* Tad Nichols; Nature Cinematographer

Tad Nichols, 89, photographer and documentary cinematographer of nature and wildlife scenes. Nichols took up photography as a child and studied under Ansel Adams and Brett Weston. His images of nature, wildlife and geology graced the covers of National Geographic and Arizona Highways magazines, among others. He also made nature films for Walt Disney and documented scientific expeditions, including a 1944 Harvard University journey to Mexico’s Paricutin volcano. On Wednesday in Tucson of complications after a stroke.