By James Tella

Best Cinematography winner Robert Elswit backstage during the 80th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2008.

The 80th Annual Academy Awards netted School of Cinematic Arts alumnus Robert Elswit ’75 his very first Oscar on February 24 for his outstanding work on There Will Be Blood.

“I’m just in shock,” said Elswit, who also acknowledged the film’s production crew in his brief acceptance speech. “Thank you so much.”

Nominated for best picture, the film follows the story of an oilman, who in his ruthless pursuit of wealth, tricks a local farmer into signing away his valuable drilling rights and rejects his own son after the boy suffers an injury in an accident.

“We're really all standing on the shoulders of Daniel Day-Lewis,” added Elswit, signaling out the film’s leading man who garnered his second Oscar later in the evening.

This is the first Academy Award for Elswit who was previously nominated in 2005 for Good Night, and Good Luck.