Walter Hege

Walter Hege (German, 1893–1955) was born in Naumburg as the son of a glazier, and was trained as stage and church painter. Because he was wounded heavily in the war in 1915, he was released from the army. Between 1916 and 1921 he studied photography with Hugo Erfurth at the Dresden Kunsthochschule (University of the Arts), completing his degree in 1921 at the Weimarer Kunstschule (Art College). Working closely with art historian Wilhelm Pinder, Hege published two photographically illustrated books in 1925, establishing him as the main architectural photographer for art historical purposes. From then on, Hege photographed medieval architecture and sculptures throughout Germany, as well as ancient sites in Greece, and published numerous books. He worked as a photographer in Naumburg and between 1930 and 1935 also as a college professor in Weimar. Around 1930 he took up filmmaking and worked as cinematographer, shooting with directors such as Leni Riefenstahl, among others. In 1938 he started working closely for architect Albert Speer.