Cinema suffered a cataclysmic loss this past Monday when one of the greatest cinematographers of our time, Vilmos Zsigmond, passed away. With a decade-spanning career and collaborations with directors from Woody Allen, Robert Altman, Steven Spielberg, and Brian De Palma, Zsigmond’s legend will certainly live on, and he’ll continue to inspire generations of cinephiles and newbies alike.
READ MORE: R.I.P Vilmos Zsigmond (1930-2016)
Zsigmond’s contributions to such a variety of filmmaking secure his unparalleled place in history; he was truly a master of shadow and light. In this new video essay by Brad Jones, Zsigmond’s beauteous gift is paramount, and through seamless and clean shots, the beholder is overcome by his talent. Whether it’s the juxtapositional light adorning Warren Beatty’s face in “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” Richard Dreyfuss’ illuminating out-of-this-world experiences in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” or John Travolta and Nancy Allen meandering in the shadows in “Blow Out,” Zsigmond’s succinct spatial balance cannot be denied.
Do you have a favorite cinematic moment in one of these, or another of Zsigmond’s film contributions? Let us know in the comments below.