Billy Bitzer

Billy Bitzer with a straw hat and a cigar

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Gottfried Wilhelm "Billy" Bitzer (April 21, 1874 - April 29, 1944) was a pioneering cinematographer notable for his close association with D. W. Griffith.

Bitzer provided assistance during Griffith's directorial debut, 1908's The Adventures of Dollie, which was shot by Arthur Marvin. He eventually succeeded Marvin as Griffith's regular cinematographer, working with him on some of his most important films and contributing significantly to cinematic innovations attributed to Griffith.

In 1910, he photographed Griffith's silent short, In Old California, in the Los Angeles village of "Hollywoodland", qualifying Bitzer as, arguably, Hollywood's first Director of Photography.

In 2003, a survey conducted by the International Cinematographers Guild named him one of the ten most influential cinematographers in history. Bitzer, it is said, "developed camera techniques that set the standard for all future motion pictures."

Among Bitzer's innovations were

    the fade out to close a movie scene;
    the iris shot where a circle closes to close a scene;
    soft focus photography with the aid of a light diffusion screen;
    filming entirely under artificial lighting rather than outside;
    lighting, closeups and long shots to create mood;
    perfection of matte photography.

Prior to his career as a cameraman, Bitzer developed early cinematic technologies for the American Mutoscope Company, eventually to become the Biograph Company. He admired and learned the art of motion picture photography from Kinetoscope inventor W.K.L. Dickson, who directed the early Biograph shorts on which Bitzer cut his teeth. Until 1903, Bitzer was employed by Biograph primarily as a documentary photographer, and from 1903 onward primarily as the photographer of narrative films, as these gained popularity. (Hendricks 1964, pp. 5)

In 1908 Bitzer entered into his first collaboration with Griffith. The two would work together for the rest of Bitzer's career, leaving Biograph in 1913 for the Mutual Film Corporation where Bitzer continued to innovate, perfecting existing technologies and inventing new ones. During this time he pioneered the field of matte photography and made use of innovative lighting techniques, closeups, and iris shots.

The apex of Bitzer and Griffith's collaboration came with The Birth of a Nation (1915), a film funded in part by Bitzer's life savings, and the epic Intolerance (1916).

For all his innovation, Bitzer did not survive the industry's transition to sound, and in 1944 he suffered a heart attack and died in Hollywood in relative obscurity.

His autobiography, Billy Bitzer: His Story, was published posthumously in 1973.

From Wikipedia

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Billy Bitzer Cinematographer Intolerance

Billy Bitzer - cinematographer of D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" (1916) and many other masterpieces - with a straw hat and a cigar.

Arthur V. Johnson and Mary Pickford in "A Romance of the Western Hills (1910).

Mack Sennett And Mary Pickford In An Arcadian Maid 1910 00

Mack Sennett and Mary Pickford in "An Arcadian Maid" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Kate Bruce And Mary Pickford In The Old Actor 1912

Kate Bruce and Mary Pickford in "The Old Actor" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the documentary "Testing a Rotary" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

W. Chrystie Miller and Mary Pickford in "The Unwelcome Guest" (1913), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford in "With the Enemy's Help" (1912), directed by Wilfred Lucas, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford In Lena And The Geese 1912 03

Mary Pickford in "Lena and the Geese" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford in "Iola's Promise" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford And Henry Walthall In The Sorrows Of The Unfaithful 1910 4

Mary Pickford and Henry Walthall in "The Sorrows of the Unfaithful" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the documentary "Girls Winding Armatures" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Florence Lawrence In The Zulus Heart 1908 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01

Florence Lawrence in "The Zulu's Heart" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford And George Nichols In As It Is In Life 1910 04

Mary Pickford and George Nichols in "As It Is in Life" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson And Mary Pickford In The Mountaineers Honor 1909 5

Mary Pickford and Arthur Johnson in "The Mountaineer's Honor" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson And Mary Pickford In The Awakening 1909 01

