Torben Johnke

From 1997 to 2009, Torben Johnke taught cinematography at the School of Image Arts, Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. Torben Johnke was co-creator and co-producer of "Craft of Cinematography", an educational video series on the craft and theory of cinematography.

In 1973 Torben Johnke moved to Canada to work for Glenn Warren Productions a subsidiary of CFTO.

of California (1968).

He worked with Metro Goldwyn Mayer on a number of New York productions including scenes for The "Yellow Rolls-Royce" (1964) and "Love Cage" - Les félins (1964).

Torben Johnke founded Illustra in 1962 with studios on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York and facilities at the Sam Goldwyn studios in Hollywood. He collaborated with Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, introducing the single source soft light technique in commercials and winning several Clio awards.

(1960) and M. P. O.

Screen Gems (1958), TeleVideo Inc.

He became staff cinematographer for Robert Lawrence Productions (1957), E. U. E.

In 1956 he produced, co-directed and photographed "Etude" a ballet feature with the Paris Opera Ballet, starring Tony Lander, co-directed and choreographed by Harald Lander and art directed and production designed by Salvador Dali.

In 1948 Torben Johnke moved to New York where he worked as freelance Director of Photography on industrials and documentaries for Edward R. Murrow, Max Lasky, Transfilm Inc. , Audio Productions Inc. , Pathe N. Y. , Lois de Rochemont and Villard Van Dyke. He photographed amongst other pictures "The Lonely Heart" and "The House in Sea Cliff" produced by the U. S. State Department. He subsequently joined Astor Pictures Corp. as vice president, producing and photographing "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "La Traviata" with Mario Del Monaco and the Metropolitan Opera.

In 1943 he established his studio, Illustra Films, in Copenhagen, producing and directing theatrical commercials, musical shorts and animated productions.

Torben Johnke, ASC, is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, member of the Directors Guild of America, and honorary lifetime member of International Cinematographers Guild. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Torben Johnke Graduated from Robertson School of Photography in 1941, studied photo chemistry and optics at the Danish Polytechnic University and graduated as "Master of Photography" from Copenhagen Institute of Technology in 1943.

In the mid nineteen forties, based on a 1905 Pathe Paris camera, he designed and built a successive frame camera that was approved by Technicolor in London, thus beginning his long association with Technicolor.