Russell Stewart Boyd, , ACS, ASC, (born 21 April 1944) is an Australian cinematographer, known as a key figure of the Australian New Wave movement from the 1970s, with his work on Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) helping to shape the visual aesthetic of Australian cinema.
In 2003, Boyd won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
Early life Born into a rural Victorian family, he spent his early years on a small farm near Geelong, where his father worked as a wool classer.
Career Boyd started his professional career at Cinesound in Melbourne as a general assistant. Seeking broader opportunities, he moved to Sydney in the mid-1960s, where he worked on documentaries and commercials at Supreme Studios.
In 1974, Boyd made his breakthrough with Between Wars, earning him the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) Milli Award for Cinematographer of the Year.
Australian New Wave and collaboration with Peter Weir Boyd played a pivotal role in the Australian New Wave cinema movement of the 1970s, which revitalised the country's film industry. His collaboration with director Peter Weir began in 1975 with Picnic at Hanging Rock, a film that is widely credited with putting Australian cinema on the world map. His work on the film also earned Boyd a BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography.
He would later work on five other movies with Weir: The Last Wave (1977), Gallipoli (1981), The Year of Living Dangerously (1982), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), and The Way Back (2010).
Hollywood career In the early 1980s, Boyd expanded his career to Hollywood, working with Australian directors who had also made the transition. He served as cinematographer on Bruce Beresford's Tender Mercies (1983) and Gillian Armstrong's Mrs. Soffel (1984).
He also worked on mainstream productions like White Men Can't Jump (1992), Liar Liar (1997) and Dr. Dolittle (1998).
Filmography
Feature film Year Title Director1974 Matchless John Papadopoulos Between Wars Michael Thornhill1975 The Man from Hong Kong Brian Trenchard-Smith Picnic at Hanging Rock Peter Weir The Golden Cage Ayten Kuyululu1976 Summer of Secrets Jim Sharman Break of Day Ken Hannam1977 The Singer and the Dancer Gillian Armstrong Backroads Phillip Noyce The Last Wave Peter Weir1979 Dawn! Ken Hannam Just Out of Reach Linda Blagg 1980 The Chain Reaction Ian Barry1981 ...Maybe This Time Chris McGill Gallipoli Peter Weir1982 Starstruck Gillian Armstrong The Year of Living Dangerously Peter Weir1983 Tender Mercies Bruce Beresford Phar Lap Simon Wincer1984 A Soldier's Story Norman Jewison Mrs. Soffel Gillian Armstrong Stanley Esben Storm 1985 Burke & Wills Graeme Clifford 1986 Crocodile Dundee Peter Faiman1987 High Tide Gillian Armstrong The Perfectionist Chris Thomson1988 Crocodile Dundee II John Cornell The Rescue Ferdinand Fairfax 1989 In Country Norman Jewison1990 Blood Oath Stephen Wallace Almost an Angel John Cornell 1991 Sweet Talker Michael Jenkins1992 Turtle Beach Stephen Wallace White Men Can't Jump Ron Shelton Forever Young Steve Miner 1994 Cobb Ron Shelton 1995 Operation Dumbo Drop Simon Wincer 1996 Tin Cup Ron Shelton 1997 Liar Liar Tom Shadyac 1998 Dr. Dolittle Betty Thomas 2000 Company Man Peter AskinDouglas McGrath2001 Serenades Mojgan Khadem American Outlaws Les Mayfield 2003 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Peter Weir 2007 Ghost Rider Mark Steven Johnson 2010 The Way Back Peter Weir
Television Year Title Director Notes1972 The Spoiler The Marty Feldman Show Brian Trenchard-Smith TV special 1975 CBS Children's Film Festival Bert Salzman Episode "Me and You, Kangaroo" 1981 A Town Like Alice David Stevens Miniseries 1986 The Challenge Chris Thomson 3 episodes 2012 Watch with Mother Paul BrutyThe Glue Society 2 episodes
TV movies Year Title Director 1976 Is There Anybody There? Peter Maxwell1977 The Alternative Paul Eddey Mama's Gone A-Hunting Peter Maxwell Benny Hill Down Under Rod KinnearRichard McCarthy1978 Gone to Ground Kevin James Dobson The Night Nurse Igor Auzins Plunge Into Darkness Peter Maxwell 1985 The Perfectionist Chris Thomson
Documentary film Year Title Director Notes 1979 New South Wales Images Himself With John Seale
Awards and recognition Boyd has been a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) since 1975, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 2004, he became a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
In 1988, Boyd became the first of the only two cinematographers to receive the Australian Film Institute's Raymond Longford Award, recognising his "unwavering commitment over many years to excellence in the film and television industries".
In 2021, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to the visual arts as a cinematographer of Australian feature films and television productions" in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
Major awards Year Award Category Title Result 1975BAFTA AwardsBest Cinematography Picnic at Hanging Rock 2003Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World Academy Awards Best Cinematography American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
Australian awards Australian Film Institute Awards Year Award Title Result 1977Best Cinematography Break of Day 1978 The Last Wave 1980 The Chain Reaction 1983 The Year of Living Dangerously 1986 Burke & Wills 1988Raymond Longford Award 1990 Best Cinematography Blood Oath
Australian Cinematographers Society Year Award Title Result 1976Cinematographer of the Year Between Wars 1982 Gallipoli 1998Hall of Fame Award
Other awards Year Award Category Title Result 1976 British Society of Cinematographers Best CinematographyPicnic at Hanging Rock 1979 Saturn Awards Best Cinematography 2002 FCCA AwardSpecial Achievement Award 2003Camerimage Special Award for Duo Cinematographer-DirectorMaster and Commander:The Far Side of the World Golden Frog Satellite Awards Best Cinematography(shared with Sandi Sissel on second unit) 2005 Kodak AwardsExcellence in Cinematography
References
Further reading
External links