A new behind-the-scenes image shared by Zack Snyder has surfaced, showing him holding a first-generation IMAX film camera during the production of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Though the movie premiered back in 2016, Snyder has just now released this unseen snapshot, giving fans and filmmakers a glimpse into his passion for large-format filmmaking. In the photo, Snyder appears completely absorbed behind the massive IMAX rig, the same camera type used for some of cinema’s most visually striking sequences. It’s a rare look at the tactile, mechanical side of big-budget filmmaking, and a reminder of how Snyder’s aesthetic was built on real-world optics long before digital dominance took over.
This was on BVS. IMAX is fun to shoot
– Zack Snyder
IMAX, then and now
This newly surfaced frame feels like a time capsule from the peak of film-based IMAX. It’s also fascinating to compare it to today’s technology, especially after the debut of the new generation IMAX digital cameras recently seen on the set of The Odyssey. YMCinema explored this breakthrough in IMAX Next Gen Camera First Appearance: The Odyssey Set, highlighting how IMAX continues evolving beyond its analog origins. Snyder’s throwback image bridges both eras: the gritty analog muscle of the 2010s and the sleek, digital precision of 2025.
A filmmaker who lives his vision
This photo is a snapshot of a filmmaker who always lives by his lens. In Zack Snyder Filmmaking Is a Marathon So You Don’t Run Too Hard (But Inevitably You Do), Snyder described filmmaking as a process of endurance and obsession. This candid moment proves that philosophy: physically handling the camera, adjusting it, feeling its weight, he’s as hands-on as directors get.
The practical side of epic filmmaking
Snyder has often balanced high-concept visuals with accessible techniques. In The Snyder’s Tips for Shooting Epic Film on a Smartphone, he revealed how composition and storytelling matter far more than the equipment itself. Seeing him wield a 1st-gen IMAX camera underscores the same message: it’s not about the tool, but how you use it to express scale, motion, and emotion.
The IMAX legacy lives on
While Snyder’s image celebrates the old guard of IMAX filmmaking, it also reignites appreciation for the art of teaching and preserving cinematic craft. As revisited in Zack Snyder Teaches Filmmaking, Snyder has long advocated for immersive, visual-first storytelling, and this photograph becomes a perfect embodiment of that principle.
A Rare glimpse, a timeless passion
Nearly a decade after Batman v Superman hit theaters, this single frame gives the filmmaking community something to geek out about: a solid reminder of the days when IMAX meant film stock, muscle, and patience. For Snyder, IMAX truly is “fun to shoot.” For us, it’s a thrilling reminder of why cinema remains a craft built on both innovation and legacy.
