the recipient of the 2018 ICG: International Cinematographers Guild Emerging Cinematographer Award. Hunter is an alumni of NYU, where he studied cinematography and anthropology balancing his time in special programs in Cuba and South Africa. Baker's projects have been the recipient of support from organizations such as the Alfred P Sloan Foundation, the International Documentary Association and recently the Points North Fellowship for co-directing the multi-award winning feature documentary The Blessing. He was invited to speak at the Impact Haus during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival; the topic was “Empathy in Telling Insider Stories.” Independent Magazine named him a “Filmmaker to Watch”. Hunter has lectured at New York University, Harvard University, and most recently the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

Hunter Robert Baker and Jordan Fein made their feature directorial debut at Full Frame Film Festival in 2018 with The Blessing. A feature length documentary set over the course of 5 years on the Navajo Nation. 

Baker’s work has been featured in The Smithsonian Institute, Native Cinema Showcase and Institute Of American Indian Arts Museum Of Contemporary Native Arts.

At 18 Baker started working for HBO on various series including 24/7 following the lives of world class boxers including Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya.  Bridging the gap from documentary to narrative cinematographer Hunter's long interest in fiction based work drew him to collaborate on dozens of short films. In 2012 Hunter worked as camera operator on the feature film At Any Price (Dir. Ramin Bahrani) for DP Michael Simmonds (Goodbye Solo, The Lunchbox) He also worked as 2nd Unit DP on Adult World (Dir. Scott Coffey) for DP James Laxton (The Underground Railroad), Moonlight). He has also collaborated with Dir. Ramin Bahrani on a music video series for Icelandic band, Sigur Ros.

In 2012 Hunter was the recipient of the ARRI Volker Bahnemann Cinematography Award. In 2013 he shot and produced Without Fire, Alfred P Sloan Science Grant Recipient (Dir. Eliza McNitt) starring Magdalena Begay and Misty Upham (Frozen River) which won Best Dramatic Film at the Arizona International Film Festival. In 2013 Hunter also founded New York City Camera Company, a NYC based motion picture and tv film equipment rental company. He has a large collection of vintage lenses which he uses for his work in combination with Panavision lenses. 

In 2014 Hunter collaborated with Dir. Boyd Holbrook on Peacock Killer starring Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire, Silver Linings Playbook) and Elizabeth Marvel (House of Cards, Homeland).

In 2015 Hunter shot and executive produced the feature film Miles, (Dir. Nathan Adloff) starring Molly Shannon, Paul Reiser, Missi Pyle, and Tim Boardman which was distributed by Netflix. In 2016 he won 3 Cannes Lions Awards, 1 Clio Award, 1 One Merit Award and received his second Emmy Nomination.

In 2021 Hunter shot and co-executive produced, Dir. Marshall Burnette’s “Silo” Starring Jim Parrack, Jeremy Holm, Chris Ellis, Jill Paice and Jack DiFalco.

In 2022 Hunter Robert Baker shot and co-produced, Emmy nominated, feature film Point Gods for Showtime. The film’s producers also include Coodie & Chike (Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, and Kevin Durant. The film chronicles the 1980’s/1990’s New York City crack epidemic and the decades that produced a distinct style of play and some of the most prolific point guards to ever take the court

Hunter continues to shoot features, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. Hunter Robert Baker is an IATSE Local 600 freelancing Director of Photography in New York, Los Angeles, and New Mexico.

2024

True Detective: Night Country has received three Golden Globe Award nominations including Best Limited Series.

True Detective: Night Country has received 19 Emmy® Award nominations including Best Anthology Series and Best Cinematography.

Hunter Robert Baker serves on Grand Jury for Santa Fe International Film Festival.

2023

Hunter Robert Baker shoots, HBO True Detective Night Country as Alaska Unit Director Of Photography.

Point Gods receives Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Long Documentary.

2022

Point Gods, Deadline Feature, Point Gods sets airdate July 29th 9PM EST Showtime and Streaming on Showtime App.

Hunter Robert Baker wins a 2022 Bronze Telly Award for The Blessing.

2021

Hunter Robert Baker shoots and co-produces, feature film, Point Gods for Showtime.

Silo opens in 250 theaters across the US as one of the first post-pandemic theatrical releases.

