This volume is published in a series on Camerimage Lifetime Achievement Laureates. Each year Camerimage recognises one of the most illuminate cinematographers and awards a Golden Frog for Lifetime Achievement Award. On the occasion the Festival issues a 'career book' devoted to life and work of the award's Laureate.
Contents: Biography; Filmography; Narration Without Words; Michael Ballhaus Speaks: -My Youth -The Power of Images -First Steps in the Profession -Working with Fassbinder -First Steps in America -Realising a Dream -Working with Other Directors -On the Art of Cinematography -On Teaching -Family and Friends; My Favourite Films; Tributes to Ballhaus
German cinematographer Michael Ballhaus came to prominence with his work on sixteen films for Rainer Werner Fassbinder, beginning with "Whity" (1970) and including "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant" (1972), "Satan's Brew" and "Chinese Roulette" (both 1976). Since settling in the United States, he has also worked on many American films, including "Baby It's You" (1983) for John Sayles; "After Hours" (1985), "The Color of Money" (1986), "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), "Goodfellas" (1990), "The Age of Innocence" (1993), "Sleepers" (1996), "Gangs of New York" (2002), and "The Departed" (2006) for Martin Scorsese; and "Dracula" (1992) for Francis Ford Coppola.
Ballhaus has been nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. He won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography for Goodfellas.