Luana Knipfer

Wahrenberg
Saxony-Anhalt
Germany

Phone/WhatsApp: +49 178 855 5532

Email: mail@luanaknipfer.de

Website: www.luanaknipfer.de

Wildlife and People Cinematographer ... My filming reflects my passion for observing this fascinating world we live in. I am a topside and recently also an underwater camerawoman. My experience lies in wildlife filmmaking – mostly in Tanzania, in the bush, where I was mentored by wildlife filmmaker Owen Prümm. I work from a vehicle and on the ground – filming behaviour and operating drones. I have also spent a lot of time filming and living on boats. 

My general portfolio includes documentary filmmaking as a DOP for German television, mostly for Arte, and feature cinema. The themes always have a strong focus on the relationship between humankind and nature. 

My formal background, studying visual communication with an emphasis on film, photography, and art history, adds a personal note to my work process. 

I love learning and new challenges – mostly for current film projects. I earned my diver’s licence, and my 10th dive was already with my camera underwater. I strive in every project to give it a visual style that serves the story and aims for the highest visual quality.

My Role on the Katavi Series – ¨Over several years, I had the privilege of working on the Katavi series during both the dry and rainy seasons, immersed deep in the bush. My work focused on long-lens cinematography from a vehicle, together with my exceptional local crew – Naiti and Kahimba – whose expertise in tracking and reading the landscape was essential. 

In addition to ground-based filming operating mostly from the vehicle with the CN20, I operated drones to capture aerial perspectives – from sweeping landscapes to tracking shots flying alongside birds. 

Some of the key sequences I filmed include several intense hippo fights, notably the dramatic wedged hippo scene, as well as moments like the hippo mourning behavior and the infanticide. I also captured the rare pelican hunt and a river crossing by lion cubs pursued by crocs – each moment a testament to the unpredictable and raw nature of Katavi. 

Being mentored by the remarkable filmmaker and bushman Owen Prümm made this project truly unforgettable. His deep knowledge and creative vision left a lasting impact on my creative work and my way of seeing the natural world.¨ Luana Knipfer

See: Sanctuary | Katavi: Africa's Fallen Paradise, Filming Katavi’s Unseen and Remote Wilds & ‘Katavi: Africa’s Fallen Paradise’ Review: Thirst for Survival – WSJ – ¨PBS’s ‘Nature’ presentation is a fascinating look at the wildlife of drought-stricken Tanzania.¨

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