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CINEMATOGRAPHER · 1931–2014 · UNITED STATES

Gordon Willis

Top light and deep underexposure that earned him the name the Prince of Darkness.

Born
1931
Died
2014
Country
United States
Field
Cinematographer

KNOWN FOR

  1. 1972The Godfather
  2. 1977Annie Hall
  3. 1979Manhattan
  4. 1976All the President's Men

WHY THEY MATTER

Academy Honorary Award for his life's work (2009); known as the Prince of Darkness for his use of shadow.

THE LIFE

Willis was an American cinematographer known as the Prince of Darkness for his use of shadow. He shot all three Godfather films for Francis Ford Coppola, lighting faces from above so eyes fell into darkness. He also shot Woody Allen's Annie Hall and Manhattan and Alan J. Pakula's All the President's Men. He received an Honorary Academy Award in 2009.

Source: Wikipedia

Also born in 1930–1959

Vilmos Zsigmond

1930–2016 · United States · Cinematographer

Vilmos Zsigmond

Pre-flashed, muted colour and atmospheric haze.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1977Source: Wikipedia

1934–2001 · United States · Cinematographer

John A. Alonzo

Naturalistic, cinema verite-inspired photography of the New Hollywood.

Chinatown, 1974Source: Wikipedia