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Andrew Lesnie(1956-2015)

  • Cinematographer
  • Director
  • Camera and Electrical Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Andrew Lesnie
Andrew Lesnie was an Australian cinematographer who frequently worked with Peter Jackson. He did the photography for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. He also did the photography for Babe, King Kong, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, I Am Legend and The Lovely Bones. He passed away in April 2015 due to a heart attack.
BornJanuary 1, 1956
DiedApril 27, 2015(59)
BornJanuary 1, 1956
DiedApril 27, 2015(59)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 28 wins & 37 nominations total

Photos2

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Known for

Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and John Rhys-Davies in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
8.9
  • Cinematographer
  • 2001
Andy Serkis and Naomi Watts in King Kong (2005)
King Kong
7.2
  • Cinematographer
  • 2005
Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, and Andy Serkis in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
9.0
  • Cinematographer
  • 2003
Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Miranda Otto, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, and Andy Serkis in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
8.8
  • Cinematographer
  • 2002

Credits

IMDbPro

Cinematographer

  • The Water Diviner (2014)
    The Water Diviner
    7.0
    • Cinematographer
    • 2014
  • Martin Freeman in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
    The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
    7.4
    • Cinematographer
    • 2014
  • Don Hany in Healing (2014)
    Healing
    6.7
    • director of photography
    • 2014
  • Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Luke Evans in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
    The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
    7.8
    • director of photography
    • 2013
  • The Turning (2013)
    The Turning
    5.8
    • Cinematographer (segment "Reunion")
    • 2013
  • Martin Freeman in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
    The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    7.8
    • director of photography
    • 2012
  • Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
    Rise of the Planet of the Apes
    7.6
    • director of photography
    • 2011
  • The Last Airbender (2010)
    The Last Airbender
    3.9
    • director of photography
    • 2010
  • Stanley Tucci and Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones (2009)
    The Lovely Bones
    6.6
    • director of photography
    • 2009
  • Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, Jessica Mauboy, and Rocky McKenzie in Bran Nue Dae (2009)
    Bran Nue Dae
    6.2
    • director of photography
    • 2009
  • Will Smith, Kona, and Abbey in I Am Legend (2007)
    I Am Legend
    7.2
    • director of photography
    • 2007
  • Rhiannon Leigh Wryn and Chris O'Neil in The Last Mimzy (2007)
    The Last Mimzy
    6.2
    • Cinematographer
    • 2007
  • The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Behind-the-Scenes (2006)
    The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Behind-the-Scenes
    8.5
    Video
    • Cinematographer
    • 2006
  • Andy Serkis and Naomi Watts in King Kong (2005)
    King Kong
    7.2
    • director of photography
    • 2005
  • Love's Brother (2004)
    Love's Brother
    6.3
    • director of photography
    • 2004

Director

  • Simon Townsend in Wonder World! (1979)
    Wonder World!
    8.0
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1979

Camera and Electrical Department

  • Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood in Shine a Light (2008)
    Shine a Light
    7.1
    • camera operator
    • 2008
  • Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, and Hugo Weaving in Happy Feet (2006)
    Happy Feet
    6.4
    • director of photography: live action unit
    • 2006
  • Love's Brother (2004)
    Love's Brother
    6.3
    • camera operator
    • 2004
  • Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible II (2000)
    Mission: Impossible II
    6.1
    • additional cinematographer (uncredited)
    • 2000
  • Elizabeth Daily and Danny Mann in Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
    Babe: Pig in the City
    5.9
    • camera operator
    • 1998
  • Rufus Sewell in Dark City (1998)
    Dark City
    7.5
    • guest director of photography: additional photography - additional personnel
    • 1998
  • Spider & Rose (1994)
    Spider & Rose
    6.8
    • camera operator
    • 1994
  • John Meillon and Cate Brennan in Tripe (1989)
    Tripe
    7.3
    Short
    • camera operator
    • 1989
  • The Delinquents (1989)
    The Delinquents
    5.7
    • camera operator
    • 1989
  • Nick Nolte and Nigel Havers in Farewell to the King (1989)
    Farewell to the King
    6.2
    • director of photography: second unit
    • 1989
  • Incident at Raven's Gate (1988)
    Incident at Raven's Gate
    5.4
    • camera operator
    • 1988
  • The 13th Floor (1988)
    The 13th Floor
    4.4
    • director of photography: additional material
    • 1988
  • Around the World in Eighty Ways (1987)
    Around the World in Eighty Ways
    6.2
    • second unit director of photography
    • 1987
  • Australian Dream (1987)
    Australian Dream
    6.4
    • camera operator
    • 1987
  • Dead End Drive-In (1986)
    Dead End Drive-In
    5.9
    • additional photographer
    • 1986

Videos1

In Memoriam: 2015
Video 2:42
In Memoriam: 2015

Personal details

  • Born
    • January 1, 1956
    • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Died
    • April 27, 2015
    • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia(heart attack)
  • Other works
    Director of photography for Carlton Draught TV commercial "Big Ad" (2005).

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Peter Jackson hired Lesnie for his Lord of the Rings trilogy after seeing his work on Babe (1995), the Australian film about a plucky pig.
  • Quotes
    [on his often unmotivated and impossible light sources] Where does the light come from? The same place as the music.
  • Trademarks
      Unkempt hair and glasses

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