We were saddened by the news of the passing of local SA ACS member Chris Herzfeld who was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer in February of this year.
His love of Photography and Lighting was born from his father Wally Herzfeld a renowned Cine News Cameraman who worked alongside local legends Dean Semler AM ACS ASC and Brian Bosisto.
After winning the inaugural Kodak Nikon Supershot Award in 1984, Chris embarked on a career as a lighting cameraman. He worked with Channel 10 and 7 in South Australia on a wide range of programs from lifestyle shows to documentaries. He also worked on numerous commercials, film clips and news services as both a cameraman and lighting director for many local, interstate and international production companies.
Chris started his company Camlight in 2003 which specialised in Cinematography, Stills and lighting. He was forever buying new camera gear or the latest LED Light.
Chris forged an enviable reputation in capturing unique modern dance images in stills as well as moving pictures. He worked with Australian Dance Theatre, Brink Productions, Country Arts SA as well as on many individual dance and film projects.
Chris won a number of awards for his dance photography in the International Loupe and the AIPP photography awards. He also won a number of Australian Cinematographer Society awards.
He was always generous with young camera assistants in explaining the finer points of a particular camera, lens or lighting gear.
SA Cinematographer and ACS Committee Member David Gregan said:
“I first got my start in the lighting department with Chris and Richard Rees-Jones on the Kojo feature “Beautiful”. His patience and good humour with a kid still in film school was commendable.
And for many years after that I was Chris’s camera assistant. Learning so much from his wisdom and knowledge, through Chris I even got to meet the legendary Cinematographer Dean Semler AM ASC ACS.
I always enjoyed my time with Chris whether it was assisting for him, or even just catching up for a coffee. I’ll miss him greatly.”
Dean Semler was born and raised in Renmark SA he answered a call from the Renmark Primary School about making a film.
In 2013 he then engaged Chris to come up from Adelaide and shoot this film.
On recognising the Herzfeld name Dean remembered working with Chris’s father Wally.
Chris and Dean became friends and met up again in LA.
Nov 2013…Local paper : OSCAR-winning Hollywood cinematographer Dean Semler gave Renmark students a life lesson when he wrote, directed and edited a short film, “The Renmark Rascals”.
Chris shot many of my TVC’s, firstly as an operator then DP over the last 20 years. I will miss his enthusiasm, good humour and friendship …
Gone way to soon. Our thoughts go out to his partner Kyra and family.
RIP … Mark Evans SA ACS Committee Member
