David von Blohn is a multilingual, award-winning documentary cinematographer based between Los Angeles and Mexico City.
He specializes in capturing complex human stories through intimate cinéma vérité with a minimal footprint and is an underwater camera operator as well as an FAA certified drone pilot.
David has filmed, produced and edited projects for some of the world’s leading media outlets including CNN, ABC, and Al Jazeera in over 25 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
He has covered some of the major historic events of our time including the COVID outbreak in Brazil, the assassination of Haiti’s President Moïse, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
David was part of the CNN coverage of the Ukraine War that was awarded an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award and an RTS Award in 2023.
He was the cinematographer for Al Jazeera’s documentary series Descoloniza filmed in 6 countries around Latin America which won a LATAM Digital Media Award in 2022 and a GLAAD Media Award in 2024.
David contributed additional photography to the documentary Los Comandos which was on the Academy Awards Shortlist in 2019.
David studied philosophy and politics at Heidelberg University and the Universidad de Chile. He speaks English, Spanish, German, and Portuguese.
Certifications
US, Mexico and European Union Work Authorization - Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (2022) - FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot Certificate - PADI Rescue and Nitrox Diver - AIDA Freediver - US and EU Driving Licenses
Honors
Nomination - Emmy Award 2024: David Culver Covers the Migrant Crisis - CNN (Camera Operator)
Win - Imagen Award 2024: Exodus - ABC News (Cinematographer)
Win - GLAAD Media Award 2024: Conoce a la primera diputada negra y trans de Brasil - AJ+ Descoloniza (Cinematographer)
Win - Premio Eugenio Espejo 2024: Elecciones en Ecuador se tiñen de sangre - CNN (Camera Operator)
Win - RTS Award 2023: Russian Invasion of Ukraine - CNN (Camera Operator)
Win - Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award 2023: Ukraine Coverage - CNN (Camera Operator)
Nomination - Emmy Award 2022: Converge of Haitians on the U.S. Mexico Border - CNN (Camera Operator)
Win - LATAM Digital Media Award 2022: Descoloniza - AJ+ (Cinematographer)
Nomination - RTS Award 2022: The Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse - CNN (Camera Operator)
Shortlist - Academy Awards 2019: Los Comandos (Additional Photography)
Equipment
Sony A7s III (2x) - Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM - Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II - Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM - Nauticam Underwater Housing with WWL-1B Wet Lens - DJI Ronin RS 3 Pro Gimbal - DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone - DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone - Sony Sony XLR-K3M 4-Channel Audio Adapter (2x) - Sony UWP Wireless Lav (2x) and XLR Transmitters - Rode NTG5 Shotgun Mic - Aputure 300x - Aputure Light Dome, Lantern and Fresnel 2x - Litepanels Astra 6x Bi-Color (2x) - Aputure MC RGB (2x) - Manfrotto Tripods - Westcott Scrim Jim Cine Kit 4x6 - Matthews Road Rags II Kit - Matthews and Manfrotto Light Stands and Boom Arms
Contact
+1 213 321 5982
d.vonblohn@gmail.com
Photo: Manuela Morales Ortiz