SEPTEMBER 2022 - Director of Photography and Aerial Filming in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales

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Green Space Dark Skies Light Art Project all over the UK

So for this whole month I was on this project with my good friend Rupert Shanks. Rupert was directing and I was Director of Photography for the month. I mainly filmed with the Inspire 2 during each shoot alongside Phil and Tom of Pivotal films from Northern Ireland. We then had a variety of camera folk. Fred, Mike Webster, and good mate Andrew O’Donnell. Then Jason, Olly and Amy from production done by CC-Lab who were great to work with.

This light show was a concept by John and Mark to make an art installation on the highest peak in each country in the UK. A pretty hard thing to do mainly thinking of the weather on these peaks and whether you could actually film it. Also if volunteers will be keen. But all worked out amazingly. We had a few exciting days with weather but got there in the end.

The first shoot on Scafell Rupert was on another job so I had to fill in directing. This was fun as none of us new each other and was the first time filming together and figuring out how the light team and camera team can all work together. And a few plans changed at the last minute and a camera team looking at you for what we should do different. Was quite a bit of adrenaline but all worked out well and got some great shots with the 550 people on the mountain!

The finished film below which aired on Countryfile and has been seen by 5.5m people at time of writing this. Opening shot is mine:) Plus the sunrise shots on the thumbnail and at the end:)

AUGUST 2022 - