COMMERCIAL / DOCUMENTARY & PHOTOJOURNALISM

Burak Günaydın

A man lies on his back on a bed in the middle of a bedroom, one arm behind his head and another holding onto the blanket over his body, in a still from Uninhabitable shot by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.

"We received support from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to shoot Uninhabitable in 2014," says director Burak Günaydın. "This film is really important to me because it was my first time shooting with Canon's cinema cameras. The Canon EOS C300 is such a cool camera, and using it as a student made me feel like a professional." Shot on a Canon EOS C300 (now succeeded by the Canon EOS C300 Mark III) with a range of Canon Cine Primes. © Burak Günaydın

Istanbul-based director Burak Günaydın's love of video dates back to when he was in his twenties. Since then, he has worked on films, documentaries, music and sports videos and branded content, and even filmed live concerts.

Burak took his first steps into the video industry because of his love of photography. "My first camera was a Canon EOS 550D and then I bought a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, which was such an important camera in the industry and in my life," he recalls. "With that in my hands, I started studying cinema, while dreaming of becoming a director. I had the coolest camera for a student, so my friends wanted me as a DoP to shoot their university projects." Burak gravitated towards creating visually pleasing cinematic art and, after winning his first photography award in 2010, he joined the cinema department at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Turkey.

With a can-do attitude and a drive to tell stories through video, Burak's list of clients includes Google, Vodafone, Adidas, Columbia and Hyundai, to name a few. He has also produced short films, such as Uninhabitable, which competed at national and international festivals and won the Best Live Action Award at the 2015 Silk Road International Film Festival in Ireland. In the same year, he directed, wrote, shot and edited his first narrative work, Dilemma.

Burak's love of music has also seen him direct and shoot music videos and live concerts. Capturing a concert's energy can be hard, so how do you convey the power of music to someone who wasn't at the gig? The Canon Ambassador has mastered this art. "When I got the Canon EOS C70 and EOS R5 C, I had four cameras. I realised, 'Okay, I can shoot live music now', because the Canon Log 3 quality offered by these cameras couldn't be matched by any other," says Burak. "Getting the colours right in music videos can be a big problem, but I never have these issues when I'm shooting with Canon. I can do so much now that I couldn't before, thanks to this innovative technology."

Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın crouched behind a Canon camera on a tripod.
Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Specialist areas: Documentaries, commercial, music and live concert videos

Favourite kit: Canon EOS R5 C
Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
Turkish musician Cem Adrian sings into a microphone on stage, violinists behind him, in a still from Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın's showreel.

Burak loves both photography and filmmaking. "I like the practicality of photography, and the fact that it requires less equipment than video and you get quick results," he explains. "Directing and editing videos can open up other perspectives in your imagination."

A black and white photograph of South Korean film director Kim Ki-duk, standing by shelves full of old film canisters. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.

"I took this photo of South Korean film director Kim Ki-duk shortly after getting the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, in 2013," recalls Burak. "He was one of my favourite directors, and my inspiration, so this photo is really important to me." Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV) with a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens at 40mm, 1/50 sec, f/4 and ISO 800. © Burak Günaydın

So what's next for Burak? He hopes to work with virtual reality headsets and harness the power of Canon's fisheye lenses to deliver powerful, fun experiences. "I love the Canon fisheye lenses, and I think they could revolutionise the way I conduct workshops," he explains. "In the past, I've shot with fisheye lenses, and stitched and exported the footage in 10 minutes. Virtual reality is the future of entertainment, so I want to use the RF 5.2mm F2.8L DUAL FISHEYE lens to deliver a fun experience."

The silhouettes of a man and a woman standing back to back against a large circular light, in a still from the music video for Senden Yolum Geçmez, shot by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.
A cyclist crosses a rocky, sandy landscape, shot by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.
A runner crosses a sandy landscape, the sea in the background, the image distorted by an ultra-wide-angle-lens, in a still from a documentary by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.
A man stands wearing a VR helmet on his face, a games controller in his hands, in a darkened room with two people sitting on a sofa behind him, in a still from The Ruse, shot by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın. Two men stand by a black vehicle, one leaning on the door and twisting to look behind him, the other looking down at a vinyl record in his hand, in a still from the music video for Dert III, shot by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.
A woman sits on a chair in front of a large brick wall, in a still from the documentary Displaced by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın. A blurry, almost abstract black and white shot of a man wearing black and holding a microphone, in a still from a live concert of Turkish musician Hayko Cepkin filmed by Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın.

What has been your favourite project?

"The most important project for me was Dilemma, because it's from my personal experience, using the aesthetics I like, and it's all mine. It was my first directorial project."

What's your favourite aspect of post-production?

