[4] Hawkinson began his career as an electrician, lighting technician, and gaffer at Boss Film Studios, a prominent visual effects company.
[6] Hawkinson served as director of photography on the sitcom Arrested Development[7] for which he experimented with different 16 mm film cameras and HD camcorders in order to achieve the look and visual styles desired by the series' creators Joe and Anthony Russo.
[8] He worked on several subsequent television projects with the Russos, including Carpoolers, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and Community.
His photography heavily utilizing angular lighting and shallow focus to create a distinct, unnerving atmosphere.
[11][12] His work was a point of near-universal acclaim,[13][14] many praising its dark, brooding, art-house style[15][16] and disturbing atmosphere,[17][18] with many calling it the best-looking show on television.