Itinerant Cameraman chronicles Walter Lassally's journey to become a renowned director of photography in feature films, detailing his diverse and often entertaining experiences over thirty-five years in the film industry. He shares insights into the tricks of the trade of a lighting cameraman, illustrating how the industry continually presents new challenges. Lassally's extensive work spans documentaries and short films like Sunday by the Sea (1952) and Thursday's Children (1953), as well as feature films and made-for-TV movies across four continents, including A Taste of Honey (1961) and Zorba the Greek (1964). Two key themes are the debate between color and black-and-white film and the challenges faced by a cameraman who prefers to operate the camera himself. He discusses the technical and aesthetic hurdles of shooting in remote locations and the joys and difficulties of collaborating with stars like Anthony Quinn and Raquel Welch. His partnerships with notable directors such as Lindsay Anderson and Tony Richardson are explored, along with his successful collaboration with James Ivory and Ismail Merchant on films like The Wild Party (1974) and Heat and Dust (1982). The book is richly illustrated with work and scene stills, as well as rare personal photographs.
