Daniel Nikolaison | Director of Photography / Self-shooting Director
Daniel Nikolaison is a London-based Director of Photography and self-shooting director working across documentary, factual and branded film. His work includes productions for BBC, PBS, Al Jazeera, Channel 4, National Geographic, Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Vice and China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Daniel has extensive experience filming in medical, scientific and humanitarian environments across Africa, Europe and Asia, from surgical theatres and research facilities to remote field locations. He shot a number of feature stories for Al Jazeera’s medical series The Cure, including Finding a Cure for Kala Azar, Mission Malaria, On the Trail of Sleeping Sickness and Safer Surgery.
During the West African Ebola epidemic, Daniel shot the two-part documentary Ebola Diary, embedded with MSF inside an operational Ebola treatment centre and working with WHO and local health authorities in villages affected by outbreaks. The production involved filming within strict infection-control and sanitation protocols while documenting both the medical response and the experiences of affected communities.
Daniel began his career as a documentary editor before moving into cinematography. He is comfortable working with small crews and has extensive experience filming in challenging and sensitive environments. Much of his documentary work has involved working closely with people and communities during difficult or vulnerable moments. He places particular importance on building trust with contributors, working respectfully across cultures and creating an easy, collaborative presence around the camera.
