Phedon Papamichael was born in Greece. He made his first trip to the United States at the age of four when his father was the art director on John Cassavetes film Faces. Cassavetes saw his still pictures and told him to come to New York “to shoot his next picture.” Papamichael moved to New York when he was about 20.

In the years to come he became one of the most renowned Cinematographers in the World with an impressive and eclectic list of feature film credits including Phenomenon, Patch Adams, The Million Dollar Hotel, Sideways, The Weatherman, Walk the Line, Pursuit of Happyness and 3:10 to Yuma.