A founding member of the British Society of Cinematographers.
He received a special award from the British Academy of Film and
Television Arts in 2001 for his outstanding contribution to world
cinema.
In 1947, with Great Expectations (1946), he became the first British
director of cinematography to win an Oscar for best black-and-white
cinematography.
He was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire)
in the 2004 Queen's New Year's Honours List in Diplomatic Services and Overseas for British film industry in America.
Entered the film industry almost as soon as he left school.
Became an assistant cameraman working at British International pictures at Elstree and graduated to cameraman working at Denham.