Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history at the Oscars by becoming the first woman and first woman of color to win best cinematography for her work on "Sinners." The groundbreaking achievement came during Sunday's ceremony where she also thanked predecessors like Ellen Kuras and Rachel Morrison for paving the way in the industry.

Durald Arkapaw's win represents a significant milestone in Hollywood's traditionally male-dominated cinematography field. She had already made history as the first woman of color nominated for the prize, and her work on "Sinners" pushed technical boundaries by shooting in IMAX and Ultra Panavision 70 formats. The cinematographer often operated the 65-pound camera herself, demonstrating both technical skill and physical endurance.

Her personal background added layers of meaning to the achievement. With Filipino and Black Creole heritage, Durald Arkapaw connected deeply to "Sinners'" Mississippi setting, where her family has roots. The film's director Ryan Coogler, who also grew up in the Bay Area, collaborated with her to create visually stunning scenes that challenged Hollywood's conventional storytelling approaches.