Karol Kolecava – Cinematographer CV

Details

Name: Karol Kolecava
Email: hello@kolecava.com
Website: www.kolecava.com
Experience: + years
Base: Košice, Slovakia and London, UK
Languages: English (Native/Bilingual), Slovak (Native/Bilingual), Czech (Conversational)
Working across: The United Kingdom and Central Europe - Available Worldwide
Driving licence: Full UK Driving licence

Summary

I’m a freelance Director of Photography and certified drone pilot with + years of experience across commercial, documentary, music, and branded content. My work blends strong technical control with a keen eye for storytelling, shaped by a background in post-production and a self-taught foundation in cinematography after switching careers from web design.

Beyond technical skill, I bring problem-solving and creative independence on set. Able to design and capture full sequences on the fly without requiring heavy direction. From wides, mediums, and close-ups, I build coherent visual progressions that flow naturally into story structure, ensuring coverage that editors can seamlessly shape into engaging narratives.

I’m currently based between London and Košice and work across the UK and Europe, collaborating with crews and clients to bring impactful visual narratives to life — both on the ground and in the air.

Want to know more? Head to the www.kolecava.com/about-me/ page for a deeper dive into my creative path.

Selected Clients

Vodafone — TESCO — Royal Mail — L'Occitane — Alzheimer's Society — British Superbike Championship — Jasper Conran — European Movement UK — COSM Immersive Experiences — ITN (Independent Television News) — Hargreaves Lansdown — Fidelity Finance — Weber Shandwick

Experience

Director of Photography – Freelance UK/EU, 2020–Present (Narrative, Documentary, Commercial)
Camera / Gimbal Operator – RED, Sony, Blackmagic, DJI gimbals (Multicam, Sports, Live, ENG, Gimbal)
Drone Pilot & Aerial DP – DJI Mavic 3 (CAA A2 CofC, EASA A2)
Editing & Colour – DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere
Additional Software: – Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom and After Effects.

Specialisms

Documentary (run-and-gun / self-shooting)
Commercials / Branded Content
Interview setups & lighting
Music Live Sessions
Handheld, Easyrig, Gimbal Operation
Aerial Cinematography (UK & EU licensed)

Special Visual Style / Strengths

I specialise in naturalistic lighting and a handheld, intimate style that lends authenticity and immediacy to storytelling. My approach is rooted in documentary-style efficiency, allowing me to adapt quickly to fast-changing environments without sacrificing image quality. In addition to handheld work, I operate gimbals to deliver fluid, controlled movement, and when the scene calls for it, I often combine this with inline skating to achieve exceptionally smooth, dynamic tracking shots. This blend of agility and technique enables me to follow subjects naturally, create engaging on-the-fly camera moves, and capture cinematic energy in even the most unpredictable settings.

Technical Skills

Cameras: Sony FX3/6/9, RED Komodo/Raptor, Blackmagic 4K/6K & Ursa
Lighting: Aputure, Astera, GODOX, Nanlite, Arri Red Heads
Gimbals: DJI RS 2/3/4, Ronin 2
Post: DaVinci Resolve Studio, Premiere Pro, After Effects

Education & Training

CAA A2 Certificate of Competency – UAVHub (UK)
EU A2 Open Category Drone Licence – EASA (Netherlands)
DBS Checked (UK Enhanced Disclosure)
COVID-safe training completed
BTEC Diploma in Media Studies & Central Graphic Academy NVQ/A level in Southend-on-Sea

Kit List

Blackmagic Ursa 12K (x2 512GB cards)
Zeiss Milvus 25, Zeiss Otus 55, Zeiss Otus 85, Tokina 11-20, Sigma 18-35, Sigma 24-105
Sony FX3/FX6
Sony G-Master 24-70, Sony G-Master 70-200
Rode NTG-3 + Boompole, Rode Wireless Pro
DJI Mavic 3 Drone
DJI Ronin RS-2 Gimbal
Sachtler Flowtech 100 Tripod + Vinten Vision 8
Apple M3 MAX DIT/Editing Laptop

Notable Recent Projects

2025 – Flags in the Wind

Production: European Movement UK | Directors: Richard Kilpatrick & Michael Anderson | Genre: Documentary | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K

A short documentary exploring the human cost of war in Ukraine, filmed across multiple locations in and around Lviv. Shot on a tight schedule, the project blends interviews, archival footage, and general GVs. Each interview required fast setup times, so we worked efficiently and packed only the essential kit to stay agile.

