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CINEMATOGRAPHER · 1934–2001 · UNITED STATES

John A. Alonzo

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

Born
1934
Died
2001
Country
United States
Field
Cinematographer

KNOWN FOR

  1. 1974Chinatown
  2. 1983Scarface

WHY THEY MATTER

Academy Award nomination for Chinatown; first American cinematographer of Mexican descent inducted into the ASC; pioneer of high-definition video in television.

THE LIFE

Alonzo was born in Dallas to Mexican immigrant parents and started on a local television crew, later working as an actor and still photographer. Meeting Charles Lang and briefly working with James Wong Howe drew him to cinematography, and he shot documentaries for National Geographic and for Wolper's company. His naturalistic style suited the New Hollywood, and Roman Polanski's Chinatown earned him an Academy Award nomination. He was the first American cinematographer of Mexican descent admitted to the ASC.

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

1931–2014 · United States · Cinematographer

Gordon Willis

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

The Godfather, 1972Source: Wikipedia