Silo, Oscilloscope Laboratories acquires grain entrapment drama, DEADLINE FEATURE

2019

The Blessing wins the Big Sky Award at Big Sky Film Festival

The Blessing debuts at Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

Hunter lectures at Harvard University to the VES PhD and Graduate Students on non fiction storytelling and the topic; “Through the Lens of Perspective Storytelling”

2018

Filmmaker Magazine features The Blessing “An Emotional Powder Keg” "The film’s a nearly Shakespearean drama, one in which a deeply religious father is forced to choose between sacrilege (taking part in the destruction of his sacred tribal mountain) and feeding his kid" - Filmmaker Magazine

Wandering DP Podcast sits down for a conversation on balance and being human with Hunter Robert Baker

Hunter Robert Baker shoots and co-executive produces, Dir. Marshall Burnette’s feature film “Silo” Starring Jim Parrack, Jeremy Holm, Chris Ellis, Jill Paice and Jack DiFalco.

Hollywood Reporter features Hunter Robert Baker his ICG: International Cinematographers Guild ECA Award

Hunter Robert Baker wins the 2018 ICG: International Cinematographers Guild Emerging Cinematographer Award

The Blessing will be in competition at Santa Fe Independent Film Festival’s 10th year anniversary and is in the First 10 Feature Film Selection amongst films such as Palme D'Or Shoplifters, On Her Shoulders, The Silence Of Others and more.

The Blessing wins Grand Jury Prize at Dallas International Film Festival

The Blessing wins Best Feature Documentary at Arizona International Film Festival

The Blessing wins Best of Fest at MSP Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival

World Premiere of The Blessing at Full Frame Documentary Film Festival  

2017

ADWEEK: Ad of the Day feature | HP - Little Moments shot by Hunter Robert Baker 

Hunter Robert Baker is featured in Modern Cinematographer podcast series

2016

Miles, wins the Best Narrative Feature Audience Award at Outfest presented by HBO

Hunter and Jordan Fein win 3 Cannes Lions Awards, one Clio Award, and One Merit Award at the 2016 Cannes Lions Festival for their Volvo, Highway Robbery commercial

Adweek features Superbowl 50 Grammys Mashup Spot as Adweek Ad of The Day shot by Hunter Baker for PrettyBird US  

2015

Variety spotlights Miles, shot by Hunter Baker

Hunter shoots feature film Miles, Dir. Nathan Adloff  Starring Molly Shannon, Paul Reiser, Missi Pyle, and Tim Boardman

New York Times spotlights Boots and the upcoming film, Motorcycle Jesus shot by Hunter Baker

Nowness.com premieres the trailer and article for Motorcycle Jesus shot by Hunter Baker. 

Deadline Hollywood discusses Peacock Killer and MadBrook Films, formation by Madeleine Sackler and Boyd Holbrook  

2014

Atlanta International Film Festival, Without Fire - Dir. Eliza Mcnitt - Best Dramatic Short Film

Fusion Film Festival, Without Fire - Dir. Eliza Mcnitt - Best Picture, Best Cinematography

Hunter Baker shoots, Peacock Killer directed by Boyd Holbrook starring Shea Whigham and Elizabeth Marvel

Without Fire - Dir. Eliza Mcnitt (Sun Valley Film Festival - Official Selection) (Atlanta Film Festival - Official Selection) (Santa Fe Film Festival - Official Selection) (Fusion Film Festival - Official Selection) (Arizona International Film Festival - Official Selection)

2013

Hunter Baker shoots, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros' new music video series, "Life is Hard" Dir. Alex Ebert

Hunter Baker shoots, Without Fire, Dir. Eliza Mcnitt, Recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Production Grant Award. Shot on Location on the Navajo Reservation in Pinon, Arizona. Starring Misty Upham (Frozen River 2008 Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner).

The London International Film Festival of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Film 2013 (Official Selection) The Giraffe Who Knew Too Much - Dir. Eric Tosstorff

2012

Hunter Baker shoots, Eg Anda music video, Dir. Ramin Bahrani, for Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Tribeca Film Institute writes, "Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, Goodbye Solo) has made a video around the band's song "Ég anda. Shot beautifully by Hunter Baker, the video examines how the evolving industrialization of the country is affecting our wildlife. The video is dedicated to Jenni Jenkins, who co-authored the story behind Bahrani's 2009 short film Plastic Bag and tragically died last year."

CMF International, Violet, Dir. Eliza McNitt – Best Drama and Best Cinematography Award presented by Wally Pfister, ASC.

Recipient of the ARRI Volker Bahnemann Cinematography Award presented by ARRI Founder, Volker Bahnemann .

CMF, Violet, Dir. Eliza Mcnitt – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Cinematography.

2011

Emmy Award Winner (HBO 24/7 Penguins vs. Capitols Road to the NHL Winter Classic).