Born in Hungary and raised in the Home Counties of England, Balazs was drawn to cinematography through a love of photography—perhaps an inherited passion, having been born into a family of photographers. His introduction to the film industry came while still a teenager, when he had the good fortune to work on graduation films at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) and the London Film School. Those early experiences led to work as a camera assistant and, subsequently, as a focus puller.
While building his career in camera crews, Balazs also began shooting short films and music videos. He eventually enrolled at the London College of Printing to gain formal training, having resisted the academic temptation of studying Physics at Cambridge. A Bachelor of Science degree seemed a worthwhile way to acquire some much-coveted letters after his name—a trend he had noticed among cinematographers, albeit somewhat naively at the time.
After completing his education at the National Film and Television School, Balazs embarked on his career as a cinematographer, shooting his first feature film, Fakers, in 2003. Following several independent features, he photographed episodes of the BBC series Hustle in 2004, an opportunity that established the trajectory of a career in high-end television drama.
It was through Life on Mars (BBC) that Balazs met director SJ Clarkson, with whom he has since developed a long-standing creative partnership. Their collaborations include Mistresses, Whitechapel, Toast, Hunted, Collateral, and the Game of Thrones prequel, reflecting a durable and evolving creative relationship.
In 2013, Balazs was proposed for membership of the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) by Phil Meheux BSC, who has been both a mentor and a significant influence. The two first met during a night shoot at Blenheim Palace in 1998, while Balazs was still at film school.
Reconnecting with his Hungarian roots, Balazs was invited to join the Hungarian Society of Cinematographers (HSC) in 2009. In a particularly meaningful moment, he received his membership from Vilmos Zsigmond and Lajos Koltai.
Balazs has received two BAFTA nominations, as well as an American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Award nomination. In 2012, he won the ASC Award for his work on HBO's Hunted.