Born in Barcelona, Spain; educated at Havana University (philosophy, literature), CCNY (film) and Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Rome (cinematography). Award-winning international cinematographer who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 70s. Almendros's crisp black-and-white style (as evidenced in MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S in 1969) recalled the early silent masters. He also did brilliant color work for François Truffaut (eight features, from 1969's THE WILD CHILD to 1983's CONFIDENTIALLY YOURS) and Eric Rohmer (the sun-dappled CLAIRE'S KNEE in 1971). During this period, Almendros collaborated with producer-director Barbet Schroeder on MORE (1969), MAITRESSE (1976)/MISTRESS and the documentaries GENERAL IDI AMIN DADA (1974) and KOKO, THE TALKING GORILLA (1978). By the mid-70's Almendros was alternating between major American films and projects for European directors. With Oscar-winning work on Malick's DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978), Almendros introduced a completely natural look to his films, eschewing traditional studio lighting, filters and trickery for use of existing natural light in such features as THE BLUE LAGOON (1980) and SOPHIE'S CHOICE (1982). In the 80s, while continuing to produce superior images for the likes of Robert Benton PLACES IN THE HEART, 1984) and Martin Scorsese (NEW YORK STORIES, 1989), Almendros also directed a couple of piercing interview-documentaries about political repression and human rights violations in Cuba: IMPROPER CONDUCT (1983) (with Orlando Jimenez-Leal) and NOBODY LISTENED (1988) (with Jorge Ulla). He authored an acclaimed book on cinematography, A Man with a Camera (1980). He died of A.I.D.S. in 1992 at the age of 61.  Cinematography 1978: DAYS OF HEAVEN  Nominated for Cinematography 1979: KRAMER VS. KRAMER  Nominated for Cinematography 1980: THE BLUE LAGOON  Nominated for Cinematography 1982: SOPHIE'S CHOICE 4 nominations, 1 Award