Hella Hammid

In the 1970s, she took part in research into remote viewing and related subjects, collaborating with researchers.

• Name — Hella Hammid • Birth Name — Hella Hilde Heyman • Born — 15 July 1921 • Birthplace — Kronberg im Taunus, Germany • Died — 1 May 1992 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, US • Education — * St Paul's School, London • Barnard College • Black Mountain College • Other Names — * Hella Hamon • Hella Hammid • Occupation — * Photographer • cinematographer • actor • Children — 2 • Mother — Lette Valeska

Hella Hilde Heyman was born on July 15, 1921, in Kronberg im Taunus, Germany, to pharmaceutical entrepreneur Ernst Heyman and artist Valeska Heinemann (known as Lette Valeska). The family lived in Frankfurt until 1932, when they relocated to Paris after her father's chemical plant was seized by the Nazis. They subsequently moved to New York City and later to Los Angeles at the request of Valeska's friend Galka Scheyer. While the family was in London she attended St Paul's School, and she later studied at Barnard College. Through her relationship with Scheyer, she was introduced to Josef Albers and received a reference for her application to Black Mountain College, where she was accepted. However, she left in December 1940 due to financial difficulties and was unable to complete her studies.

• Illustration — Maya Deren in At Land. Hammid (as Hella Heyman) collaborated with Alexander Hammid for cinematography. After leaving Black Mountain College, she returned to New York City and worked as a freelance photographer and writer, meeting director Maya Deren along the way. In the summer of 1944, Deren invited Heyman to serve as camerawoman on her film At Land, since Deren's husband, Alexander Hammid, was mostly occupied with work at the Office of War Information. Willing to operate the camera while Deren directed, she participated in a six-month shoot that was frequently difficult, with much of the filming taking place among the rocks, beaches, and dunes of Long Island. As Hammid also served as a cinematographer on the film, the three collaborated on the production and appeared on screen. Heyman later collaborated with Deren on additional projects, including Ritual in Transfigured Time in 1946.

In 1948, she married Alexander Hammid, who had previously been married to Maya Deren and had divorced. The two had two children: Julia and Tino. Tino Martin Hammid became a gem photographer until his death in 2015. Hella Hammid also taught at University of California, Los Angeles as a professor. She died on May 1, 1992, in Los Angeles from breast cancer.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. • 1944 — At Land — Cinematographer, actor — In collaboration with director Maya Deren and cinematographer Alexander Hammid. • 1946 — Ritual in Transfigured Time — Cinematographer • 1987 — Invocation: Maya Deren — Herself