Later this month, director of photography Chris Menges, ASC, BSC will receive the ASC International Award in recognition of a 50-year career in film and television that has taken him to the far corners of the earth. It is a career that shows no sign of abating; he recently wrapped London Boulevard for first-time director William Monahan and Route Irish for long-time collaborator Ken Loach. These latest two credits illustrate a common thread that runs through Menges’ work: the knack of teaming up with interesting new directors, often shooting their first films, and also sustaining relationships with directors across many years and many projects. Loach is a classic example: Menges made such an impression on the director while operating the camera on Poor Cow (1967), Loach’s first feature, that Loach asked him to photograph the next one, Kes (1970), Menges’ first movie as cinematographer. Kes had a profound impact on British cinema and marked the beginning of a creative partnership that endures to this day. 

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