Mary Pickford and Arthur Johnson in "The Awakening" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Henry Walthall And Claire Mcdowell In The God Within 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01

Henry Walthall and Claire McDowell in "The God Within" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Stephanie Longfellow And Henry Walthall In In Lifes Cycle 1910

Stephanie Longfellow and Henry Walthall in the film "In Life's Cycle" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Henry Walthall And Lillian Gish In The Birth Of A Nation 1915 04

Henry Walthall and Lillian Gish in "The Birth of a Nation" (1916), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mae Marsh In The Birth Of A Nation 1915 02

Mae Marsh in "The Birth of a Nation" (1916), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Wallace Reid In The Birth Of A Nation 1915 05

Wallace Reid in "The Birth of a Nation" (1916), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Ivor Novello And Mae Marsh In The White Rose 1920 17

Ivor Novello and Mae Marsh in "The White Rose" (1923), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mae Marsh in "The White Rose" (1923), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Ivor Novello in "The White Rose" (1923), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Billy Quirk and Mary Pickford in "Muggsy's First Sweetheart" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Blanche Sweet And Wilfred Lucas In Love In The Hills 1911 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01

Blanche Sweet and Wilfred Lucas in "Love in the Hills" (1911), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the documentary "Steam Hammer" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron And Mae Marsh In The Reformers 1913 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 03

Robert Harron and Mae Marsh in "The Reformers" (1913), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the documentary "Assembling a Generator" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron In The Yaqui Cur 1913 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 009

Robert Harron and Kate Bruce in "The Yaqui Cur" (1913), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Florence Lawrence And Arthur V Johnson In The Way Of Man 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01Bb

Florence Lawrence and Arthur Johnson in "The Way of Man" (1909), director D. W. Griffith, cinematographers Billy Bitzer and Arthur Marvin.

A scene from the documentary "Casting a Guide Box" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford In What The Daisy Said 1910 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 00

Mary Pickford in "What the Daisy Said" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the documentary "Automobiling Among the Clouds" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the film "The Hero of Liao Yang" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Frank Powell And Marion Leonard In Fools Of Fate 1909 Dw Griffith And Billy Bitzer 01

Frank Powell and Marion Leonard in "Fools of Fate" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Kate Bruce And Dorothy West In The Fugitive 1910 05

Kate Bruce and Dorothy West in "The Fugitive" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford And Elmer Booth In The Narrow Road 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 09B

Mary Pickford and Elmer Booth in "The Narrow Road" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the film "Personal" (1904), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Harry Carey And Claire Mcdowell In The Wanderer 1913 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 10

Harry Carey and Claire McDowell in "The Wanderer" (1913), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A scene from the film "Stealing a Dinner" (1903), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Henry Walthall And Florence Barker And Francis Grandon In The Oath And The Man 1910 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 08

Henry Walthall confronts Francis Grandon in "The Oath and the Man" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Richard Barthelmess In The Love Flower 1920 01

Richard Barthelmess in "The Love Flower" (1920), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Anders Randolf And Carol Dempster In The Love Flower 1920 09

Anders Randolf and Carol Dempster in "The Love Flower" (1920), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Clarine Seymour In The Idol Dancer 1920 08

Clarine Seymour in "The Idol Dancer" (1920), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Richard Barthelmess In The Idol Dancer 1920 10

Richard Barthelmess in "The Idol Dancer" (1920), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Dell Henderson And Claire Mcdowell In The Sunbeam 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 07

Dell Henderson and Claire McDowell have an argument in "The Sunbeam" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Henry Walthall And Marion Leonard In A Trap For Santa 1909 Dw Griffith And Billy Bitzer 08

Henry Walthall begs Marion Leonard's forgiveness in "A Trap for Santa" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson In Edgar Allan Poe 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 001

Arthur Johnson in "Edgar Allan Poe" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford And Henry Walthall In Wilful Peggy 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 16

