Some consider documentary cinematography as some consider documentaries: boring. So here's proof against such a consideration: the work of Austrian cinematographer Wolfgang Thaler. In less than 30 years, he's established himself as one of cinema's most distinctive and creative visual artists across not only documentary but narrative features. Though he's collaborated mostly with Austrian filmmakers, those collaborations have seen him travel the world - Kenya, Russia, Thailand, Jordan, Mexico, Namibia, India, Ukraine, China, the U.S...
Fittingly, for a cinematographer with such a diverse array of assignments, Thaler is an evidently adaptable artist, as accomplished crafting Ulrich Seidl's meticulous compositions as with shooting Michael Glawogger's verite long takes. And some of the material he's captured for Glawogger, in titles such as Megacities and Workingman's Death, ranks among the most astonishing footage ever put to film. That Thaler isn't among conventional lists of the most astonishing cinematographers of the modern era is a travesty! Enjoy the montage, and do be sure to check out any of the films featured at the earliest convenience!
Films featured
Megacities, 1998
Dog Days, 2001
Workingman's Death, 2005
Import Export, 2007
Whores' Glory, 2011
Paradise: Love, 2012
Paradise: Faith, 2012
Paradise: Hope, 2013
Theeb, 2014
Safari, 2016