Luke Maximo Bell

Luke Maximo Bell
Born
Luke Maximo Bell

(1994-05-11) May 11, 1994 (age 32)
Johannesburg, South Africa
EducationUniversity of Cape Town
OccupationCinematographer/ Filmmaker
Years activec. 2016–present
Websitelukemaximobell.com

Luke Bell (born 1994) is a filmmaker, drone pilot and videographer from Cape Town, South Africa.

Life and career

Luke studied Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Cape Town where he began his career.

In 2017 Luke was among the winners of the annual Dronestagram drone photography competition. In 2020 he was awarded first place in the music video category in the Moment Invitational Film Festival presented in New York City.

In 2020 Luke became a Sony α ambassador for Middle East and Africa.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Luke received clearance to film the empty streets of Cape Town by drone. In more recent years he has worked as a drone pilot and drone camera operator on films like Resident Evil (TV series)† and The Year Earth Changed.

In June 2025 Luke designed, built and flew the world's fastest quadcopter/ drone.

Filmography

Key
† Denotes projects that have not yet been released
Year Title Director Role Notes
2017 Meet South Africa. Meet Bheki: The Mbhaco Maker Teboho Mahlatsi Social Content Videographer
Tali's Wedding Diary Ari Kruger Drone Pilot 8 Episodes
2020 The Age of Nature Peter Lown Archival Footage Contributor 1 Episode
The Rolling Stones: Living in a Ghost Town Joe Connor Camera Operator
2021 Tali's Baby Diary Ari Kruger Drone pilot 10 episodes
The Year Earth Changed Tom Beard Aerial Footage Contributor
Facebook: Skate Nation Ghana Bafic / Justyna Obasi / Elliott Power Drone Pilot
2021 Day Zero Virginia Quinn / Kevin Sim Aerial Footage Contributor
2022 Resident Evil (TV series) † Rachel Goldberg / Rob Seidenglanz / Batan Silva / Bronwen Hughes Drone Camera Operator

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Title Result Notes
2015 Skypixel Photo Contest Professional Drones in Use Reaching for the PhantomNominated 3rd Place
2017 Skypixel Aerial Photo and Video Contest Cities The City of Cape TownWon
Dronestagram Aerial Photo Contest Creativity Two MooWon
2020 Moment Invitational Awards Music Video We Can't BreatheWon
Siena International Photo Awards Video The Frozen ContinentNominated 2nd Place

References

  1. ↑ SkyPixel (2017-09-20). "Magician of Light and Shadow". Medium. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  2. ↑ "Drone photography 101: Cape Town expert shares his secrets". News24. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  3. ↑ "WATCH | Hermanus whales like you've never seen them before". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  4. ↑ "UCT Degree". lukebell. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. ↑ The Drone Dish: LukeMaximoBell, retrieved 2022-07-03
  6. ↑ "Dronestagram". Dronestagram. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  7. ↑ "In pictures: A bird's eye view". BBC News. 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  8. ↑ Quito, Anne (2017-07-05). "The year's best drone photos, selected by National Geographic". Quartz. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  9. ↑ Lakritz, Talia. "12 incredible, award-winning drone photos that will make you feel like you're flying". Insider. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  10. 1 2 "Moment International Film Festival - Overview". www.momentinvitational.com. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  11. ↑ Baxter, Jenni (2020-07-01). "South Africans Win Best Music Video at International Film Festival with 'We Can't Breathe'". SAPeople - Worldwide South African News. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  12. ↑ "Profile I Sony I Alpha Universe | Middle East and Africa". Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  13. ↑ "Filmmakers and Sony Ambassadors Luke Bell and Hloni Coleman of XCIV | Sony Alpha Photographers Podcast". Sony Alpha Photographers. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  14. ↑ Caboz, Jay. "WATCH: Haunting drone footage shows a dead quiet Cape Town in lockdown". Businessinsider. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  15. ↑ Moodley, Clinton. "WATCH: Eerie, yet beautiful, drone footage shows Cape Town like you've never seen her before". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  16. 1 2 Resident Evil (Action, Horror, Sci-Fi), Constantin Film, 2022-07-14, retrieved 2022-06-19
  17. 1 2 The Year Earth Changed (2021) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-06-19
  18. ↑ "Fastest ground speed by a battery-powered remote-controlled (RC) quadcopter". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Mahlatsi, Teboho; Mohlabane, Itumeleng; Wasielewski, Collette (2017-09-01), Meet South Africa. Meet Bheki: The Mbhaco Maker (Short), The Bomb Shelter Film Company, retrieved 2022-06-19
  20. ↑ "Teboho Mahlatsi". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  21. ↑ Tali's Wedding Diary (Comedy), Sketchbook Studios, 2017-12-14, retrieved 2022-06-19
  22. 1 2 "Ari Kruger". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  23. ↑ The Age of Nature (Documentary), BBC Documentaries, BBC Earth, BBC Studios, 2020-10-14, retrieved 2022-06-19
  24. ↑ "Peter Lown - Contact Info, Agent, Manager | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  25. ↑ The Rolling Stones: Living in a Ghost Town (Music), 2020-04-23, retrieved 2022-06-19
  26. ↑ "Joe Connor". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  27. ↑ Tali's Baby Diary (Comedy), Sketchbook Studios, 2021-02-26, retrieved 2022-06-19
  28. ↑ "Tom Beard - Contact Info, Agent, Manager | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  29. ↑ Facebook: Skate Nation Ghana (Short 2021) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-06-19
  30. ↑ "Bafic". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  31. ↑ "Justyna Obasi". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  32. ↑ Quinn, Virginia; Sim, Kevin (2021-09-24), Day Zero (Documentary, Drama), KEO films, Tencent Pictures, retrieved 2022-06-19
  33. ↑ "Virginia Quinn". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  34. ↑ "Kevin Sim". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  35. ↑ "Rob Seidenglanz". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  36. ↑ "Batan Silva". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  37. ↑ "SkyPixel - Connecting Creativity". www.skypixel.com. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  38. ↑ "SkyPixel - Connecting Creativity". www.skypixel.com. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  39. ↑ "In pictures: A bird's eye view". BBC News. 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  40. ↑ Venturi, Gabriele. "Gallery | Siena International Photo Awards". sipacontest.com. Retrieved 2022-06-19.