We recently connected with Daniel Qi and have shared our conversation below.
Daniel, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
To me, cinematography is a way of breathing with the world. Sometimes it’s the stillness of Yi Yi — where a frame holds a silence so complete, it feels like memory itself. Sometimes it’s the heavy, tactile shadows of The Batman — where light drips like ink and every corner hums with tension.
I am drawn to this invisible craft: the act of listening with a camera, of shaping emotions without speaking. Photography is not just about showing; it’s about feeling — the weight of a glance, the warmth of a passing moment, the gravity of a shadow falling across a face.
I want to become a Director of Photography because I believe in this silent language — in the way light and darkness can build worlds that words could never fully hold.
Daniel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Driven by my passion for visual storytelling, I chose cinematography as my path. Inspired by the words of Roger Deakins, who once said, “What happens in the camera is what the cinematographers create and all that nonsense,” I strive to ensure that the director sees and understands my creative vision.
I firmly believe that cinematography not only supports the director’s narrative but also serves as a personal visual archive for the cinematographer. Every frame captures a moment, a feeling, or a story, much like an oil painting on a canvas. In this narrative art form, the cinematographer takes on the role of a painter, meticulously crafting each composition to evoke emotions and enhance the storytelling experience.
Films, to me, are not only a medium for artistic expression but also containers that hold my own cherished memories. As I recount my experiences and fond recollections of collaborating with diverse individuals on set, I find joy in sharing these narratives. When one possesses a genuine passion for filmmaking, the process becomes an exhilarating and dopamine-inducing pursuit.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative — especially as a Director of Photography — is being able to turn intangible emotions into something the audience can physically feel.
Through light, texture, movement, and framing, I get to shape a world that didn’t exist before, and guide people into an emotional experience without saying a word. When a certain color, a subtle camera shift, or the way a shadow cuts across a face makes someone feel something they can’t quite explain — that moment is everything. Being a DP means building a bridge between the invisible and the visible, and every time it works, it feels like magic.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
As a Director of Photography, one thing non-creatives might struggle to understand is how much of our work lives in invisible choices.
Choosing where the camera stands, how the light falls, how movement feels — these decisions shape the entire emotional world of a story, but they are rarely discussed, and often only felt.
It’s not just about making things look beautiful. It’s about carrying the weight of tone, rhythm, and perspective — sometimes before even the director can fully articulate what they want. The most challenging part is that much of what we do only gets noticed if it goes wrong. If it’s right, it disappears into the experience — and that’s the point. Being a DP means accepting that your best work may never be “seen” in the traditional sense, only felt. And you have to love it enough to keep doing it anyway.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qiiiidaniel/
