Behind the Lens: A Cinematic Journey
Karen Ballard
Explore the captivating world of cinema and photojournalism through the lens of Karen Ballard, an award-winning photographer. This exhibition showcases her dynamic career as a motion picture still photographer, featuring iconic images from major productions such as Munich, Quantum of Solace, The Expendables, Hemingway & Gellhorn, and The Siege of Jadotville. Ballard’s work, in collaboration with industry giants like Warner Bros, Netflix, and HBO, highlights her skill in capturing the essence of each film, providing an intimate, behind-the-scenes perspective.
The exhibition combines original movie posters with film stills, presenting a visual timeline of Ballard’s evolution from her early photojournalism work embedded with military troops in Afghanistan to her prolific career in Hollywood. Each photograph illustrates her unique ability to frame emotionally charged moments and create timeless visual stories, blending her background in photojournalism with cinematic artistry.
Behind the Lens is a tribute to Ballard’s cinematic contributions, celebrating her talent in transforming film narratives into compelling visual stories that invite viewers to experience the heart and soul of filmmaking through her powerful perspective.
Karen Ballard is an award-winning photographer based in Los Angeles who specializes in motion picture, television, and documentary photography. She is also an accomplished photojournalist and has covered major news stories around the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and Haiti. Ballard’s work caught the attention of Director Steven Spielberg in 2005 and he brought her on as his unit photographer for the Academy Award nominated film ‘Munich’. Her iconic work has been featured on movie posters, in ad campaigns, books, newspapers and magazines for over three decades.