GERARD BOTHA
LIGHTING CAMERAMAN/ VIDEOGRAPHER/ CONSULTANT
ABOUT ME
Creative. Professional. Detail-Oriented.
My career in the visual arts started long before I became a professional Cinematographer. What began as a passion for photography and sketching gradually led me into the art of cinematography, working through the tough apprenticeship of both film and digital cameras, and I really haven’t stopped filming since.
I got my first big break in 1992 in South Africa as a runner – I worked through the ranks as Clapper Loader, then Focus Puller followed by Camera Operator, to finally become a Lighting Cameraman or DOP. I love experimenting with creative ideas and new techniques, and work hard to develop and expand my skills each and every day. This passion for filming together with my collaboration working with various rental and production companies since 2000, have helped me develop and train other individuals into the film industry. I have been settled in the UK since 2006, obtaining a British Passport and Citizenship soon after arriving, so can travel easily for International projects. Please contact me for more information, or if you’re interested in collaborating on a project.
Notable Credits
Cinematographer
This short film was all shot in a day for a 48 Hour Challenge and has become one of my favourite projects I have worked on, I was thrilled at the acknowledgement this film received and the accolades I was awarded.
Cinematographer
This project was filmed with projection mapping and was quite an achievement, using low light techniques in order for the projected image to be seen
Cinematographer
This project was the first project I have shot on Digital DSLR cameras and LED lighting, having only used film and HMI/Tungsten lights previously, and it was a great success.
Cinematographer
This project was my first corporate documentary for a major brand, although I had previously completed many docs in the past. This project was filmed with an array of different formats.
Aerial Cameraman
In the days before drones and the digital revolution, I used to do a lot of filming as a Tyler Mount Tech and Aerial Cameraman. A lot of this documentary was shot in the air, taking in the beautiful scenery of Saudi Arabia.
Camera Operator
This was the first project I worked on as a Camera Operator on 35mm film. This was quite a project - the new Crown Prince of Dubai wanted to honour his father as the new ruler of Dubai
Cinematographer
In the days before the digital revolution, when most projects were filmed on 16mm and 35mm film and particularly as the in-house cinematographer in Dubai, I was the ‘pack shot’ king and we had to do many projects where the pack shot had to be redone for Arabic audiences.
Videographer
One of may inhouse videos that I shot, direct and edited as part of my job when I was Head of Cameras at VMI.
Videographer
This commercial was filmed in Liverpool and was the first commercial I filmed on digital format.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Best Cinematography Short
Queen Palm International Film Festival
Best Cinematography 2022
FilmHaus: Berlin Film + New Media Competition