He was born in Athens, Greece in 1962 to a Greek father and a German mother. When Phedon was six years old, his family relocated to the United States, as his father, a well-known artist and set designer, was offered a job as a production designer for John Cassavetes.
He studied photography and art at the University of Munich and received his Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1982.
From an early age, he was involved in cinema. His first job as a cinematographer was in the film Dance of the Damned in 1988. He later made his debut as a director in the film Showtime’s Sketch Artist in 1992 and two years later he directed Dark Side of Genius.
In 2000 he was awarded the Prix Vision of the Avignon Film Festival for his cinematography in 27 Missing Kisses.
He has worked with directors Alexander Payne, Oliver Stone and George Clooney, and many others, and has also directed films, such as Sketch Artist, Dark Side of Genius, From Within, Arcadia Lost. He spends his time between Los Angeles and Leonidio, Greece.
In an interview with Greek Reporter Papamichael said, ”I want to spend more time in Greece from next year. My parents live there and my home is also there.
I visit Los Angeles regularly just for my job.
Obviously, I will move permanently to Leonidio some time in the future. lieutenant’s unlikely to live the twilight of my life in the United States.”.
He has been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 2000.
