Nicholas Donnelly

Director of Photography
Emmy-nominated. Award winning.

Global Visual Storyteller.

Here’s the thing.

As a cinematographer and producer, I look at every angle, both physically and metaphorically. My guiding principles are shaping stories through tone, atmosphere, ambiance, and honesty. Whether it’s a film, a campaign, or a quiet moment between takes, I’m drawn to projects that find power in restraint and meaning in the details.

Allow me to explain

Rapido + Sucio. The literal translation is “Quick and Dirty.” If you’re wondering what that means, you’re not alone. It shouldn’t be confused with being impatient or careless. To me, it means agility and fearlessness. It’s about resourcefulness and authenticity. If we’ve worked together, you know that if I’m afforded the time to tweak the tiniest fragment of a frame, I’m going to do it.

“Quick and dirty” is a moniker I’ve earned through years of overcoming obstacles, completing unrealistic shot lists, and learning how to do more with less. In full disclosure, though, I’m also typically the dirtiest person on set by the end of the day, and I love that.

Vérité

Expedition

Commercial

Documentary

Rapido + Sucio Digital Cinema is built on nearly two decades of hard-earned experience in an industry where experience matters. Its foundation is rooted in classical fine art principles: composition, color theory, aesthetic literacy, and visual storytelling. Sometimes those rules are followed; sometimes they’re deliberately broken to create something more unexpected and compelling.

Please explore the evidence of this philosophy by clicking the embedded links in each title below.

Selected Credits

2026

El Clasico Del Clasico. Long Form Documentary (NLB Films, Wannabi Puerto Rico.)- Director Of Photography
From The Hill To The Horizon, Documentary Film. (The Parks Project) - Director Of Photography

2025