Joseph Duerr is a creative based out of Venice Beach, California. Born in and around the water, Joseph's career in cinematography began with his endeavors as a professional surfer and as a lifeguard, which started with the Los Angeles County Fire Department in 2017 at 18 years old. After graduating from the University of California Santa Cruz, Joseph then went on to become a lifeguard on the beaches of Oahu in Hawaii, in 2021. He eventually left lifeguarding in 2022 to pursue a career as a cinematographer, with his primary focus on documenting surfing.
In his first year pursuing cinematography, Joseph set out to be the heaviest big wave cinematographer in the world, pushing the limits of swimming waves of unimaginable size with a camera. He was most notably recognized for swimming Nazare when it was 30ft plus, and across the impact zone at Mavericks. This then led to jobs within the surf industry at the beginning of 2023.
Since then, Joseph has worked with directors in all fields, exposing him to work outside of surfing. He's learned how to work with teams as a team and the necessary means for any kind of production.
Client list includes: Calvin Klein, NFL, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Vet TV, Cosm Labs, Guess, Red Bull, Monster, Cynthia Rowley, Open Table, Apple, Surfline, Stab Magazine, Stripe, and many more.
Client work is accessible through my website or upon request.
In 2025, Joseph made his first full-length film (ALIENATION), been involved as a camera operator on two separate documentaries on the recent Los Angeles fires, DP'd a television show in North Carolina for VET TV, and shot on a production with STEPT Studios for a show with Gear Junkie and a car brand he cannot name yet!
If you'd like to work together, please reach out.
Joseph Duerr
+1 (424) 443-8737
duerrdot@gmail.com
Pipeline 2024 Photo: Blaise Booth
Swimming Nazare 2023. Photo: Tim Bonython
Directing Alienation with DP Grant Duncan. Photo: Henry Michaelis
