Born into a motion picture family (his father was a make-up artist at the Warner Bros. studio in Brooklyn), pioneering director of photography Gordon Willis began as a still photographer and spent four years in the motion picture unit of the US Air Force, photographing instructional films on topics ranging from survival in the jungle to how to use a machine gun. After military service, he worked in NYC as a cameraman on documentaries and commercials before getting his first opportunity to work as cinematographer on Aram Avakian's "End of the Road" (1970, adapted from the novel by John Barth),
Performed two seasons in summer stock at Gloucester, Massachusetts; also built scenery
Introduced to film as a member of the motion picture unit of the US Air Force during Korean War-era service; subsequently worked as cameraman on documentaries and commercials
1970
First feature film as director of photography, "End of the Road", based on the John Barth novel
1970
Was director of photography for Hal Ashby's feature directorial debut, "The Landlord"
