Academy Award-winning Australian cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, most celebrated for his work on the "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films, passed away April 27, 2015, from a heart attack. He was 59.

Ron Johanson, president of the Cinematographers Society in Australia, shared that Lesnie had suffered from a serious heart condition for the past year. He added that he cannot express the absolute feeling of loss, particularly for his immediate family.

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Lesnie's career spanned 40 years, ultimately taking home his one and only Oscar in 2002, for "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring." After the said movie, he continued to work as a cinematographer with "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson on more films, like "King Kong," "The Lovely Bones," and the "The Hobbit Trilogy."

Jackson discovered Lesnie for his work on the 1995 movie "Babe: The Gallant Pig," and hired him for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, describing Lesnie's work, in a 2004 interview, as amazing-the way Lesnie used backlight and the sun and natural light to create a very magical effect.

Lesnie, who hailed from Sydney's north coast, started his career in the film industry in 1979, on the horror film "Patrick," as a camera assistant, while still studying at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. After graduating, he went on to work for two years for the Australian magazine-style afternoon TV show "Simon Townsend's Wonder World."

In 1980, Lesnie made a documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger's return to bodybuilding in Australia. In the 1980s, he shot music videos for INXS, UB40 and Mental As Anything. He also photographed "Stations," "The Delinquents," "Temptation of the Monk," and "Spider and Rose."

In 1997, Lesnie received AFI's cinematography award for "Doing Time For Patsy Cline, and in 2003 was feted at the BAFTA Awards for his work on the "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." He was a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society and the American Society of Cinematographers.

Lesnie is survived by his partner, Bronwen, and his sons Jack and Sam.

TagsAndrew Lesnie, Cinematographer, heart attack, Academy Award