STUDIES IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Portrait of a cinematographer (V) – Michael Ballhaus

The fifth part of the Portrait of a cinematographer series tackles Michael Ballhaus, a prominent German cinematographer with an international career, particularly in the USA. He has made about 110 films as a collaborator of R. W. Fassbinder, Martin Scorsese, Mike Nichols, Wolfgang Petersen, F. F. Coppola, Robert Redford and others. The most important characteristic of his films is the movement of the camera (the camera creates emotions) and the frame composition. As not many cinematographers, Ballhaus respects not only the actor but also everything else that comes before his camera. The author distinguishes him as a cinematographer that should definitely be called the director of photography because he forms the frame well in harmony with characters’ emotions and the plot. He does not want the camera to be intrusive and the photography to depart from the film context. Ballhaus is also an excellent media pedagogue. At a number of high educational institutions he successfully passes on his knowledge and attitudes on film photography which is based on rich practical experience. Students love him. The author also recalls some of his own encounters with him.

Krešimir Mikić