Person Biography:
David Myers was a renowned cinematographer, celebrated for his impressive contributions to various rock-'n-roll music documentaries throughout his 50-year career. Born on May 8, 1914, in Auburn, New York, Myers developed an interest in still photography after witnessing a display of Depression-era photographer Walker Evans' work at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1938.
Myers worked for the Farm Security Administration while studying at Antioch College, and was a conscientious objector during World War II. He planted trees for the U.S. Forest Service and photographed patients during admission for a Spokane, Washington, mental hospital before entering the motion picture industry.
Myers' big break came when Imogen Cunningham, a renowned photographer, recommended him for a short feature, which led to his involvement in directing the documentary short "Ask Me, Don't Tell Me" (1961). Throughout the 1960s, Myers traveled the world, shooting documentaries for National Geographic and the United Nations, and was a pioneer in the field of cinema verite.
His work on the classic Oscar-winning landmark rock concert documentary "Woodstock" (1970) cemented Myers' status as a top cinematographer of rock documentaries. He went on to photograph numerous other rock documentaries, including "Johnny Cash in San Quentin" (1969),"Elvis on Tour" (1972),"Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen" (1971),"Soul to Soul" (1971),"Wattstax" (1973),"Let the Good Times Roll" (1973),"Save the Children" (1973),"The Grateful Dead" (1977),"Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz" (1978),"Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps" (1979),and "Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light" (1980).
In addition to his documentary work, Myers was the cinematographer for several feature films, including George Lucas' debut feature "THX 1138" (1971),"Welcome to L.A." (1976),"Bob Dylan's Renaldo and Clara" (1978),"FM" (1978),"Roadie" (1980),"Zoot Suit" (1981),and "UFOria" (1984).
Throughout his career, Myers received numerous accolades and was an honorary member of the Society of Operating Cameramen. He passed away at the age of 90 on August 26, 2004, following a stroke.
