David Watkin
Camera·March 23, 1925·† February 19, 2008 — 82 years old·Margate, Kent, England, UK
David Watkin BSC (23 March 1925 – 19 February 2008) was an English cinematographer, an innovator who was among the first directors of photography to experiment heavily with the usage of bounce light as a soft light source. He worked with such film directors as Richard Lester, Peter Brook, Tony Richardson, Mike Nichols, Ken Russell, Franco Zeffirelli, Sidney Lumet and Sydney Pollack.
In 1985, Watkin won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Out of Africa. He received lifetime achievement awards in 2004 from the British Society of Cinematographers and the cinematographic-centric Camerimage Film Festival in Łódź, Poland.
In Chariots of Fire, he "helped create one of the most memorable images of 1980s cinema: the opening sequence in which a huddle of young male athletes pounds along the water's edge on a beach" to the film's theme music by Vangelis.
Known For
Filmography · 79
2007THE BEATLES in HELP!Self2002Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The DevilsSelf2001All ForgottenDirector of Photography2001One Continuous Take: Kay Mander's Life in FilmHimself1999Tea with MussoliniDirector of Photography1999GloriaDirector of Photography1997Critical CareDirector of Photography1997ObsessionDirector of Photography1997Night Falls on ManhattanDirector of Photography1996BogusDirector of Photography1996Jane EyreDirector of Photography1994It Is Now Our Time: Peter Sellars’ The Merchant of VeniceCinematography1994Milk MoneyDirector of Photography1993Bopha!Director of Photography1993This Boy's LifeDirector of Photography1992Used PeopleDirector of Photography1991The Cabinet of Dr. RamirezDirector of Photography1991The Object of BeautyDirector of Photography1990HamletDirector of Photography1990Memphis BelleDirector of Photography1989Murder on the MoonDirector of Photography1988Last RitesDirector of Photography1988The Good MotherDirector of Photography1988Journey to the Center of the EarthDirector of Photography1988MasqueradeDirector of Photography1987MoonstruckDirector of Photography1986Sky BanditsDirector of Photography1985Out of AfricaDirector of Photography1985White NightsDirector of Photography1985Return to OzDirector of Photography1984Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the ApesAdditional Photography1984The Hotel New HampshireDirector of Photography1983YentlDirector of Photography1981Endless LoveDirector of Photography1981Chariots of FireDirector of Photography1981La CenerentolaDirector of Photography1979CubaDirector of Photography1979That Summer!Director of Photography1979Hanover StreetDirector of Photography1977Jesus of NazarethTVDirector of Photography1977Joseph AndrewsDirector of Photography1976Robin and MarianDirector of Photography1976To the Devil a DaughterDirector of Photography1975MahoganyDirector of Photography1974The Four MusketeersDirector of Photography1973The Three MusketeersDirector of Photography1973A Delicate BalanceDirector of Photography1973The HomecomingDirector of Photography1971The Boy FriendDirector of Photography1971The DevilsDirector of Photography1970Catch-22Director of Photography1969The Bed Sitting RoomDirector of Photography1968The Charge of the Light BrigadeDirector of Photography1968Red, White, and ZeroDirector of Photography1967How I Won the WarDirector of Photography1967The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de SadeDirector of Photography1966MademoiselleDirector of Photography1965Help!Director of Photography1965The Knack... and How to Get ItDirector of Photography1964Rhythm 'n' GreensCinematography1963The Six-Sided TriangleCinematography1962...All That Mighty Heart...Camera Operator1962The Signal EngineersDirector of Photography1962Robert Reid Reports on British WaterwaysCinematography1961The TravolatorsDirector of Photography1960They Take the High RoadDirector of Photography1960Blue PullmanDirector of Photography1959Diesel TrainrideDirector of Photography1959Groundwork for ProgressCinematography1959The Coasts of ClydeDirector of Photography1959Care of St Christopher’sDirector of Photography1958Under Night StreetsDirector of Photography1958A Desperate CaseDirector of Photography1957Lancashire CoastDirector of Photography1957HolidayDirector of Photography1957Service for SouthendCamera Operator1957The England of ElizabethDirector of Photography1956The Long Night HaulDirector of Photography1956Men on the MendDirector of Photography