- Father of cinematographers Jens Fischer and Peter Fischer. Gunnar often worked with Ingmar Bergman and Jens has also found a co-worker in english-swedish director Colin Nutley.
- His wife, Gull Soderblom, was the younger sister of Åke Söderblom, a well-known Swedish actor.
- Received an honorary Guldbagge (Swedish version of honorary Oscar) in 2002 for his pioneer work in film photography.
- Joined the Swedish navy as a chef.
- Uncle of Lena Söderblom.
- He served in the Swedish navy as a chef for three years, then studied at the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm with the celebrated decorative artist Otte Sköld. He subsequently completed his apprenticeship in cinematography at Svensk Filmindustri (SF), the country's foremost production company.
- His passion for film led him to the Svensk Filmindustri in 1935[3] where he learned cinematography from Victor Sjöström's photographer Julius Jaenzon.
- Widely recognized for his striking imagery and cold lighting, Fischer was the "first cinematographer to capture with unparalleled beauty the cruelty, sensuality and selfishness that often collided in the same scene among Bergman's anguished characters.".
- Fischer studied painting for Otte Sköld before electing to join the Swedish Navy for 3 years.
- He was a Swedish cinematographer who worked with director Ingmar Bergman on several of the director's best-known films, including Smiles of a Summer Night (1955) and The Seventh Seal (1957).
- The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers describes Fischer's style as "in the mainstream of the Scandinavian tradition," and celebrates the close and "intensely psychological close-ups and two-shots.".
- Acting as an assistant cameraman for 16 feature films, he made his debut as director of photography in 1942.
- "Fischer's great skill was in monochrome," according to the British film historian Peter Cowie. "He gave Bergman's films that unique expressionist look, with their brilliant contrasts in every gradation of black and white.".
- In addition to his career as cinematographer, Gunnar Fischer directed short films, wrote screenplays (1933-41) and published books for children.
- Known for his work with directors Bergman and Carl Theodor Dreyer (Two People, 1945), as well as work with Walt Disney,[ Fischer received an honorary Guldbagge Award for lifetime achievement in 2002, as well as the Ingmar Bergman Award in 1992.
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