A photographer and filmmaker who cares about the environment, capturing poignant tales of nature that inspire action and raise awareness.

As a passionate nature lover, Dan dedicates much of his work to conserving the natural world through education. In addition to his photography and filmmaking career, Dan actively participates in various NGOs focused on environmental protection. He works tirelessly to create new national parks and promote rewilding efforts in Romania and other European countries, all while inspiring others to appreciate and protect the beauty of nature. Through his lens, Dan captures not just images, but the essence of our landscapes' stories. Explore more about his work on his official website.

What inspired you to become a photographer and documentary filmmaker?

The love for nature, which is the best teacher. I am learning from it, I am relying on it, I am inspired by it. It has always been a close friend. For me, photographing and filming nature have become a way of life. But even though I sneak into its secrets every time, I am always trying to give something back.

You have mentioned that you stay committed to nature photography despite trying other genres. What drives this decision, and what is the biggest challenge?

It was a journey. As every beginner I’ve tried different genres, but after not such a long time I discovered that my focus shifted to just nature, wildlife, and travel. Those three genres are somehow connected because in order to discover wildlife or beautiful landscapes you need to travel in very interesting areas all over the world. Also, when I see people living in close connection with nature, I like to document their way of life as proof that we can still live sustainably and in harmony with our natural environment.   Regarding the challenges, I think that the most complicated part is to find your subject, especially if you think about wildlife. You have to understand your subject and to really love what you are doing because you will spend a lot of time out of your comfortable home.

What is the most memorable or challenging moment you've had during a shoot?

I had the chance to live some memorable moments in different parts of the world. I was photographing blue whales in the icy waters of Iceland, trekking chimps in the jungle of Uganda, searching for specialized wildlife in the deserts of Namibia, and enjoying the majestic landscape of New Zealand, but one of the most impressive moments that I encountered in my life was this year on a trip to Kenya. We were in Tsavo East National Park and for a couple of days, each morning and evening we had a memorable spectacle with more than a million quelea birds. It was incredible to see how the entire flock was coming to a waterhole and literally darkening the sky. The real challenge was to try to photograph the moment. I don’t think that I manage to get all that grandeur in one shot, but sometimes is not about a good image, is about the moment itself.

“Photographing and filming nature has become a way of life.”

Could you please tell us about the upcoming documentary you're currently working on?

After the success of our main feature documentary called Wild Romania, we turned our focus to the Danube Delta, the biggest wetland in Europe. This is a magical place, one of the most biodiverse in the world for such compact surface area, and home to more than 350 species of birds. It might not seem a big number but is truly a record for Europe.

Our focus in this film is around the water that brings life to this place and we want to emphasize that we need wetlands and we need to restore those that we already lost. 80% of the wet areas along the Danube River are gone and we can see the effects when we look at the flooding problems. Also, the wetlands are capturing carbon more rapidly than the forests, so restoring the wetlands all over the world should be a priority.

The main challenge now is the war in Ukraine. The Delta lies at the Eastern end of Romania, exactly at the border with the conflict. The drone flights are restricted and in some areas, the war is taking a toll on wildlife. I hope though that this will end soon.

What is your process for planning a photography trip or shoot?

It’s all about documenting the subject well. You can do this by yourself or with the help of good guides or specialists in that field. I do both, depending on the species I need to find or the place that I need to discover. After this part is done, you need to take care of the equipment that you need. I always like to travel light so I prefer to focus on the story mainly than on the technical aspects of a shoot. You need the equipment, but when you focus more on how to work with all the cameras and gears around you, you might forget that the moment is the one that counts.

What are the details that you would never compromise during your work?

One of the things that I will never compromise is the ethical conduct. No image or footage should be more important than your subject. Sometimes you are tempted to push things a little bit forward for a good shot, but you should have always in mind that you should not be intrusive and you should respect the wildlife. Another thing, I will always compromise on technical aspects for the story. Maybe the image is not the sharpest one, but if the story is there or if you got a special moment, I will value that.

Are there any occupational injuries as a photographer?

I did not think about this till now. The only things that you might experience mainly will be from working in the field. If you choose nature photography you should be also a fit person and you should like hiking. I am always saying that landscape photography is about 80% trekking and just 20% photographing, and all this in a good day. Of course, if you are searching for animals, you should be aware of the species around you and how dangerous they are. But in all my career I did not have any problem with dangerous animals and I have encountered a few. If you respect them and don’t push things too far you should be on the safe side.

When editing in front of a computer, do you use any tools or gadgets to improve work efficiency, and how do you manage eye strain and handle difficult lighting situations?

I don’t like to edit my images too much and I like to spend more time in nature and less in front of the computer. I don’t have special gadgets that I use, but I try to be very organized. Building a good archive and a good backup system will help your workflow a lot.   As I said before, I like to limit the time in front of the computer as much as possible. I like also to edit during the day, when I have sufficient natural light around and this helps the fatigue to the eyes. One cool trick that I used to have, was to relax my eyes by looking at a big aquarium that I had home. It really helps and is quite relaxing. Because I was always away, I didn’t have time to keep up with the maintenance of the aquarium though, so now I really need to find another trick to have this small moment of relaxation.

“The moment is the one that counts.”

How long have you been using ScreenBar Pro now? What do you think about it?

It is a really cool smart gadget, easy to use and very intuitive. I had it for some time now and I am trying to find new and better ways to implement it in my workflow.   The most interesting thing is that I can emulate a little bit of the natural light in front of my computer when is dark outside. This allows me to work more naturally and with less eye fatigue due to the contrast of a bright monitor in a dark room.   I like the fact that you can adjust the intensity and the white balance. Like this, you can truly emulate natural light. Also, is interesting that you can quickly adjust the light if you need to use a pencil and a paper for some notes, or to illuminate your face better in an online meeting.

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What advice or insights would you like to share with those who want to become photographers?

I have always said that to be a good nature photographer you need three things: luck, perseverance, and knowledge. Exactly in this order. Is useless to know things if you are not persevering enough to go out into the wild to find the subject. And you can be very perseverant, but it will not be enough if you don’t have luck. I will through some patience in the mix also. Good things come in time, and your skills also. Invest first in you, and after that invest in the equipment. But you know, is easy to give advice when you learn from mistakes… so make mistakes, experiment, and be curious. This makes us humans and good photographers.

What does photography mean to you, and what are your goals for the future as a photographer?

It is a way of life. I cannot imagine traveling without my camera. It’s also a way to discover things. When you are behind the lens is not just about the photo that you can get, but the process that brought you to that moment. Photography gave me the chance to discover the world and, nevertheless, it gave me a job that I truly love. Along with this, it also gave me the chance to bring something back to nature and to support nature conservation with the images that I’ve made.   In the near future, I will focus on another two photo books that I work on, and also on some new travels. The work around the conservation projects is also very important to me, and I am supporting a foundation to make the highest mountains in Romania a national park. Big dream, so no pressure!

“Photography gave me the chance to discover the world.”

To learn more about Dan Dinu’s photography journey and his accomplishment, please visit below links:

Website https://dandinu.net/home

Wild Romania trailer https://ntdfilm.ro/wild-romania

Wild Romania book https://www.nhbs.com/wild-romania-romania-slbatic-book