H. F. Koenekamp
About
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Also Known As
H. F. Koenenkamp,
Hans Koenekamp,
Hans F. Koenekamp
Birth Place
Denison, Iowa, USA
Born
December 03, 1891
Died
September 12, 1992
Cause of Death
Natural Causes
Biography
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A pioneer in the field of special effects photography, Koenekamp began his career as a camera operator for Mack Sennett's Keystone studio, where he filmed such notables as Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and the famed Keystone Kops. He then went on to Vitagraph Studios, where he had a long working relationship with silent screen comedian Larry Semon. Among those films done with Semon are...
Biography
A pioneer in the field of special effects photography, Koenekamp began his career as a camera operator for Mack Sennett's Keystone studio, where he filmed such notables as Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson and the famed Keystone Kops. He then went on to Vitagraph Studios, where he had a long working relationship with silent screen comedian Larry Semon. Among those films done with Semon are the original film version of "The Wizard of Oz" (1925) and "Spuds" (1927).
In 1927, Koenekamp moved to the Warner Bros. special effects department, where he remained for 30 years. There he often lensed and directed second unit and special effects segments, with aviation effects his specialty. Among his credits were Max Reinhardt's Hollywood vision of the Bard's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1935), Howard Hawks' stirring "Air Force" (1943), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" (1951), which featured a memorable whirlwind runaway carousel sequence, and John Huston's "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (1948). Aside from his work on features, Koenekamp was responsible for several technological innovations, including a synchronized motor connection between a background projector and a camera. Koenekamp was the father of Oscar-winning cinematographer Fred J Koenekamp.
Filmography
Cinematography (Feature Film)
Spencer's Mountain
(1963)
2nd unit Photographer
The Old Man and the Sea
(1958)
Photography
Sayonara
(1957)
2nd Unit Photography
Jet Pilot
(1957)
Camera
Dark Passage
(1947)
Special Effects Photographer
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
(1939)
Special Effects
San Quentin
(1937)
Addl Photographer
Earthworm Tractors
(1936)
Location Photographer
USC vs. Tulane
(1932)
Camera
Spuds
(1927)
Director of Photography
Stop, Look, and Listen
(1926)
Director of Photography
It Must Be Love
(1926)
Director of Photography
The Wizard of Oz
(1925)
Director of Photography
The Girl in the Limousine
(1924)
Director of Photography
Visual Effects (Feature Film)
The Spirit of St. Louis
(1957)
Special Effects
Toward the Unknown
(1956)
Special Effects
The Sea Chase
(1955)
Special Effects
Sincerely Yours
(1955)
Special Effects
Strange Lady in Town
(1955)
Special Effects
The Silver Chalice
(1955)
Special Photography Effects
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
(1955)
Special Effects
Drum Beat
(1954)
Special Effects
Young at Heart
(1954)
Special Effects
A Star Is Born
(1954)
Special Effects
South Sea Woman
(1953)
Special Effects
The Big Trees
(1952)
Special Effects
The Winning Team
(1952)
Special Effects
Operation Pacific
(1951)
Special Effects
Strangers on a Train
(1951)
Special Effects
On Moonlight Bay
(1951)
Special Effects
Fort Worth
(1951)
Special Effects
Chain Lightning
(1950)
Special Effects
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
(1950)
Special Effects
Pretty Baby
(1950)
Special Effects
The Story of Seabiscuit
(1949)
Special Effects
The Lady Takes a Sailor
(1949)
Special Effects
Colorado Territory
(1949)
Special Effects
White Heat
(1949)
Special Effects
It's a Great Feeling
(1949)
Special Effects
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Special Effects
June Bride
(1948)
Special Effects
Fighter Squadron
(1948)
Special Effects
Winter Meeting
(1948)
Special Effects
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
(1948)
Special Effects
My Girl Tisa
(1948)
Special Effects
The Big Punch
(1948)
Special Effects
Cheyenne
(1947)
Special Effects
That Way with Women
(1947)
Special Effects
The Beast with Five Fingers
(1947)
Special Effects
Deep Valley
(1947)
Special Effects
The Corn Is Green
(1945)
Special Effects
Conflict
(1945)
Special Effects
The Horn Blows at Midnight
(1945)
Miniatures
Roughly Speaking
(1945)
Special Effects
Mission to Moscow
(1943)
Special Effects
Thank Your Lucky Stars
(1943)
Special Effects
Air Force
(1943)
Special Effects
Wings for the Eagle
(1942)
Special Effects
Navy Blues
(1941)
Special Effects
The Sea Wolf
(1941)
Special Effects
The Wagons Roll at Night
(1941)
Special Effects
Manpower
(1941)
Special Effects
High Sierra
(1941)
Special Effects
Santa Fe Trail
(1940)
Special Effects
Torrid Zone
(1940)
Special Effects
They Drive by Night
(1940)
Special Effects
Virginia City
(1940)
Special Effects
The Sea Hawk
(1940)
Special Effects
Wings of the Navy
(1939)
Special Effects
We Are Not Alone
(1939)
Special Effects
Black Legion
(1937)
Special Effects
Submarine D-1
(1937)
Special Effects
Green Light
(1937)
Special Effects
A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1935)
Special Photography Effects
Life Events
1913
Became a cameraman for Mack Sennett's Keystone studio
1917
Moved to Vitagraph studios, where he photographed the films of Larry Semon for eight years
1919
Joined the American Society of Cinematographers four years after the founding of the group
1927
Worked at Warner Bros' special effects department
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Fred J Koenekamp
Son
Cinematographer. Survived him.
Marie Reed
Daughter
Survived him.
Patricia Bradley
Daughter
Survived him.
