I am a Calgary-based Director of Photography and filmmaker with over 15 years of experience crafting cinematic brand films, broadcast documentaries, and national advertising campaigns across Canada and internationally. My background in fine arts and new media allows me to blend refined visual storytelling with technical precision, delivering emotionally resonant, high-impact imagery for networks, agencies, tourism boards, and major brands. My work spans broadcast networks including Discovery Channel, ARTE, History Channel, PBS and Rogers Media, alongside brands such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Travel Alberta, ATB Financial, PayPal, National Car Rental and CP Rail. I am known for calm leadership on set, deep lighting and camera expertise, and an ability to translate complex stories into compelling visual narratives.

David Copithorne

I am a Calgary-based Director of Photography and filmmaker with over 15 years of experience crafting cinematic brand films, broadcast documentaries, and national advertising campaigns across Canada and internationally. My background in fine arts and new media allows me to blend refined visual storytelling with technical precision, delivering emotionally resonant, high-impact imagery for networks, agencies, tourism boards, and major brands. My work spans broadcast networks including Discovery Channel, ARTE, History Channel, PBS and Rogers Media, alongside brands such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Travel Alberta, ATB Financial, PayPal, National Car Rental and CP Rail. I am known for calm leadership on set, deep lighting and camera expertise, and an ability to translate complex stories into compelling visual narratives.

Available to hire

I am a Calgary-based Director of Photography and filmmaker with over 15 years of experience crafting cinematic brand films, broadcast documentaries, and national advertising campaigns across Canada and internationally. My background in fine arts and new media allows me to blend refined visual storytelling with technical precision, delivering emotionally resonant, high-impact imagery for networks, agencies, tourism boards, and major brands.

My work spans broadcast networks including Discovery Channel, ARTE, History Channel, PBS and Rogers Media, alongside brands such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Travel Alberta, ATB Financial, PayPal, National Car Rental and CP Rail. I am known for calm leadership on set, deep lighting and camera expertise, and an ability to translate complex stories into compelling visual narratives.

See more

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Director of Photography at Toronto Blue Jays – Bring It Home Campaign | Rogers Media
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Director of Photography for the Bring It Home campaign for the Toronto Blue Jays, produced for Rogers Media. Led camera and lighting to deliver high-impact cinematic branding across broadcast and digital platforms.
Director of Photography at Onewheel – Your Path Your Adventure
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2024
Director of Photography for a branded content piece produced by Onewheel.
Director of Photography at ARTE TV – Bison (Documentary)
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Director of Photography on a documentary project for ARTE TV.
Producer / Director / Director of Photography at Garth Mowat Grizzly Bear Research Documentary Web Series (British Columbia)
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Producer and Director of Photography on a documentary web series about grizzly bear research.
Director of Photography at History Channel – The Bermuda Triangle: Into the Cursed
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2021
Director of Photography on a History Channel documentary series.
Director of Photography at CP Rail – Holiday Christmas Train Concert Series
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Director of Photography for the CP Rail Holiday Christmas Train Concert Series.
Director of Photography at ATCO – A Very Merry Veterans Thank You Commercial
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Director of Photography for a commercial campaign for ATCO.
Director of Photography at ATB Financial – Reimagining Banking with G Suite
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018
Director of Photography for ATB Financial campaign.
Director of Photography at Travel Alberta – When Tourism Works, We Work
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017
Director of Photography for Travel Alberta branded content.
Director of Photography at PayPal + Startup Blueprint – multiple campaigns
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2016
Director of Photography for PayPal campaigns and startup blueprint projects.
Director / Producer / Director of Photography / Editor / Drone Operator at Big Review TV
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2015
Director / Producer / Director of Photography / Editor / Drone Operator for youth hostel and related content across Australia.
Director of Photography at Toronto Blue Jays – Bring It Home Campaign (Rogers Media)
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Directed photography for a national advertising campaign, delivering cinematic brand visuals and collaborating with networks and agencies.
Director of Photography at Starland Studios + Wildlife Wrangler Productions – The Last Howl (Documentary)
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
DP on wildlife documentary; field and studio shoots; collaboration with wildlife experts.
Drone Operator at Parks Canada + Jan Kapatoff – Athabasca Glacier (First Ever Permitted Glacier Drone Flight)
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Operated drone cinematography for a high-profile glacier documentary project; coordinated safe flight operations and framing.
1st Assistant Camera / C-Camera DP at Early Light Media – Patti Goes West (PBS Documentary)
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Assisted with camera operations and C-Cam DP duties on PBS documentary.
Director of Photography at ARTE TV – Bison (Documentary)
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
DP on educational documentary for ARTE TV; conducted variable lighting setups for field shoots.
Producer / Director / Director of Photography at Garth Mowat – Grizzly Bear Research Documentary Web Series (British Columbia)
January 1, 2021 - December 31, 2021
Led production and photography for wildlife documentary web series.
Director of Photography at Discovery Channel – If We Built It Today
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Directed photography for the Discovery Channel documentary series episodes.
Director of Photography at CP Rail – Holiday Christmas Train Concert Series
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019
DP for holiday train concert series; captured live performance and documentary footage.
Director of Photography at Sundial Cannabis – Multiple National Campaigns
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2021
DP on multiple national cannabis advertising campaigns.
Director of Photography at Rogers Media / Toronto Blue Jays
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025
Bring It Home Campaign
Director of Photography at OneWheel
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2024
Your Path Your Adventure
Director of Photography at ARTE TV
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Bison (Documentary)
Director of Photography at History Channel
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
The Bermuda Triangle: Into the Curse
Producer / Director of Photography at Discovery Channel
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
If We Built It Today
Director of Photography at CP Rail
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Holiday Christmas Train Concert Series
Director of Photography at Sundial Cannabis
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2021
Multiple National Campaigns
Director of Photography at Save-On-Foods
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018
Supporting Local: Western Family Honey
Director of Photography / Editor at ATB Financial
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017
Reimagining Banking with G Suite
Director of Photography at Travel Alberta
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2016
Where Tourism Work s, We Work
Director of Photography / Editor at PayPal + Startup BluePrint
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2015
Director / Producer / Director of Photography / Editor at BIG Review TV
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2015
Youth Hostel ling International Australia

Education

Add your educational history here.

Qualifications

BFA
January 11, 2030 - January 22, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts
January 11, 2030 - January 22, 2026
Drone Operator Certification
January 1, 2023 - January 22, 2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts
January 11, 2030 - January 22, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Travel & Hospitality, Education, Professional Services, Retail