He has worked with directors such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Wolfgang Petersen. The achievements of this German cinematographer make him one of the best in the world.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/R. Hirschberger
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The achievements of cinematographer Michael Ballhaus
He was Rainer Werner Fassbinder's and Martin Scorsese's cameraman. Now the legendary German cinematographer turns 80.
Image: picture-alliance /dpa/J. Kalaene
A master behind the camera
Michael Ballhaus was not only Germany's most famous cameraman, he was also known for being a really nice ugy. Born in 1935 in Berlin, Ballhaus was always calm and polite and embodied the image of a classic gentleman. Nevertheless, he was never shy to give his opinion on film sets - even if he disagreed with the director.
Image: picture-alliance /dpa/J. Kalaene
Fassbinder's eye
Some cinematographers and film directors complement each other so well that they develop a long-lasting professional relationship. This was the case for Michael Ballhaus and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The cameraman started working with Fassbinder in 1970. Together, they made over a dozen films within just a few years.
Image: DIF Frankfurt/Foto: Peter Gauhe
Legendary tracking shot
The camera work on Fassbinder's film "Martha" is legendary. Using a 360-degree dolly track, the camera circles around the actors Margit Carstensen and Karlheinz Böhm. Ballhaus also used this technique in his Hollywood films: It became his trademark.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/dpa filmverlag der autoren
A master of colors and perspectives
Experimenting with Fassbinder on new techniques, Ballhaus developed a wide range of aesthetics in the 1970s. Color plays a major role in the cinematography of the successful film "The Marriage of Maria Braun."
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Decisive career move
Ballhaus moved on to Hollywood, working with Martin Scorsese for the first time in 1985. Their collaboration started with the production of the black comedy "After Hours."
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Working with Scorsese
Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential film directors in past decades. Ballhaus' camera genius contributed to boosting the cinematography of this filmmaker's work. They made seven films together.
Image: Martin Scorse Collection, New York
Filming with top stars
His success in Hollywood allowed him to choose whom he wanted to work with. In 1986, he met the actor Paul Newman on the set of Martin Scorsese's film "The Color of Money." Ballhaus would later do the camera work on Newman's own film, when the latter directed "The Glass Menagerie" (1987).
Image: AP
Smiling with Jack Nicholson
Apart from Scorsese, the German camera legend worked with several other US film directors. He's pictured here posing with Jack Nicholson at the 2004 Berlinale. He was the cinematographer for the romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give," which also starred Diane Keaton.
Image: AP
Outstanding achievement
The German Film Academy paid tribute to Michael Ballhaus' exceptional career by awarding him the "Special Award for Outstanding Contributions to German Cinema" in 2012. He also won the "Outstanding European Achievement in World Cinema" in 2007.
Image: Reuters
Leaving Hollywood
In 2006, Ballhaus made his last Hollywood film, the mafia drama "Departed" with Scorsese. He had intended to retire, but in 2013, his second wife, director Sherry Hormann, convinced him to make a film with her: "3096" about the Natascha Kampusch kidnapping in Austria.
Image: 2013 Constantin Film Verleih GmbH/Jürgen Olczyk
In Berlin
Ballhaus was often involved in other projects beyond cinematography. He gave classes to film students. He was strongly committed to environmental protection. And in 2009, he created a tribute to his home city, the lyrical film essay "In Berlin," which he directed together with Ciro Cappellari. Here, he is pictured celebrating the premiere with the city's former mayor, Klaus Wowereit.
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Star cinematographer
Usually, the fame goes to the actors and movie directors, but Michael Ballhaus reached cult status by staying behind the camera. He truly deserved the red carpet.
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Renowned for his legendary 360-degree tracking shots, Michael Ballhaus was nicknamed "The Flying Eye" in Hollywood. In over 50 years behind the camera, he filmed stars such as Michelle Pfeiffer in "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and Daniel Day-Lewis in "Gangs of New York."
Born in Berlin in 1935, Ballhaus started working for television productions in Baden-Baden. After visiting a film set for the first time - the production of "Lola Montez," directed by Max Ophüls - he decided to become a cameraman. The director was a friend of his parents, both actors.
Ballhaus then started learning photography and working as a camera assistant.
Initial films with Rainer Werner Fassbinder
A crucial moment in the career of the young cinematographer was his meeting with the director Rainer Werner Fassbinder at the end of the 1960s.
They created 16 films together. In movies like "Martha" or "Fox and His Friends," Ballhaus experimented with new camera techniques. In 1979, "The Marriage of Maria Braun" was a worldwide success. It was also their last collaboration.
His wife Helga, an actress and film set designer, and the couple's two sons always accompanied him during shoots. The younger son, Florian Ballhaus, remembers this well. "My brother and I actually grew up on film sets," he said. "We spent lots of time on Fassbinder's sets. He even shot one of his films in our house. One year I spent my Easter holidays on the production of 'Chinese Roulette.' It was a very interesting experience for a nine-year-old boy."
Pairing up with Martin Scorsese
Along with the Fassbinder's successful films came recognition for Michael Ballhaus' cinematography in the US. In the early 80s, he and his family moved to Los Angeles.
As he'd previously done with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, he formed a highly creative team with director Martin Scorsese. Their seven collaborations include the movies "Goodfellas," "Gangs of New York" and "The Departed."
In Hollywood, Michael Ballhaus was usually hired as the director of photography. Rather than sitting behind the camera, he was in charge of the camera team. He made sure the ideas and visions of the film director would translate into images. And he was known for his good humor on film sets.
Passing on knowledge
Even in the US, Michael Ballhaus kept bringing his sons along with him to sets. Both ended up working in the film industry.
Sebastian is a producer, whereas Florian became a successful Hollywood cinematographer. "The funny thing is, as a kid it's hard to believe that you can learn so much from your own father," he said. "I only realized this a lot later, when I started working as a cameraman."
In 2007, Michael Ballhaus moved back to Berlin. Lecturing in film schools, he shared his knowledge and experience with many aspiring cinematographers throughout Germany.
In 2013, after his last film "3096 Days," which tells the story of the abducted Austrian girl Natascha Kampusch, Michael Ballhaus retired from filmmaking.
Last year, he announced that he was suffering from glaucoma, a disease which is slowly taking away his eyesight.
After the pictures, the sounds
Without the disease, Michael Ballhaus would probably have continued working. "The loss of eyesight is obviously very tragic, especially for someone who is so visual and has used his eyes so much and achieved so much with them. But it is also impressive to see how well he deals with it," says his son Florian Ballhaus.
In 2011, Michael Ballhaus remarried. With his present wife, the film director Sherry Hormann, he makes the best of his situation. After a life of images, Ballhaus says he's now discovering the world of sounds.
