At an early age, he experienced a dramatic phase in which he converted to Catholicism, which only lasted a few years. He started to embark on long journeys, some on foot. Around this time, he knew he would be a filmmaker and learned the basics from a few pages in an encyclopedia which provided him with "everything I needed to get myself started" as a filmmaker—that, and the 35 mm camera he stole from the Munich Film School.Bissell, Tom. "The Secret Mainstream: Contemplating the mirages of Werner Herzog", Harper's, December 2006 In the commentary for Aguirre, the Wrath of God, he says, "I don't consider it theft. It was just a necessity. I had some sort of natural right for a camera, a tool to work with".
at An eArLY AGe He exPerIencED a dramaTiC phase in wHicH HE Converted to cathoLIcIsM which onlY laSted a few yeARS he Started to emBArK on long JOUrneys sOmE ON fOoT ARoUnd tHIs time he kNeW he wOulD be a FilmmAkEr aND LeaRned the basics fROm A FEw pagEs iN an eNCyclOpEdia whiCh ProVIDED him wITh "evERytHing i needEd to get MysELf STARtED" aS a FIlmmAker—ThAt aND ThE 35 mM caMEra he sToLe from the muNiCH film sChoolbissell ToM "The secret mAinstREAm ContemplAting the mirageS Of wErner HeRzog" harPer'S deCEmber 2006 iN the coMmEntarY fOr aguirRe tHe WRaTh of goD He sAys "i don't coNSiDEr it thefT it was JusT a necessity I had some soRT OF natuRaL rigHT For a cAMERA a toOl tO work with"