During the 20s he worked besides many average movies also for some great classics, first of all "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" (1920).
Willy Hameister was often in operation for short movies during the sound film era of the 30s, from the middle of the 30s engagements for feature movies became less frequently.
At the beginning of his film career he often worked together with the director Otto Rippert.
He already worked for the "Deutsche Bioscop" from 1904 and filmed actual topics - a kind of news.
In 1938 he died at the age of only 48 after a long illness.
The cinematographer Willy Hameister belonged to the pioneers of German cinematographers.
He switched to the film business in 1912 where he was active as a cinematographer for numerous movies.
With his cooperation at the documentary "Olympia" (1938) directed by Leni Riefenstahl together with other cinematographers followed production again which gained huge recognition. It was his last movie.