Today we’d like to introduce you to Delaney O’Brien.
Delaney, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in a military family in San Antonio Texas and I am fortunate because my parents always encouraged me to pursue artistic expression in any way possible. I took traditional art classes, drawing, painting, etc., from elementary through high school and I remember it being around middle school when I started to become more interested in the medium of photography. I would take the disposable cameras that we had around and go out and take photos of the canopy of leaves in our backyard or photos of our neighbors down the street. I’m not sure that I got my vision across at the time but I’m glad that I started to express myself through photography pretty early on.
In undergrad, I studied Film and Digital Media at Baylor University where I had an opportunity to work on two feature films. While working on one of the features, I was able to stand in for the cinematographer while he tested film stocks at Panavision in Dallas. This was my first real introduction to cinematography. I went on to finish up my time at Baylor with their Baylor in New York program where I interned at a commercial post-production facility. After graduating, I was encouraged by several companies towards the producing side of things. It took me a few years to find my voice and the direction I wanted pursue and make the change to cinematography.
Luckily, New York is such a wonderfully rich and interesting environment, I was able to stay inspired and kept up my eye with street photography. I moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2016 and started shooting and crewing on as many things as possible. In the fall of 2017, I started the Cinematography Master’s program at The American Film Institute, which I will be graduating from in June of this year.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I have been trying to focus on narrative storytelling and working with film the last few years. For one of my most recent projects, I was able to shoot 35mm film underwater. We’re still in the editing process now but I’m so excited to see it all coming together. As a cinematographer, my aim is always to have my work adapt to tell the story in the best way possible. It’s not always about my style, it’s about making something bigger. It’s a mix of light and shadow, technical and creative, movement and stillness.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
Success as an artist is feeling good about the work you create. It’s about making something tangible and making something with purpose. I think a characteristic that is essential for an artist is being able to see and think beyond your own experience.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I have my work up on my website and on Instagram. Through AFI, I will have a screening for my 35mm project in late May or early June and my thesis film will be screening sometime in the fall. People can support by coming to our screenings and I’m always looking for new collaborators, so please hire me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.delaneysobrien.com
- Email: delaneyobrien713@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delaneysobrien/?hl=en
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