The American Society of Cinematographers announced their nominations for the best-photographed TV of 2011.  Boardwalk Empire topSthe list with 2 nominations in the one-hour drama category.  HBO also had a presence in the movie/miniseries category with Mildred Pierce and the half-hour series category with Bored to Death.  (This is the first year the ASC introduced a half-hour category.)  I am happy to see Pan Am among the nominees, because the pilot was gorgeous.  Due to the specific nature of the awards, there are a few curious selection that won't get awards attention anywhere else, like Chase and Man Up.  Reminds me of my surprise at discovering that Home Improvement won 7 Emmys, all of which were awarded to apparent lighting guru Donald A. Morgan for Outstanding Lighting Direction.

Hit the jump for the full eclectic list of ASC nominees.

One-Hour Episodic Television Series/Pilot

  • David Franco for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (“To the Lost”)
  • Jonathan Freeman, ASC for Boardwalk Empire (“21″)
  • David Katznelson, DFF, BSC for PBS’ Downton Abbey (Pilot)
  • John Lindley, ASC for ABC’s Pan Am (Pilot)
  • David Stockton, ASC for NBC’s Chase (“Narco Part 2″)

Television Movie/Miniseries

  • Ed Lachman, ASC for HBO’s Mildred Pierce
  • Kevin Moss for Showtime’s Chicago Overcoat
  • David Moxness, CSC for ReelzChannel’s The Kennedys (“Moral Issues and Inner Turmoil”)
  • Martin Ruhe for PBS’ Page Eight
  • Wojciech Szepel for PBS’ Any Human Heart (“Episode 2″)

Half-Hour Episodic Series/Pilot

  • James Bagdonas, ASC for ABC’s Modern Family (“Bixby’s Back”)
  • Michael Balfry, CSC for The Hub’s R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (“Brush with Madness”)
  • Vanja Cernjul, HFC for HBO’s Bored to Death (“Forget the Herring”)
  • Levie Isaacks, ASC for ABC’s Man Up (“Acceptance”)
  • Michael Weaver, ASC for Showtime’s Californication (“Suicide Solution”)