Arthur Embery Higgins (25 October 1891 â€" 22 September 1963) was a
pioneering Australian cinematographer known for his use of trick
photography during the silent era. His ongoing collaborations with
director Raymond Longford include The Sentimental Bloke (1919) and The
Blue Mountains Mystery (1921). He briefly turned to directing with
Odds On (1928) however returned to cinematography in 1931 for the
remainder of his career.Arthur Higgins was born in Glebe, Hobart,
Tasmania in 1891. He was the youngest of three brothers, Ernest and
Tasman. From a young age, Arthur was introduced to photography and
projection by his eldest brother, Ernest. In 1900, Ernest rigged up a
projector from his father's shop's balcony with a screen on a building
across the street. Eventually Ernest's fascination with photography
and cinema took him to Sydney where he found work at Cosens Spencer
filming newsreels and travelogues. Although Arthur had begun a career
in architecture, he chose to join Ernest in Sydney in 1908 to pursue a
career in cinematography. From 1911, the brothers would work closely
with director Raymond Longford. In 1912, Tasman also moved to Sydney
to join his brothers.The Higgins brothers founded Higgins Bros,
Cinematographers in 1913 after their workplace merged with
Australasian Films Ltd. Generally the brothers worked on documentaries
and compilation films although they did one feature film, A Long, Long
Way to Tipperary in 1914. Discouraged by the lack of income from their
work, by 1917 Ernest had become the sole proprietor of the company.
After leaving Higgins Bros, Arthur ventured further with Raymond
Longford and Lottie Lyell's projects including The Sentimental Bloke
(1919) and On our Selection (1920).
pioneering Australian cinematographer known for his use of trick
photography during the silent era. His ongoing collaborations with
director Raymond Longford include The Sentimental Bloke (1919) and The
Blue Mountains Mystery (1921). He briefly turned to directing with
Odds On (1928) however returned to cinematography in 1931 for the
remainder of his career.Arthur Higgins was born in Glebe, Hobart,
Tasmania in 1891. He was the youngest of three brothers, Ernest and
Tasman. From a young age, Arthur was introduced to photography and
projection by his eldest brother, Ernest. In 1900, Ernest rigged up a
projector from his father's shop's balcony with a screen on a building
across the street. Eventually Ernest's fascination with photography
and cinema took him to Sydney where he found work at Cosens Spencer
filming newsreels and travelogues. Although Arthur had begun a career
in architecture, he chose to join Ernest in Sydney in 1908 to pursue a
career in cinematography. From 1911, the brothers would work closely
with director Raymond Longford. In 1912, Tasman also moved to Sydney
to join his brothers.The Higgins brothers founded Higgins Bros,
Cinematographers in 1913 after their workplace merged with
Australasian Films Ltd. Generally the brothers worked on documentaries
and compilation films although they did one feature film, A Long, Long
Way to Tipperary in 1914. Discouraged by the lack of income from their
work, by 1917 Ernest had become the sole proprietor of the company.
After leaving Higgins Bros, Arthur ventured further with Raymond
Longford and Lottie Lyell's projects including The Sentimental Bloke
(1919) and On our Selection (1920).
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