Mary Pickford and Henry Walthall in "Wilful Peggy" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron In Mans Genesis 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 19

Robert Harron stands victorious by his vanquished nemesis Wilfred Lucas in "Man's Genesis" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

The Black Hand 1906 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 09

A scene from "The Black Hand" (1906), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Trial Marriages 1907 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 04

A scene from "Trial Marriages" (1907), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford And Henry Walthall In Ramona 1910 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 03

Mary Pickford and Henry Walthall in "Ramona" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Bert Williams In A Natural Born Gambler 1916 Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 06

Bert Williams and his disabled friend believe that they see the devil in "A Natural Born Gambler" (1916), cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Florence Lawrence In Romance Of A Jewess 1908 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01

Florence Lawrence suffers by her mother's deathbed in "Romance of a Jewess" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron And Walter Long And Miriam Cooper In Intolerance 1916 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 9

Miriam Cooper makes suggestive glances to Robert Harron, but his gang boss and her lover Walter Long is not going to tolerate this in "Intolerance" (1916), the Modern Story, directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mae Marsh In Intolerance 1916 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 21

Mae Marsh is horrified after being ordered to give up her child in "Intolerance" (1916), the Modern Story, directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish In Intolerance 1916 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 30

Lillian Gish is the Eternal Mother in "Intolerance" (1916), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Constance Talmadge In Intolerance 1916 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 8

Constance Talmadge is not impressed with the buyers in the marriage market in "Intolerance" (1916), the Story of Babylon, directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Dorothy Gish In Home Sweet Home 1914 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 4

Dorothy Gish in "Home, Sweet Home" (1914), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson In The Sealed Room 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 12

Arthur Johnson in "The Sealed Room" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Dorothy West And George Nichols In Rose O Salem Town 1910 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 4

Dorothy West is about to be arrested in "Rose O'Salem-Town" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mack Sennett In Father Gets In The Game 1908 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 5

Mack Sennett is not recognized by his wife in "Father Gets in the Game" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

A Scene From In The Border States 1910 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 2

Civilians salute the marching soldiers in a scene from the film "In the Border States" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Ynez Seabury And Lionel Barrymore In The Misers Heart 1911 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 4

Ynez Seabury and Lionel Barrymore in "The Miser's Heart" (1911), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Edwin August And Stephanie Longfellow And Wilfred Lucas In Winning Back His Love 1910 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 6

Edwin August, Stephanie Longfellow and Wilfred Lucas in "Winning Back His Love" (1910), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Florence Lawrence And Harry Solter And George Gebhardt In Money Mad 1908 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 16

Florence Lawrence, Harry Solter and George Gebhardt in "Money Mad" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron In The Musketeers Of Pig Alley 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 17

Robert Harron covers his comrades as his gang retreats in "The Musketeers of Pig Alley" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Florence Lawrence And Owen Moore In The Mended Lute 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 12

Florence Lawrence and Owen Moore paddle their canoe chased by the enemy in "The Mended Lute" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Mary Pickford And Claire Mcdowell And Dorothy Bernard In The Female Of The Species 1912 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 03

Dorothy Bernard, Claire McDowell and Mary Pickford in "The Female of the Species" (1912), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron In Judith Of Bethulia 1914 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer Bb

Robert Harron fights the enemy in "Judith of Bethulia" (1914), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson In The Cricket On The Hearth 1909 Director Dw Griffith 8

A scene from "The Cricket on the Hearth" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith. Arthur Johnson plays the minister.

Arthur V Johnson And Marion Leonard In The Voice Of The Violin 1909 Director Dw Griffith 8

Arthur Johnson and Marion Leonard in "The Voice of the Violin" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith.

