2025

David Bolen | Director of Photography

David Bolen doesn’t simply capture passing moments with his camera — he crafts visually stunning stories that encourage empathy, evoke emotion and invite exploration.

An award-winning cinematographer/director of photography (DP), Bolen is a visual poet: utilizing elements like light, movement, color and composition to convey emotion.

“David’s creative vison opened my eyes to how beautiful cinematography can truly elevate a story. His powerful imagery is captivating, inspiring and evocative. I am grateful to have a chance to honor him in this way, as he truly embodies the Spirit of Windrider,” said Windrider CEO John Priddy.

A cinematographer’s role is deeply collaborative, often working closely with actors and directors to ensure that every shot serves the larger narrative. David’s expansive body of work and array of clientele speak not only to his talent, but also to the breadth of his skill set. 

His work in narrative and documentary film has been in competition at major festivals including Sundance, Venice, SXSW, Tribeca and BFI. Outside of film, David frequently shoots music videos for artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Puff Daddy, John Legend, Schoolboy Q, Miguel, David Guetta and Sean Paul. He has also done commercial/branded spots for major brands including Disney, Adidas, Google, Marvel, Pandora, Target and Staples.

David also frequently shoots television series. His credits include "Delhi Crime" (Netflix), "Chef's Table" (Netflix), "Kings of Tupelo" (Netflix), “Untold" (Netflix), "The Deep End" (Hulu), “Marvel's 616” (Disney+).

Based out of Los Angeles, California, David brings beauty to every screen and frequently works alongside 2023 Spirit of Windrider award recipient, Ben Proudfoot at Breakwater Studios. One of their latest projects, The Turnaround, made its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and will be shown on opening night of the 2025 Windrider Summit & The Sundance Film Festival Experience.

Many Windrider Summit goers would have seen David’s work at Sundance in years past — titles such as Thelma, Some Kind of Heaven, and the Academy Award-nominated A Concerto is a Conversation.

The Windrider Productions team has been fortunate to work with David on several projects over the years, including a memorable production trip to Japan, which resulted in 7 short films centered around beauty from brokenness, in collaboration with artists Makoto Fujimura and Andrew Nemr. 

While directors, writers and actors often get the primary attention in the public eye when it comes to film, David’s talent reminds us again and again that a cinematographer’s work is inseparable from the overall creation and impact of a story. 

See films that David Bolen was the Director of Photography for on Windrider Studios!