Halyna inspired us with her passion and vision, says grieving husband

THE devastated husband of Halyna Hutchins last night posted an emotional tribute to his wife of 16 years, saying her loss was ‘enormous’, writes Caroline Graham.

Writing beside a touching photograph of his wife and nine-year-old son Andros, Matthew Hutchins said: ‘Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words. Our loss is enormous.’

It came as Ms Hutchins’ closest colleagues told The Mail on Sunday about their ‘driven’ friend.

Aaron Cheung, 33, who worked as her first assistant camera operator on her last two movies, said: ‘I don’t know what happened but I’m confident she put herself there (in the line of fire) to get the best shot.

‘She values the shot more than anything else. I’ve worked with her on her last two movies – Blindfire and Archenemy – and there were times me and the camera assistant would be telling her, “Halyna, maybe we shouldn’t do that, it could be a little risky.” She’d want to hang off buildings, things that would take extra time, and the most dangerous part was how quickly she wanted things done.

‘I’d explain we needed time to do it safer. ‘Producers would be breathing down her neck, they’d rush her and she’d rush us and that’s when dangerous things happen.

‘But she saw the most beautiful shots and would fight really hard to get them.’

Russian-born model Katya Zharkova said: ‘Halyna was a bright, bright light – an amazingly talented cinematographer who in ten years’ time would probably have won her first Oscar. It was going to happen, no question.

‘She grew up inside the Arctic Circle surrounded by reindeer and nuclear submarines. She came to America determined to succeed and was obsessed with becoming a cinematographer.

‘Her death is heartbreaking. She was so kind, with a great sense of humour, filled with energy and always willing to help others.

‘She was an angel from God.’