Steeven Petitteville AFC – A Journey with TLS Vega Lenses

Steeven Petitteville, a French cinematographer based between Los Angeles and Paris, began his career in commercials, collaborating with diverse crews across multiple countries. His versatility soon led him to feature films and narrative projects, where he embraced a variety of genres, from romantic comedies to horror, and even westerns.

Steeven thrives on the diversity of his work, relishing the challenge of adapting to different styles and stories. Whether working on a short-term commercial or a feature film spanning several months, his goal remains consistent: to serve the director’s vision and elevate the narrative. "I love handling different styles and stories; all these aspects make our job as DoPs rich and never monotonous. It’s always a pleasure to serve a story and the director’s vision, whether it’s for a few days on a commercial or a few months on a feature or series," he says.

His journey with TLS Vega lenses began on a music video project. "I’ve always been familiar with TLS’s rehousing work and their reliability, so I was confident going into this lens," Steeven recalls. After a brief test session at RVZ Paris, it was clear that the Vega set was the perfect fit for the project.

Paired with the Alexa Mini LF, the TLS Vega lenses offered a soft yet sharp look that highlighted skin tones without compromising detail. "We were aiming for colourful, saturated images with a distinct character—modern, but not perfect, and avoiding that digital texture. The Vega set delivered exactly that," Steeven explains.

He describes the TLS Vega lenses as striking a unique balance: sharp contrast with photographic precision, offering clear definition without harshness. "The bokeh and flares were precise, not milky, and the fall-off had this beautiful portrait-lens quality," he elaborates. The combination of vintage roundness with modern sharpness was key. Additionally, the colour rendition was perfect, offering rich, saturated tones without ever feeling artificial or overly digital.

"The combination of vintage roundness with modern sharpness was key of the TLS Vega lenses."

Steeven Petitteville AFC

"The close-focus capabilities were a bonus too," he adds. The experience with the TLS Vega lenses left a lasting impression, and Steeven has continued to use them on other projects since. "It’s a very singular set, and what stands out to me the most is the photographic feel they bring to the image," he concludes.

You can find out more about Steeven's productions on his website (https://www.steevenp.com/) or his Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/steeevendop/).