Claudia Raschke-Robinson
Director of Photography
Biography
"I have choreography with the camera movements and the actors. I have painting with the lights, and I have sculpting by creating three-dimensions on a two-dimensional plane."
Award winning cinematographer Claudia Raschke-Robinson has photographed independent feature films and documentaries for over 15 years. She is best known for her smooth hand-held camera work and natural lighting style. Her background training is in dance, martial arts and fine arts. Claudia lives with her husband, who is a personal trainer and football coach and her two children in New York City.
Claudia Raschke-Robinson grew up in Northern Germany near Hamburg. Throughout her childhood the chain of movie theaters owned by her mother brought Claudia into many exciting film worlds - from Laurel and Hardy to Charlie Chaplin, from James Bond to Fellini. As a child Claudia developed a fascination with dance and drawing which continued throughout her schooling. In 1980 she received her Abitur degree in Art and Science with honors from the Gymnasium am Heegen. Continuing her art and dance studies at the Hamburg University, Claudia was influenced by the works of European and American masters; the diffused light of Vermeer, the dramatic lighting of Rembrandt and the deeply moving dance of Martha Graham. In the summer of 1982 Claudia visited the United States and fell in love with what was to be her new home. A year later she was refining her dance techniques at the Martha Graham school and exploring a different form of motion and painting at the New York University: The Art and Technique of Cinematography.
Claudia is best known for the work in the feature documentary film "MAD HOT BALLROOM" directed by Marilyn Agrelo, produced and written by Amy Sewell. Notable documentaries include ESPN Black Magic (2009), What’s Your Point, Honey? (2008) The Shoot Down (2008), The Music In Me (HBO series 2008), Oscar-nominated My Architect (2004) (add'l DP), Oscar-nominated Small Wonder (add'l DP), Oscar nominated Sister Rose's Passion (add'l DP) as well as indie features like Kiss Me Guido, Walking in the Sky, Frame of Mind.
Selected Feature Awards
CHARLIE’S EAR - Best Cinematography Award - Madrid,
THE LAST GROOVE - Best Cinematography Award - Georgetown
Selected Documentary Awards
SISTER ROSE’S PASSION - Oscar Nomination 2005
MY ARCHITEKT - Oscar Nomination 2004
SMALL WONDERS - Oscar Nomination 1995
WINDOWS TO THE UNIVERS - Emmy Nomination