David Myers(1914-2004)

Ace cinematographer David Myers was well regarded in the movie industry for his sterling contributions to various rock-'n-roll music documentaries he photographed throughout his 50-year career. Myers was born on May 8, 1914, in Auburn, New York. He was inspired to become a still photographer after seeing a display of Depression-era photographer Walker Evans' work at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1938. David worked for the Farm Security Administration while studying at Antioch College, was a conscientious objector during World War II, planted trees for the U.S. Forest Service and photographed patients during admission for a Spokane, Washington, mental hospital prior to becoming involved with the motion picture business. His big break occurred when famed photographer Imogen Cunningham told the backers of a short feature that she wouldn't make it without Myers' participation, which is how he wound up directing the documentary short Ask Me, Don't Tell Me (1961). During the 1960s Myers traveled the world shooting documentaries for both National Geographic and the United Nations (he was a pioneer in the field of cinema verite). However, it was his vital and substantial work on the classic Oscar-winning landmark rock concert documentary Woodstock (1970) that really cemented David's status as a top cinematographer of rock documentaries. Among the other rock documentaries Myers subsequently photographed in the wake of "Woodstock" are Johnny Cash in San Quentin (1969), Elvis on Tour (1972), 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). David also shot the Oscar-winning documentary Marjoe (1972) and the speculative paranormal documentary The Mysterious Monsters (1975). Outside of his documentary credits, Myers was the cinematographer for such feature films as 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). He was an honorary member of the Society of Operating Cameramen. David Myers died at age 90 following a stroke on August 26, 2004.