Veteran cinematographer and industry stalwart Ron Johanson died last month at age 75, following a long battle with brain cancer.
Johanson, who spent more than five decades behind the camera, died peacefully on Saturday, June 28, surrounded by his family.
He was best known for his acclaimed work in film, television and advertising, in addition to his long and transformative tenure as president of the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS), serving in the role from 2008 to 2022.
His death was confirmed in a heartbreaking statement on behalf of the Australian Cinematographers Society, written by fellow cameraman Ernie Clark.
‘It is with great sorrow we acknowledge the passing of Ronald Johanson OAM ACS,’ Ernie began.
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Veteran cinematographer and industry stalwart Ron Johanson died last month at age 75, following a long battle with brain cancer
‘Ron was our much-loved, highly respected and long serving National ACS president for fourteen years from 2008 to 2022, national vice president for five years and a past Queensland president for over ten years.’
He added that under Johanson’s leadership, the ACS had grown significantly and helped shape the Australian media landscape.
‘Ron helped expand recognition of the ACS on the world stage becoming only the second ACS president to be the Australian representative on Imago – the International Federation of Cinematographers, becoming a co-president in 2021,’ he wrote.
‘He fostered alliances with many international cinematography guilds as well. Ron was instrumental in making the ACS more inclusive, by working with the other Australian guilds to bring our industry together to make it the best it could be.
‘He strove to make the ACS more welcoming to all and to innovate changes to improve the ACS. He made the society truly national by implementing a branch in every state and territory.’
Raised in Melbourne, Johanson began his career as a teenage message boy at Crawford Productions in 1965.
By the age of 21, he had worked his way up to lighting cameraman and quickly established himself as a rising talent.
In 1980, he founded his own Brisbane-based production company, Roly Poly Picture Company, directing and shooting hundreds of high-end television commercials, documentaries and films.
He worked on the cult Australian 2000 horror movie Cut, starring Aussie actors Kylie Minogue (pictured), Stephen Curry and Jessica Napier, in addition to Hollywood star Molly Ringwald
Johanson, who spent more than five decades behind the camera, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28, surrounded by his family
He worked on the cult Australian 2000 horror movie Cut, starring Aussie actors Kylie Minogue, Stephen Curry and Jessica Napier, in addition to Hollywood star Molly Ringwald.
Johanson was also the cinematographer for the cult 1982 Australian action movie Freedom, helmed by Shine director Scott Hicks and starring Bud Tingwell.
But it was his work off-camera that helped shape the Australian screen industry as we know it today.
Johanson was instrumental in establishing the ACS’s national headquarters in North Sydney in 2010, helping to unify the society and give it a permanent home.
He also led the push to expand ACS representation across every state and territory, making it a national body.
Under his leadership, the ACS gained international recognition, with Johanson becoming co-president of Imago – the global federation of cinematographers – in 2021.
He also helped publish The Shadowcatchers, a landmark 288-page book on the history of Australian cinematography.
Johanson’s enormous contributions to the screen industry were formally recognised in 2014 when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to film and mentorship.
He also received ACS Life Membership, was inducted into the ACS Hall of Fame, and was honoured with the Ron Windon ACS Contribution Award in 2015.
Johanson is survived by his wife Linda, their children Shannon and Kelly, and four grandchildren.
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