Background:

Michael Tebinka is a Swedish cinematographer with Polish roots and a background in photojournalism and video art. He has over a decade of experience filming commercials, narrative, documentary, music videos and art house projects.

His approach to film is often described as a blend of participatory presence and embodied choreography. There exists an element in filmmaking that evokes a sense of heightened presence, both within the confines of a space and between humans and their expressions. This tactile quality is profoundly empowering and is one of the foundations to create a deeper connection to a story told through cinematography. Light also plays an important role in Michael’s work, with a preference for deep shadows and careful pockets of naturalistic illumination.

Michael has always been fascinated by time, space, and human perception as the constants through which experiences occur. He pursued this interest academically, earning a bachelor’s degree in video art from Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore and a master’s degree in stereoscopic media from Ravensbourne University in London. Initially, in Singapore, he explored moving images as an installation-based medium, often creating large-scale multi-channel audiovisual structures. Later, in London, he shifted his focus to a more technical approach to perception in moving images at the production stage.

His approach to crafting images is characterised by a harmonious blend of artistic exploration and film technology. Drawing inspiration from literature and painting, Michael seamlessly integrates this with the framework of cinematography, allowing for a clear artistic vision and a strong emotional connection in storytelling.