A Passion for Diving, Healing Fictions, Cinematography & The Ocean

About Me

For the last fifteen years, I have worked as a wildlife cinematographer on some of the most ambitious and acclaimed documentaries ever created, including My Octopus Teacher, Our Planet, and Blue Planet 2, and, most recently, I worked as sequence cameraman for the new Netflix production, Our Oceans, narrated by Barrack Obama.

These film projects have taken me from the frozen poles to the tropical seas and won numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, The Critics Choice Award for Best Cinematography, and a BAFTA for Best Cinematography.

But Wildlife Cinematography was not my first calling. After leaving college with an Honours Degree in Philosophy, I worked for ten years as an executive manager in the digital advertising and financial services sectors, pioneering the adoption of digital technologies in business.

During this time, I learned the block and tackle fundamentals of business management and was fortunate to attend leadership programs at the London School of Business and the Graduate School of Business at UCT.

My love of the ocean was nurtured as a small boy growing up on the east coast of South Africa. Regular family holidays to the pristine shores of the old Transkei instilled a love for wild places and a deep appreciation of being in nature.

This, coupled with an obsessive hunger to read and be active, laid the foundation for my career as a wildlife cinematographer, although at the time, I had absolutely no idea that this craft would end up being my true calling.

Throughout my life I have had various mentors who in their own unique way have shaped and influenced my journey in that narrow space between order and chaos called human existence.

My hope is that through my online mentorship programs I can find and help nurture the next generation of digital hunter-gatherers, so they can make a fulfilling and financially rewarding career while staying connected to the natural world.

Filmography highlights

I’ve collaborated with incredible teams to bring captivating wildlife series and documentaries to life. From the depths of the ocean to the shallows of the shore, these projects have showcased the awe-inspiring beauty of our planet’s wildlife, bringing it to screens big and small for audiences worldwide.

Our Oceans

I worked full-time on this series over a three-year period as one of two dedicated underwater cameramen. This series explores the planet's lifeblood, oceans, which hide countless mysteries - from balmy Indian waters and fiery Atlantic depths to the Ring of Fire-encircled Pacific and frigid Southern and Arctic seas.

My Octopus Teacher

Played an instrumental role in the filming of 'My Octopus Teacher', which went on to win an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2021. The film's success highlighted the intricate relationships within marine ecosystems and underscored the importance of storytelling in conservation efforts.

Animal

Contributed two  sequences to the Netflix series "Animal," produced by Plimsoll Productions. This involvement showcased the ability to capture the essence and behavior of marine life, contributing to the series' aim of highlighting the emotional and instinctual connections between animals and their environments.

Dolphin Reef

Discover how our incredible living planet operates. See how sunlight, weather, ocean currents and volcanoes all work together in an intricate balancing act to shape and support the great diversity of life on Planet Earth.

Our Planet

Played a role in the visual storytelling of "Our Planet," resulting in a nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program at the 2019 Prime Time Emmy Awards, alongside Jamie McPherson. This nomination underscored the series' commitment to showcasing the natural world's beauty and fragility through cinematic excellence.

Life On Our Planet

Worked on a sequence for the opening episode of this series for producer Adam Chapman, filming baitballs off the coast of South Africa. The purpose of the sequence was to establish the assemblage of life forms that have evolved over the last 3.7 billion years. Drone footage shot with Stefan Van Zyl.

Into The Okavango

Narrated and starred in this 1 hour documentary which tells the story of Didier Noirot and his quest to film nile crocodiles underwater in the Okavango Delta. The film was directed and produced by Craig and Damon Foster, and marked the beginning of a fifteen year collaboration.

Perfect Planet

Discover how our incredible living planet operates. See how sunlight, weather, ocean currents and volcanoes all work together in an intricate balancing act to shape and support the great diversity of life on Planet Earth.

Blue Planet 2

Contributed as a key cinematographer across four of the six main episodes, collaborating closely with producers Jonathan Smith, Katheryn Jeffs, and Joe Steven. Recognised for exceptional work with a BAFTA for Outstanding Cinematography in 2018, highlighting the series' visual impact and storytelling through underwater imagery.

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Contact

Let me know what you are interested in discussing further, and I will be in touch.