Born in Ithaca, New York. He entered the film industry following WW I service, during which he gained experience as a cameraman for the Signal Corps. He subsequently worked on numerous Hollywood productions, displaying meticulous craftsmanship in the cinematography of both major and minor films. He did some of his best work for MGM from the mid-30s to the mid-50s. Having shot over 170 films, some of his notable cinematography credits include his first film, THE ROMANCE OF ELAINE (1915), THE SIREN (1927), SO THIS IS LOVE? (1928), ALIBI (1929), PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ (1930), INDISCREET and ARROWSMITH (both 1931), HORSE FEATHERS (1932), I COVER THE WATEFRONT, ROMAN SCANDALS and WHEN LADIES MEET (all 1933), RIPTIDE, TREASURE ISLAND and KID MILLIONS (all 1934), CHINA SEAS and BARBARY COAST (both 1935), THE GREAT ZIEGFELD ("A Pretty Girl..." number), SUZY and BORN TO DANCE (all 1936), SARATOGA, NIGHT MUST FALL and BROADWAY MELODY OF 1938 (uncredited) (all 1937), TEST PILOT (1938), HONOLULU (1939), STRIKE UP THE BAND (1940), ZIEGFELD GIRL (1941), CAIRO (1942), I DOOD IT (1943), THREE MEN IN WHITE (1944), TWICE BLESSED (1945), ZIEGFELD FOLLIES (1946, uncredited), THE BEGINNING OF THE END (1947), THREE DARING DAUGHTERS (1948), THE SECRET GARDEN (1949), CRISIS (1950), INSIDE STRAIGHT (1951), ABOVE AND BEYOND (1952), EASY TO LOVE (1953), THIS IS MY LOVE (1954), THE COURT JESTER (1956), FUNNY FACE and THE SEVENTH SIN (both 1957) and GIGI (uncredited) and his last film, HOUSEBOAT (both 1958).    Nominated for Cinematography 1931-32: ARROWSMITH    Nominated for Cinematography 1935: BARBARY COAST    Nominated for Cinematography 1957: FUNNY FACE 3 nominations