Janusz Kamiński

Janusz Kamiński
Born Janusz Zygmunt Kamiński
June 27, 1959 (1959-06-27) (age 52)
Ziębice, Poland
Other names Jennifer Stoltz
Occupation Cinematographer, film director
Years active 1986–present
Spouse Holly Hunter (1995–2001)
Rebecca Rankin (2004–2010)
Awards

Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly 2008

Janusz Zygmunt Kamiński (Polish pronunciation: [ˌjanuʂ kaˈmiɲskʲi]; born June 27, 1959) is a Polish cinematographer and film director. He has photographed all of Steven Spielberg's films since 1993's Schindler's List.

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Life and career

Kamiński was born in Ziębice, Poland, the son of mother, Jadwiga Celner, and father, Marian Kaminski.[1] He emigrated at the age of 21—after Prime Minister Jaruzelski imposed martial law in 1981—to the United States. There, he attended Columbia College in Chicago from 1982 to 1987, taking up film making as a profession before transferring to the AFI Conservatory, where he graduated with an M.F.A. degree. At AFI, he met future Academy Award winner Wally Pfister, known for his cinematography work with Christopher Nolan on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, whom he recruited as a grip and electrician for various projects.

Kamiński twice won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in the 1990s, for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan.

While accepting his 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Kamiński stated he earned $3,000 per week for his work on the film, far below his alleged normal fee of $6,000–$12,000 per day. He joked that he would not be able to accommodate young filmmakers for the same fee.

Kamiński was the first cinematographer to present an Academy Award, which he did at the 2009 ceremony, alongside James Franco and Seth Rogen, presenting the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. He also received acclaim for starring as himself in a short film at the 81st Academy Awards with James Franco and Seth Rogen.

Kamiński was married to actress Holly Hunter from 1995 until 2001. He married ABC reporter Rebecca Rankin in 2004.

Kamiński was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) from 1994 until his resignation in 2006.

Filmography

Cinematographer

Film director

Other

References

External links