Mindel began working as a camera loader before progressing to clapper loader and assistant cameraman, gaining experience on feature film productions. In 1985, he worked on John Boorman’s The Emerald Forest under French cinematographer Philippe Rousselot.
Mindel subsequently moved to the United States, where he worked in the camera department and as a camera operator on feature films, while also shooting commercials. During this period, he worked on productions directed by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, including Thelma & Louise (1991) and Crimson Tide (1995). In 1997, Ridley Scott appointed him second-unit director of photography on G.I. Jane, providing a transition towards leading cinematography assignments.
In 1998, Mindel served as director of photography on Tony Scott’s thriller Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman. The film marked his first feature as principal cinematographer. He subsequently worked with Tony Scott on Spy Game (2001) and Domino (2005), developing a body of work that incorporated handheld camerawork, varied film stocks and different camera formats.
Mindel’s other feature credits include Shanghai Noon (2000), Stuck on You (2003), The Skeleton Key (2005), Mission: Impossible III (2006), John Carter (2012), Savages (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). His work spans action, science fiction, adventure and thriller productions.
In 2006, director J. J. Abrams selected Mindel as cinematographer for Mission: Impossible III. This began an ongoing professional collaboration that continued with Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Mindel’s work on The Force Awakens involved shooting on 35mm film, using anamorphic lenses and drawing on the visual approach of earlier Star Wars films. He continued to work on large-scale studio productions, including Zoolander 2 (2016), The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) and Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018).
His later feature credits include Red One (2024) and Twisters (2024).