David Rasmussen - Director of Photography
25 Years of Film & Videography
David Rasmussen has over 25 years of experience as a cinematographer and director of photography specializing in documentary films. David's resume of film and videography includes TV documentary, corporate, natural history, travel and adventure films. David has worked in a variety of conditions, from the blistering desert of Death Valley, CA, to Mount Everest’s windy summit.
An experienced director of photography and cinematographer, David’s skills include:
- Film Lighting Cameraman
- Aerial and Helicopter Filming
- Tyler Side and Nose Mount Experience
- Jib and Hothead Operator
- Technical Rock and Ice Climbing
- High Altitude Mountaineering
- Canoeing/White Water Rafting/Boating
- Nordic and Alpine Skiing
- Caving
- Horseback Riding
Career Cinematographer
David began in 1985 as a cameraman with Boeing Airplane Company's Motion Picture Department. After four years traveling worldwide with Boeing, he worked as a freelance cameraman doing both 16mm filming and videography for the BBC, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Travel Channel, NOVA/ BBC Horizon, National Geographic Television, ABC and numerous independent production companies. He has filmed in over 20 countries around the world.
In 1999 National Geographic commissioned David to produce a six-part television series in Pakistan on K2, world’s second highest mountain. The 2003 Everest Speed Expedition hired David as a documentary filmmaker and high altitude cameraman for the expedition which succeeded in putting the first Italian woman atop Mount Everest. In spring 2006, David returned to Everest with the British Army Expedition as high altitude cameraman for its attempt on the difficult West Ridge route. David summited Everest in 2007 with the Everest Xtreme Expedition as high altitude cameraman for BBC Horizon. The film followed a team of doctors/climbers studying the relationship between genetics and altitude.
Aside from his work as a cinematographer, David has been active in outdoor recreation including caving, backpacking, canoeing, rock and ice climbing, and mountaineering. He has traveled to 45 countries. In 1979, he spent five months sailing on a tall ship from Scotland to Greece. He toured Europe and North Africa for six months. In 1989 he and his wife backpacked the 3000 mile US Continental Divide from Mexico to Canada. David resides near Whitefish, Montana, with his wife and three sons.