A long-time contributor to the series, Robertson is credited with capturing some of the most iconic, high-contrast imagery of the series.
Season 5 of the History Channel’s Vikings represents a pivotal moment in the series' visual evolution. Following the death of protagonist Ragnar Lothbrok in Season 4, the show’s visual language shifted from the intimate, voyeuristic struggle of a farmer rising to power, to the epic, fractured, and chaotic struggles of his legacy. Under the leadership of Director of Photography P.J. Dillon (along with Suzie Lavelle and Peter Robertson), the season employs a distinct pallet of desaturated earth tones, aggressive sound-design-integrated editing, and complex lighting setups to deconstruct the mythology of the Viking age. This paper explores how the cinematography of Season 5 utilizes naturalism, distinct color grading, and kinetic camera movement to mirror the internal fragmentation of the Lothbrok family. vikings season 5 cinematographer
The lighting setups often involve smoke or haze machines to volumize the light beams. This creates a painterly effect, reminiscent of Caravaggio, where figures emerge from a dark background into a singular shaft of light. This technique is used effectively in the religious sacrifices and the election of the new King of Kattegat, visually separating the divine from the mundane. A long-time contributor to the series, Robertson is