The Architect of Light: The Life and Vision of Helmar Lerski In the history of the moving image and the still frame, few figures possess the transformative power of Helmar Lerski. Born Israel Schmuklerski in Strasbourg, France, in 1871, his journey was one of constant migration and metamorphosis, much like the very light he sought to master. A man of many identities—actor, cinematographer, photographer, and director—Lerski did not mer…