2025 – TESCO Community Stories

Production: ITN | Directors: Various | Genre: Documentary | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K

A documentary-style piece filmed across multiple locations in the UK, Czechia, and Slovakia, highlighting personal stories from Tesco employees. The production required building scenes quickly with minimal crew, while managing effective multi-angle coverage under tight time constraints.

2025 – The JBS Collection – Bentley Blower

Production: Reload Agency | Genre: Documentary | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K

A documentary following the recreation of the 1930 Bentley Blower using original techniques and modern craftsmanship. Shot at Bentley Mulliner, on-track at Donington/Oulton Park, and Le Mans Classic. Delivered cinematic interviews, detailed engineering visuals, and dynamic tracking shots with a compact crew.

2025 – Caterpillar: Wear Parts "Giant to Joe"

Production: Flipside Group | Genre: Commercial | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K

A dynamic visual campaign for Caterpillar’s Wear Parts division, exploring the human connection to heavy machinery through immersive drone cinematography and camera work. Shot across multiple machines, the ad transitions from large-scale industrial power to intimate, tactile moments. My role involved executing seamless drone one-takes and highlighting the relationship between operator and machine, and visually balancing scale with personal detail.

2025 – Hargreaves Lansdown (various case studies)

Production: Gray Media UK | Genre: Corporate Branded Content | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K, RED Komodo, FX3/FX6

A series of mini-docs showcasing personal stories from Hargreaves Lansdown customers, filmed across various UK locations. Each shoot was completed in a single day with a small crew of three (two camera, one director). We captured cinematic GVs, conducted well-lit interviews—often filmed in people’s homes, which required on-the-spot reworking of living spaces—and occasionally shot in unique locations such as beaches. Aerial footage was also used to enhance visual storytelling and establish setting.

2024 – Tom Fletcher (Series of Children Book Web Ads)

Production: EC2I & Gray Media UK | Genre: Branded Content | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K

A heartwarming short featuring children’s authentic reactions to Tom Fletcher’s latest book release. Delivered in multiple aspect ratios for social platforms, the shoot required working in confined spaces with a minimal footprint. The environment was pre-lit and staged the night before in collaboration with the internal EC2I team, ensuring a smooth and child-safe production day.

2024 – Dirt Nationals: Off-Road Circuit

Genre: Sports / Documentary | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K, Red Komodo

Filmed across various off-road locations in the UK, this project involved capturing high-intensity racing action in challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. Utilised drone cinematography for dynamic aerial coverage, complemented by super slow-motion ground shots and interviews with riders and organisers. Delivered both a short-form documentary and supporting web content tailored for digital platforms.

2023 – Circus Cortex

Genre: Branded Content | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K, Red Komodo, Blackmagic Pocket 4K/6K

A visually dynamic shoot for Circus Cortex, a UK-based contemporary circus. The production involved rehearsed stunts and carefully choreographed lighting transitions, requiring close coordination between performers, lighting cues, and camera movement. Multiple lighting setups were used to enhance the visual storytelling, with a strong emphasis on timing and spatial awareness in a controlled performance environment.

2023 – TESCO

Production: ITN | Directors: Various | Genre: Documentary | Camera: Blackmagic Ursa 12K, Sony FX6/FX9 and RED Komodo/Raptor

In 2023, Tesco focused on initiatives centered around their "Winning Together" approach, emphasizing colleague well-being, community support, and strategic business goals. My primary role was gathering GVs (b-roll) as well as shooting secondary stories/interviews. I have also provided aerial filming services for few of the locations.