Sven Nykvist was considered by many in the industry to be one of the world's greatest cinematographers. During his long career that spanned almost half a century, Nyvist perfected the art of cinematography to its most simple attributes, and he helped give the films he had worked on the simplest and most natural look imaginable. Indeed, Mr. Nykvist prideed himself on the simplicity and naturalness of his lighting schemes. Nykvist used light to create mood and, more significantly, to bring out the natural flesh tones in the human face so that the emotion of the scene could be played out on the face without the light becoming intrusive. Nykvist entered the Swedish film industry when he was 19 and worked his way up to becoming a director of photography. He first worked with the legendary Swedish director 'Ingmar Bergman' paid homage to Nykvist, although it does not grant us any real secrets about his working methods. Nykvist died in 2006.
Father of Carl-Gustav Nykvist
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990
Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Cinematographers Branch).
Cinematographer & Camera operator.
Member of FSF (Swedish Society of Cinematographers).
Closely associated with Ingmar Bergman and Bergmans disciples Woody Allen and Andrei Tarkovsky.
Although Nykvist is well-known for his distinctive black-and-white cinematography in many of Ingmar Bergman s films such as Persona and Vargtimmen , his two Oscars victories ( Viskningar och rop and Fanny och Alexander ) and one more nomination ( The Unbearable Lightness of Being ) were all for colour films. The latter includes minor black-and-white scenes.
Dated Mia Farrow (1978/79).
Today we make everything so complicated. The lighting, the camers, the,acting. It has taken me thirty years to arrive at simplicity.
Light is with you - you do not have to feel you are alone. .
