Cinematographer Danny Camara Shakes Up Brisbane's Film Scene with a Fresh Take on Filmmaking

Danny Camara Shifts Gears. In 2023, the well-known Australian filmmaker and commercial ad director took a bold step, ditching the director's hat to focus fully on cinematography. Learn more: https://dannycamara.com/ [BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 26 FEBRUARY 2024] Danny Camara, a distinguished name in Australia’s film and commercial advertising industry, says his professional focus has switched from being the Director of a film project to being the Cinematographer (aka the Director of Photography). When asked why he decided to shift his focus from directing, he said, “During my time as a Director/Cinematographer I was always finding myself focusing more on visual language and creating beautiful images. This led me to being hired several times a year solely as a Cinematographer for other Directors.” Mr Camara found himself more and more being drawn towards cinematography, and his heroes changed from being film directors to cinematographers. He loved hearing the top DPs tell their stories about their careers and how they developed their skills. Soon, the videos he watched on YouTube were all about cinematography. He soon realised he wanted to be a cinematographer, not a director. He said, “And although I’ve always worked in cinematography, I never promoted myself as a cinematographer. That officially changed last year.” Of his continuous learning, Mr Camara said, “I spent a lot of time in 2023 studying cinematography techniques and learning the proper ways to expose an image to ensure the highest dynamic range and cleanest shadows/highlights.” This shift has already allowed him to work on bigger projects with bigger teams alongside talented Directors from across Australia. Mr Camara’s dedication to mastering cinematography techniques has been evident through his involvement in high-profile projects, including national TV commercials for Suncorp Insurance and Oaks Hotels, content creation for athletes like Patty Mills and Adam Scott, and music videos, showcasing his versatility and commitment to excellence. When asked how his background in directing influence his perspective and techniques as a cinematographer, Mr Camara said, “Coming from being a Director to a Cinematographer gives me several useful skills such as knowing where to place the camera throughout the scene. The experience of Directing also helps me know how the shots will cut together in the edit, and how they’ll work with the music. The directing experience also helps me to recognise story and emotion in a scene and knowing how to lens it.” Looking ahead to 2024, Mr Camara aims to further his impact as a cinematographer by engaging with more high-end projects and expanding his network within the industry. With this goal in mind, technological innovation remains at the forefront of Mr Camara’s practice. The following recent acquisitions reflect his commitment to using cutting-edge technology to enhance his work: · An Easyrig Vario 5 with Serene arm, for improved camera support · Nanlite Forza 720B, for enhanced lighting · A set of Dulens APO mini primes, for a unique visual aesthetic For cameras, Mr Camara says, “I continue to shoot with RED and Canon, but am considering buying the new Sony Burano camera and entering the Sony ecosystem in late 2024.” Reflecting on the industry’s future, Mr Camara acknowledges the impact of technological advancements and keeps an eye on artificial intelligence. He recognizes the need to adapt to these innovations while maintaining the irreplaceable value of capturing genuine, human stories. Watch his current showreel here: https://dannycamara.com/
Danny Camara Cinematography
City: Springfield Lakes
Address: 37 Neptune Street
Website: https://dannycamara.com