James Wong Howe — Chinese Director born on August 28, 1899, died on July 12, 1976

James Wong Howe, A.S.C. was a Chinese American cinematographer who worked on over 130 films. He was a master at the use of shadow and was one of the first to use deep-focus cinematography, in which both foreground and distant planes remain in focus... (wikipedia)

I believe that the best cameraman is one who recognizes the source, the story, as the basis of his work.
Photography must be integrated with the story.