James Laxton shot Moonlight with an intimacy that makes the camera feel like a trusted witness. The three chapters each have subtly different visual temperature. Laxton and Jenkins made a deliberate choice to light dark skin as luminous, using reflected light and wet surfaces to create an almost painterly glow.
Recipes
Moonlit Water
The iconic blue-lit swimming lesson, skin glowing against dark water
Film SimulationClassic Neg
GrainWeak/Small
Color ChromeStrong
CC FX BlueStrong
White BalanceFluorescent 1
WB ShiftR-3 / B+4
Dynamic RangeDR200
Highlight-1
Shadow+3
Color+1
Sharpness-1
Noise Reduction-3
Clarity-1
ISOISO 1600-3200
Liberty City Sun
Harsh Florida daylight, warm and confrontational
Film SimulationClassic Chrome
GrainOff
Color ChromeWeak
CC FX BlueOff
White BalanceDaylight
WB ShiftR+2 / B-1
Dynamic RangeDR400
Highlight+0
Shadow+0
Color+0
Sharpness+0
Noise Reduction-1
Clarity+1
ISOISO 200-400
Atlanta Neon
Chapter three — neon-lit diner, purple dashboard glow, quiet tension
Film SimulationClassic Neg
GrainWeak/Large
Color ChromeStrong
CC FX BlueWeak
White BalanceIncandescent
WB ShiftR-1 / B+3
Dynamic RangeDR200
Highlight+0
Shadow+2
Color+1
Sharpness-1
Noise Reduction-3
Clarity-2
ISOISO 1600-3200
Shoot this look
These recipes run on Fujifilm's film-simulation engine — any current X-series body will do. A pairing to start from: