Johan Dijkstra is a cinematographer, cameraman, and still photographer based in the Netherlands. He is known for lensing commissioned work ranging from commercials to independent films, and for consulting on global television series. His fine-art photography debuted at his first exhibition in Amsterdam last year.
PASSION
My biggest passion and main goal in life is to visualize every scene and situation in a new, creative and inspiring way of storytelling through my lens. My visuals should serve the story. I adore the magic of light and using the camera's sensor to impress, open eyes and entertain the audience in an unseen and emotional way. Sometimes I even dream in compositions. I’ve grown up in the digital ages in which everything was possible. This made me innovative and pushes me to constantly search for new unexpected but conversant ways of lensing the story.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Afloat"
Toronto Independent Film Fest.
BEST DRAMA SHORT
"Eindbestemming"
Independent Shorts Festival, LA
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
"Paradise9"
48h Filmfestival
BEST FILM
"A Little More Drama"
San Francisco Film Festival
SAN ACCENT
"Korps Commandotroepen"
GOUDEN STUIVER
"Eindmusical"
Gouden Televizier- Ring Gala
1st PLACE JUDGES CHOICE
"Eindbestemming"
Shortz! Film Festival, Chico, CA
TELEVIZIER-STER
"De Zomer van Zoë"
Gouden Televizier- Ring Gala
BEST FILM
"Monkey Business"
New York Shorts International
BEST FILM
"Monkey Business"
DBUFF Film Festival
BIOGRAPHY
My passion for photography was born when I held my mothers high8 video camera for the first time. When I was 13 years old, during a family vacation I imagined myself as a real cameraman and created my first un-editable shorts. After high school I went to the photographers academy: Fotonica, followed by the television academy in the Dutch media capital of Hilversum. In those days I made my first acquaintance with visual content and the art of communication through images.
I achieved my first television experience as an intern at the most famous local broadcast station in the Netherlands; AT5. In Amsterdam I learned how to combine creativity and professionalism and learned how to handle professional equipment. After one year I started my national career as a junior cameraman at United Broadcast Facilities. As an employee I mostly worked for public and commercial news stations and set my first steps in the world of infotainment programming. I quickly learned that my future wasn’t in the hard news or rapid television sector. I started to work for the smaller but more exclusive Hoens Broadcast Facilities.
Over there I realized that my true passion was to be found in creating beautiful images, pieces of photographical art that are telling the story behind the content. The introduction of digital 35mm camera’s changed my point of view. I quickly became a ‘photographer’ instead of an ‘operator’, I started searching for new, creative and inspiring ways of storytelling trough my lens. Painting with light and using the camera to impress, open eyes and entertain the audience in a innovative and emotional way. Creating a imaginary world or visualize and capture a real situation as sensitive, ethical and realistically as possible..
SELECTED CLIENTS
VISUAL FORMAT DIRECTING
With more than 230 television and streaming formats of experience I've learned how to visualize every storyline, scene and emotion you can imagine. Given today's budgets I love to cooperate, advise and think about new and unique ways to express a new format and distinguish globally or in the small and static landscape Holland has to offer.
MASTERCLASSES
With 'speeching' as my second best talent I love to teach, convince and inspire other people with my passion for light, visuals, storytelling, optics and cameras. In cooperation with international companys, academys, broadcasters and festivals I lead all kinds of workshops, inspiring talks and masterclasses to industry professionals
© 2025 Johan Dijkstra. All rights reserved.