I can't think of a better way to remember the legendary cinematographer Sven Nykvist, who passed away earlier today, than with a few of his most indelible images.

Cries and Whispers

Crimes and Misdemeanors

Fanny and Alexander

thanks for the memories, Sven...

Another great one, gone...

We'll all remember the blood reds and chilly whites of "Cries and Whispers" and the Christmas joy of "Fanny and Alexander"...but so many of his non-Bergman work must also be invoked at this point: the long, dark hallway illuminating layer by layer as Gena Rowlands and Ian Holm return home in Woody Allen's "Another Woman"; those still, slow gazes across the apartment complex at still-life neighbors in Polanski's "The Tenant"; the cottage gradually burning to the ground as its inhabitants watch desperately in Tarkovsky's "The Sacrifice"....all unforgettable.

Amen.

Thanks for the images and reminding us of Sven's work beyond that with Bergman.

"Light Keeps Me Company", Carl-Gustaf's homage to his father, is available from my company on DVD. It's the definitive look at Nykvist, and a must-see for fans of his work.

I had the great privilege of working with Sven Nykvist on Alan J. Pakula's film "Dream Lover" . I remember him as a meticulous artist and gentleman; kind, patient, soft-spoken and a warm sense of humor. I was a young, impressionable actor, who only later appreciated what a gifted legend he was, when I later became a lifelong ardent Bergman fan. I remember vividly the time and care he took lighting the scenes I was in, (which are beautiful and rich in the film) his exquisite use of darkness and how he captured an "ether-like" energy on film. With video and HD now, I doubt if we will see his kind of artistry again. A true painter, a "Master of Light", I feel sorrow at his passing and honored to have had that rare opportunity to be photgraphed by him. What a brilliant legacy and so many treasured works of art he has left us. Condolences and best wishes to his family,
Joseph Culp
Actor "Dream Lover" (1986)

thank you for the article on Sven Nykvist