Conservationist and cinematographer Ron Taylor AM ACS, who filmed the live shark sequences for Steven Spielberg's classic Jaws, died on September 9 after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
His career spanned more than 50 years across more than 40 films. His first filming break was Playing with Sharks for Movietone News, which received the Britannia Award in 1962. The Taylors then filmed the underwater shark sequences for Jaws in 1968, as well as working on films such as Age of Consent (1969), Taylor's Inner Space (1972), and Orca (1976).
ACS historian Ron Windon ACS and national president Ron Johanson ACS said Ron and Valerie were still active up to the time of his illness, spending many months each year on expeditions to remote corners of the earth.
"He was a wonderful man, who possessed an innate ability to communicate with all those who crossed his path," they wrote in an email to members. "He was a humanitarian, an innovative cinematographer who contributed so much to the Australian film and television industry, and a true gentleman.
"Ron Taylor AM ACS will be sadly missed by us all, and our collective thoughts and prayers are with Valerie at this very sad time."
Taylor was accredited with the coveted ACS designation in 1967 and inducted into the ACS Hall of Fame last year.