Um, very weird line-up.

I don't see anything other than CoM or Apocalypto to appear at the Oscars in this category. The other three spots should be taken by The Departed, Dreamgirls and one Eastwood flick.

I seriously don't think any of these voters saw Letters from Iwo Jima in time. No cinematography, no costumes, it has to be more than just physically snubbing it...

These are very good nominees actually. I'm not sure where the surprise is coming from, since if you saw The Illusionist and The Black Dahlia you would know they are very deserving in this category. Cinematography is not a category, like editing for example, that closely ties in with best picture. Babel was an ugly movie and doesn't deserve to be here. Dreamgirls I haven't seen, so I can't comment on that one. The Departed is more contemporary and less hyper-stylized than Scorsese usually shoots, so I can see why that missed. The Fountain and Miami Vice (as disappointing as the movie was, the look was magnificent) are the real snubs.

The branch doesn't normally go with a film like The Departed. Collateral made with ASC and still missed Oscar. Scorsese's films have a great tracking record in the category, and Michael Ballhaus has been nominated three times at Oscar comparing to just once from ASC, so The Departed could certainly make it, but it's not a sure thing given it's only the branch who does the voting. If nominated however, it's a serious threat to win when everybody votes.

Great set of nominees. The Black Dahlia had splendid cinematography and I'm glad it's not forgotten. And the cinematography was one of the good aspects of The Illusionist. And of course, this makes it very easy for Children of Men to get its deserved win, plus it could now have a chance at a Best Picture nomination depending on whether enough people saw the movie before they voted.