Quick bit of exciting news!  The National Geographic Explorer program “Climbing Redwood Giants” has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, including myself and the other cinematographers in the category Best Cinematography – Nature.  Can’t say how ecstatic I am to be nominated for such a prestigious award.  This definitely was a life goal, but I never expected it so early in my career.

I owe this true honor to my mentor, good friend, and fellow cinematographer Andy Shillabeer.  On a few different projects, spread across a few different continents the past few years, I’ve worked as Andy’s camera assistant when I was fortunate enough to be invited along. A world class director of photography and expert in specialty camera rigs and natural history filmmaking, Andy has been instrumental in my development as a cinematographer. He even recommended me to John Rubin Productions as the man for the job for the expedition cinematography following Mike Fay’s Redwoods Transect.

Beyond all that, his work on this film comprised the majority of the program, and is the true showcase of stunning camerawork. I am definitely riding his coattails on this Emmy Award Nomination.  The reason this show such a great piece of cinematography wasn’t my run and gun footage, from the trail, but the amazing shots of the trees and canopy scientists climbing filmed with the aerial cable dolly, built and operated by Andy.  For these portions of filming I was again lucky enough to work as Andy’s AC, and got to work with a fantastic crew of riggers (and scientists), Jim Spickler, Giacomo Renzullo, & Steve Sillet.

Here is an excerpt of the portion of the show I shot on the trail with Mike Fay during his Redwood Transect.

 

Here is some of the more exceptional cinematography, shot by friend and DP Andy Shillabeer.