Worked as second unit photographer on the classic long shot of Omar Sharif riding a camel as he emerges from a mirage at the beginning of David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
Started as a 14 year-old messenger boy at Warner Brothers' Teddington Studio. By 1937, he had worked his way up to focus puller and, by 1942, was employed by Ealing as first assistant cameraman.
Made training films for the British Army during World War II as part of the Army Kinematograph Service at Fox Studios, Wembley. He was decommissioned at the end of the war as a second lieutenant.
He was president of the British Society of Cinematographers from 1984 to 1986.