Ralf and his camera have traveled far and wide, many times to far off and perilous places in the world, including Antarctica, the Himalayas, the Karakoroum mountain range, Tibet, the Bolivian jungle, the Chilean desert, and its southernmost reaches of Patagonia, Easter Island and eastern Africa.

Ralf's skill and adventurous spirit have led him to become a member of  the first South American TV crew to climb the “Aconcagua”, the highest peak in the Andes mountains in the Americas. He later joined the first Chilean team to climb “K-2”, the second highest peak in the world in the Karakoroum mountain range in Pakistan.

 

 

 

In 2002, Ralf traveled as a director of photography for the production of an hour-long independent documentary, entitled “cuba Mia,” the story of an all-woman orchestra in Havana, Cuba.  The program was shot almost entirely in Havana, with some scenes captured in the U.S.   The documentary earned Ralf a Best Cinematography Award from the New York Independent Film and Video Festival. The program has aired on WNET (PBS, channel 13, NewYork) and WGBH in Boston, and several hundred other PBS stations throughout the country.

During the 1990’s, Ralf worked as a Director of Photography on over 10 independent films. Some of these shows were shot in New York City and Washington D.C. and others in Ralf´s country of origin, Chile. Some of his 16mm projects also included short programs for television.

Previously, Ralf worked as a director of photography and co-editor for the award-winning Chilean documentary series, “Al Sur del Mundo” (“In The Southern Part of the World”).  He later directed, and was the DP and editor for "Visiones," a cultural program that aired continuously on Chilean TV for over ten years.

He holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon, where he received a scholarship to study film and television.

Ralf has developed a very successful career as an editor. With 20 years of experience, Ralf has edited numerous documentaries and short programs for a wide variety of clients. Fluent in Spanish, he has edited in this language as well as in Portuguese and German. His Experience ranges from sophisticated, slow paced programs to high-paced, very energetic ones. Ralf has Experience in both linear  and non-linear  systems.
(SEE EDITING)

Ralf´s recent gigs include shoots for clients such as National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, Travel Channel (U.K.), Tru-Tv (Court TV), NHK (Japan), CNN+ (Spain), Arte France and  TV-3 (France).

…and by far, this is my most wonderful, fulfilling, enjoyable and without a doubt, best project ever: my dear daughters. The one trip that has given me more satisfaction than any other one in my life .An ongoing, delightful trip. “and the latest personal super-production has arrived: Leon Oberti! Born on April 23 2008, a joyful and magnificent addition to the Oberti family. Welcome Leoncito!”

As an editor, he recently completed three one-hour long programs for the National Geographic’s series “Megacities,” and  programs for the Discovery Channel’s “One Night on earth,” and for its “Young Scientists Challenge”.

He has also shot and edited programs for the permanent exhibition of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI).                  Recently, he finished editing videos for the exhibition “Identity by Design”, of this museum.

Ralf currently lives in the Washington, DC  area with his wife, Johanna, and his new born son, Leon.