Charles Champlin Knihy

Photographer Brian Hamill has had a remarkable, nearly twenty-year professional relationship with Woody Allen, serving as the unit still photographer on all of Allen's projects since *Annie Hall* (1977). This unique vantage point places him at the heart of the bustling film set, allowing him to capture the essence of Allen's legendary career through two hundred photographs selected from nearly a hundred thousand. The images showcase Allen in various settings—on location, on set, and collaborating with renowned cinematographers like Gordon Willis, Carlo Di Palma, and Sven Nykvist. Hamill's lens has also captured the extraordinary ensemble casts that Allen has assembled over the years. What distinguishes this collection is its focus on visuals; unlike many film books that rely heavily on text, this one offers a purely visual portrait of a filmmaker at work. The photographs reveal a side of Woody Allen that has rarely been seen by filmgoers and readers. Additionally, Charles Champlin's essay provides a contemporary appreciation of Allen's work, while Derrick Tseng's commentary on the images adds depth and enjoyment. Overall, this volume presents a detailed and unique portrait of one of cinema's most influential directors.