Alexander Thomson BSC (12 January 1929 – 14 June 2007) was an English cinematographer and former president of the British Society of Cinematographers.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on John Boorman's Excalibur (1981).
The BSC posthumously described him as "a cinematographer's cinematographer."
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Early life
Thomson was born and raised in the Kingsbury district of London. His father was a tailor, whose clients included Anthony Havelock-Allan.
Career
As a teenager, Thomson was offered a job by Bert Easey, who was head of cameras at Denham and Pinewood Studios. He entered the film industry as a clapper boy.
After that, he went on to serve as a camera operator under cinematographer Nicolas Roeg throughout the 60s, until he made his debut as a cinematographer with the film Ervinka (1967).
Thomson was the original director of photography for Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), but during the first week of principal photography, he was seriously injured after falling from a camera crane. Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe was then brought up as replacement.
During his recovery, Thomson worked as second unit for Oswald Morris on The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976), and additional photography on Superman (1978).
In 1980, Thomson was brought in to shoot John Boorman's Excalibur, replacing Tony Pierce-Roberts. Thomson's work on the Arthurian fantasy epic subsequently earned him a nomination for Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
From 1980 to 1982, Thomson served as the 16th President of the British Society of Cinematographers.
Style and techniques
Thomson was an avid user of Joe Dunton's custom-built Xtal Xpress anamorphic lenses, shooting many of his more high-profile projects with them.
Personal life and death
He was married to the sculptor Diana Thomson, and they had a daughter, Chyna.
Thomson died on 14 June 2007, at the age of 78, in Chertsey, Surrey.
He is featured in the book Conversations with Cinematographers by David A. Ellis, published by Scarecrow Press.
Filmography
Film
Short film
TV movies
TV series