Anthony Brooks, or “Brooks” as he’s affectionately known, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His path into cinematography was sparked by an exploratory childhood spent as a military brat, living in places such as Cuba, Sicily, and cities across the United States. That nomadic upbringing shaped a wide-ranging worldview and made it almost inevitable that he would become a visual storyteller of some kind.

 

After moving to Los Angeles in 2010, Anthony began his career as a camera operator before transitioning into work as a professional cinematographer. Constant travel continues to inform and sharpen his visceral approach to image-making, with his migrant nature leading him fluidly between scripted narratives and long-form documentary work.

 

His most notable documentary work includes serving as Director of Photography on the first two seasons of Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers, the LeBron James– and Amazon Studios–executive produced docuseries that offers an unprecedented look inside one of the most talked-about programs in high school basketball. The series features the sons of NBA legends, elite blue-chip prospects, and a formidable coaching staff, and earned a 2022 Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Sports Series.

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In the branded space, Anthony served as Director of Photography and Still Photographer on BET’s Forty Five and Forward campaign, which won a Bronze Clio Award in 2025.

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As a Director of Photography, his body of work spans feature films, shorts, commercials, and docuseries, leading to his membership in the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600). He was selected for the ASC Vision Mentorship Program (2023–24) and named ICG’s Generation Next (2023). Grounded in a global perspective, his sensibilities are best paired with stories that move fluidly between levity and darkness.

 

If not for all of the above, he’d probably be a historian — maybe an analyst.