Vijay Mishra-a cinematographer who believes a lens captures real emotions "Through the Eyes of Cooke"

By a cinematographer who believes a lens captures real emotions.

As a cinematographer, I have always believed that a lens is more than just glass. It is a translator of light, emotion, and intention. Among all the optics I have worked with, one name continues to echo through every frame I love the most: Cooke.

Cooke lenses do not just render an image; they render a feeling. There is something about that subtle falloff, the warm, almost nostalgic glow around highlights, and the way skin tones breathe naturally without forcing beauty. It is not sharp for the sake of sharpness; it is soulful. It is human.

They call it the “Cooke Look,” but I have come to see it more as the “Cooke Truth.” In a time when digital clarity can sometimes feel sterile, Cooke brings back life: soft edges, gentle flares, controlled aberrations that actually add character. And that is what storytelling needs: character.

I have used Cooke S7i, Cooke S8i, Cooke S4/i, Panchros, and even the Anamorphics while shooting web series, films, TVCs, promos—and in every format, there is a consistency in soul. Whether I am capturing a quiet close-up or a sweeping wide angle, the lens helps me shape light into something emotional. There is a cinematic softness, but also a tactile presence. It makes every frame feel like it belongs to a memory that has not happened yet. And as a cinematographer, that is the dream: tools that disappear and let emotion take over.

For me, shooting with Cooke is like writing poetry with light. You do not need to shout. You do not need to show off. You just feel, and the lens does the rest.

To those who know the craft, the Cooke flare is a signature—not flashy, not chaotic, but controlled and expressive. It bends light like a musician bends a note: intentionally, meaningfully.

This is not just a lens.
This is where emotion finds focus.
This is where stories find their soul.

Vijay Mishra | Director of Photography