Tom Del Ruth began his career as an assistant cameraman on The Sand Pebbles in 1966.
He also worked in that role on Tobruk, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Tora, Tora, Tora,
and other classic films. He shot his first feature in 1979, and has subsequently compiled some 70
credits (The Breakfast Club, The Running Man, Quicksilver,etc.), including pilots and movies
of the week (The X-Files, ER and JAG).

"Television tends to be driven by the story and characters, " he says. "I got into this
business because I was interested in telling stories with images. When I read the script
for The West Wing pilot, I could feel the lighting because it was endemic in the words.
The scripts don't say, 'this is a moody or dark sequence,' but the dialog is written in a
way that tells you the mood."

In the nominated episode, the White House staff bustles with activity when it's learned
that the president (Martin Sheen) injured himself during a bicycle accident.

"The White House setting can be elegant, but it can also be harsh. There are scenes,
say in the press area, where the quality of light and the mood of the camera are
sometimes quasi-documentary style. We try to keep continuity within the White House
depending on the storyline. There are changes in the direction and quality of light but
you can't light a program like this MTV-style. People expect a certain elegance in the
White House."

Congratulations.....Tom