Florence Lawrence In The Song Of The Shirt 1908 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 11

Florence Lawrence pleads for work in "The Song of the Shirt" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson In The Red Mans View 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 7

Arthur Johnson supervises the exodus in "The Red Man's View" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Arthur V Johnson In A Drunkards Reformation 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer Bb

Arthur Johnson vows to stop drinking in "A Drunkard's Reformation" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

George Nichols In Fighting Blood 1911 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 00Bb

George Nichols mobilizes all available troops in "Fighting Blood" (1911), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Corner In Wheat 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 17

Charity bread is in short supply for people on the poverty line in "Corner in Wheat" (1909), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Wilfred Lucas In Enoch Arden 1911 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01Bb

Wilfred Lucas in "Enoch Arden" (1911), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Hearts Of The World 1918 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 22Bb

A family of swans tries to find shelter from the bombs in "Hearts of the World" (1918), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish And Robert Harron In Hearts Of The World 1918 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 33

Lillian Gish and Robert Harron try to hide in enemy territory in "Hearts of the World" (1918), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Hearts Of The World 1918 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 26Bb

The enemy marches through the captured town in "Hearts of the World" (1918), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Robert Harron In A Romance Of Happy Valley 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 02Bb

Robert Harron gets a sermon against temptation in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

George Fawcett In A Romance Of Happy Valley 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 01Bb

George Fawcett in "A Romance of Happy Valley" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish And Richard Barthelmess In Broken Blossoms 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 19

Lillian Gish finds shelter in Richard Barthelmess's home in "Broken Blossoms" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish And Richard Barthelmess In Broken Blossoms 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 20

Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess meet face to face in "Broken Blossoms" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish And Richard Barthelmess In Broken Blossoms 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 00

Lillian Gish is tender to Richard Barthelmess, her savior in "Broken Blossoms" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish In Way Down East 1920 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 000

Lillian Gish is losing the will to live in "Way Down East" (1920), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish In Way Down East 1920 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 49

Richard Barthelmess tries to reach Lillian Gish's chunk of ice before it gets to the falls in "Way Down East" (1920), directed by D.W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Dorothy Gish In Orphans Of The Storm 1921 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 9

Dorothy Gish, who is blind, is an easy prey for an evil woman after her sister is kidnapped in "Orphans of the Storm" (1921), directed by D.W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish And Dorothy Gish In Orphans Of The Storm 1921 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 000

Lillian and Dorothy Gish in "Orphans of the Storm" (1921), directed by D.W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Florence Lawrence In The Country Doctor 1909 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 3

Florence Lawrence is happy with her husband and daughter in "The Country Doctor" (1909), directed by D.W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Lillian Gish And Robert Harron In True Heart Susie 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 12

Robert Harron treats Lillian Gish to ice-cream in "True Heart Susie" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Clarine Seymour And Robert Harron In True Heart Susie 1919 Director Dw Griffith Cinematographer Billy Bitzer 21

Robert Harron is courted by Clarine Seymour in "True Heart Susie" (1919), directed by D. W. Griffith, cinematographer Billy Bitzer.

Billy Bitzer Cinematographer And D W Griffith Director And Frank E Woods

Cinematographer Billy Bitzer with director D. W. Griffith and Frank E. Woods.

Billy Bitzer Cinematographer And D W Griffith Director And Which Actor

Cinematographer Billy Bitzer with director D. W. Griffith and Henry Walthall during the filming of "Death's Marathon" (1913).

Billy Bitzer Cinematographer And D W Griffith Director Experiment With Lighting Techniques 1913

Cinematographer Billy Bitzer and director D. W. Griffith experiment with lighting techniques.

Billy Bitzer Cinematographer And D W Griffith Director

Cinematographer Billy Bitzer with director D. W. Griffith.

Billy Bitzer Cinematographer And Josephine Crowell And Griffith And Stroheim Ajusting Soldiers Cap Intolerance

Cinematographer Billy Bitzer with director D. W. Griffith on the set of Intolerance (1916) with Josephine Crowell and Stroheim ajusting soldier's cap.