My Work
I started taking photographs at the age of seven, encouraged by my photographer father. By the age of twelve I realised I wanted a career that would combine my interests of photography and animals after meeting television wildlife cameraman Ron Eastman at a photography club. Four years later Ron gave me my first break by asking me to accompany him and his wife on a three month film shoot in the USA for the BBC World About Us film, Steens Mountain - A Natural History Western. Between 1976-78 I worked with the Eastmans on the children's classic feature film Tarka the Otter, multi-tasking as publicity photographer, camera assistant and otter handler.
Between 1980-81 I worked as a staff cameraman at London Scientific Films, filming for the groundbreaking macro special effects series Bellamy's Backyard Safari.
In 1981 I began a freelance career working as a specialist Director/Cameraman on television nature and science programmes. This work has taken me to locations worldwide including North, South and Central America, Alaska, India, China, Japan, Burma, Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and the high Arctic. Television programmes that I've contributed to include BBC TV's The Blue Planet, Journey of Life, The Trials of Life, The Life of Plants, Land of the Eagle, Predators, Nightmares of Nature, Dragons Alive, The Living Isles, Living Britain, Wildlife on One, & The Natural World, and six programmes for National Geographic Explorer, two of which have won me Emmy awards for Outstanding Cinematography.
During the past three years I have filmed for the BBC High Definition series Planet Earth; filmed a one-hour National Geographic special Attack of the Giant Gerbils in the Gobi Desert; appeared both behind and in front of the camera (with Ben Fogle & Kate Humble) in the BBC series Animal Park, and filmed several non wildlife projects including 2 feature films Nadine and A Moment of Guilt, a music video for Indian singer Kamaal Khan, five short films Gorgeous Labour of Love, Last Chance Romance, The Chauffeur's Hat, Greener Grass, and Hans & Stanley and corporate videos for the Forestry Commission, Center Parcs, UK Meat & Livestock Commission, and the Avon & Somerset Fire Service.
When not filming television programmes I work as a video cameraman and photographer on a wide range of projects, including commercial & advertising work, product & packshot photography, website photography, weddings & portraiture, and photography of children and pets.
Between 1980-81 I worked as a staff cameraman at London Scientific Films, filming for the groundbreaking macro special effects series Bellamy's Backyard Safari.
In 1981 I began a freelance career working as a specialist Director/Cameraman on television nature and science programmes. This work has taken me to locations worldwide including North, South and Central America, Alaska, India, China, Japan, Burma, Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and the high Arctic. Television programmes that I've contributed to include BBC TV's The Blue Planet, Journey of Life, The Trials of Life, The Life of Plants, Land of the Eagle, Predators, Nightmares of Nature, Dragons Alive, The Living Isles, Living Britain, Wildlife on One, & The Natural World, and six programmes for National Geographic Explorer, two of which have won me Emmy awards for Outstanding Cinematography.
During the past three years I have filmed for the BBC High Definition series Planet Earth; filmed a one-hour National Geographic special Attack of the Giant Gerbils in the Gobi Desert; appeared both behind and in front of the camera (with Ben Fogle & Kate Humble) in the BBC series Animal Park, and filmed several non wildlife projects including 2 feature films Nadine and A Moment of Guilt, a music video for Indian singer Kamaal Khan, five short films Gorgeous Labour of Love, Last Chance Romance, The Chauffeur's Hat, Greener Grass, and Hans & Stanley and corporate videos for the Forestry Commission, Center Parcs, UK Meat & Livestock Commission, and the Avon & Somerset Fire Service.
When not filming television programmes I work as a video cameraman and photographer on a wide range of projects, including commercial & advertising work, product & packshot photography, website photography, weddings & portraiture, and photography of children and pets.
Tarka the Otter