James Wong Howe, A.S.C. (Chinese 黃宗霑; pinyin: Huáng Zōngzhān) (August 28, 1899 - July 12, 1976) is considered one of the greatest American cinematographers. He has over 130 films to his credit. A master at the use of shadow, he was one of the first to use deep-focus cinematography, photography in which both foreground and distant planes remain in focus. During the 1930s and 1940s he was considered one of the most sought after cinematographers in ...
more
James Wong Howe, A.S.C. (Chinese 黃宗霑; pinyin: Huáng Zōngzhān) (August 28, 1899 - July 12, 1976) is considered one of the greatest American cinematographers. He has over 130 films to his credit. A master at the use of shadow, he was one of the first to use deep-focus cinematography, photography in which both foreground and distant planes remain in focus. During the 1930s and 1940s he was considered one of the most sought after cinematographers in Hollywood. He was nominated for ten Academy Awards for cinematography, winning twice. Howe was judged to be one of history's ten most influential cinematographers in a survey of the members of the International Cinematographers Guild.
Howe was born Wong Tung Jim in Taishan, Canton Province (now Guangdong), China in 1899. His father Wong Howe moved to America that year to work on Northern Pacific Railway and in 1904 sent for his family. The Howes settled in Pasco, Washington, where they owned a general store. A childhood Brownie may have...
less