"Playing with colours. I really enjoy colour grading. All the colours in the stills and photos are mine. I'm a technical guy – I like looking at camera specifications, different colours, all of that; it's like a hobby of mine. I've also attended DaVinci Resolve workshops to learn more about colour theory, and I became the first holder of the certification in Turkey."

How do you shoot a live concert?

"I love music very much and I enjoy shooting music-related works. We usually use a Canon EOS R5 C, EOS C70 and XF605 camcorder for live concerts. I like working with eight or more cameras – if you have only three or four, you can't capture the energy. You need to record the drummer, guitarists, vocalist, and even the audience, all from different angles. It's even better shooting with Canon because the colours and the footage look more organic thanks to Canon Log 3."

One thing I know

Burak Günaydın

"Videography is a growing side of production, it's very important because the digital world is expanding everyday. I especially recommend that if you are interested in filmmaking, professionally or personally, you take the camera, shoot something and improve your post-production skills. This gives you a completely different perspective on large projects."

Instagram: @gunaydinburak

Vimeo: @burakgunaydin

Website: burakgunaydin.com



DaVinci Resolve is a registered trademark of Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd.

Burak Günaydın's kitbag

The key kit that the pros use to take their photographs

Canon Ambassador Burak Günaydın's kitbag containing Canon cameras and lenses.

Cameras

Canon EOS C70

With 12-bit RAW recording, 4K 120p slow motion, HDR and Eye AF in a compact body, this camera takes the EOS R System into a brand-new era. "The EOS C70 is an ideal camera, especially for documentary production, when I need 4K RAW and internal ND," says Burak. "I bought this camera for a documentary project and I shot nearly 300 hours of footage, including over 100 interviews. When the project was finished, it was still the same as the first day."

Find out more

Canon EOS R5 C

Shoot incredible 8K movies and capture rich, detailed 45MP stills, all from a camera that combines the best of Cinema EOS with all the advantages of the EOS R System. "My favourite camera," says Burak. "It meets many needs regarding hybrid cameras at the maximum level. Convenient Dual Base ISO, 8K RAW and 4K 120p make the camera sufficient for many shots in different conditions."

Find out more

Canon LEGRIA HF R206

An entry-level, high-definition camera that's packed full of user-friendly features. "I love the texture and power zoom feature that this adds to video content," says Burak. "I add a vintage look to the images I take with it by supporting them with effects."

view more Hide Additional

Lenses

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM

This high-performance f/2.8 telephoto zoom offers exceptional image quality in a compact body, and is designed to work in all conditions. "It's reassuring when shooting live music videos," says Burak. "I also love the sharpness and depth of field in the photos. The new RF body makes the lens compact, so it can be carried in small bags."

Find out more

Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM

Capture more, even in low light, with this fast f/2.8 L-series ultra-wide-angle zoom with 5-stops of image stabilisation. "I really like wide-angle images, and for me, this is the ideal lens for use on a gimbal," says Burak. "I've shot many projects using only this lens."

Find out more

Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM

A small, light and affordable lens with a fast f/1.8 aperture, ideal in low light and great for creative depth of field. "When I want to take photos, I usually have 16mm and 50mm lenses in my bag instead of going out with big lenses," says Burak. "It also feels good to have it in my bag in low-light environments."

Find out more

Canon RF 35mm F1.8 MACRO IS STM

A versatile, high-quality 35mm lens that's perfect for street, travel and close-up photography. "It's an ideal lens for full-frame, allowing you to shoot at f/1.8 aperture and macro – and it takes up very little space in your bag," says Burak.

Find out more

Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM

This full-frame prime is great for vlogging, landscapes, architecture, astrophotography and more. "This always stays in my bag as a spare lens," says Burak. "I like having my backup camera mounted on me, especially when taking photos. It is also a good option to make the gimbal even lighter."

Find out more

Canon RF 5.2mm F2.8L DUAL FISHEYE

Capture the world in stunning virtual reality with this groundbreaking L-series lens, designed to make your VR journey as simple and seamless as possible. "It's one of a kind," says Burak. "When you work in 8K RAW with the EOS R5 C, it provides a really good experience with VR headsets; a combination that best makes you feel the 3D 180° VR effect."

Find out more
view more Hide Additional

Related articles

Canon Ambassador Jaime de Diego

Canon Europe Ambassador Programme

Find out how the ambassador programme works, and meet the phenomenal photographers chosen to represent Canon.

Find out more

Canon Professional Services

Members get access to CPS Priority Support, both locally and at major events; a priority Fast Track repair service; and — depending on your level of membership — free back-up equipment loans plus return shipping and discounts on maintenance. They can also enjoy exclusive members’ offers.

Join
Learn more
EOS R6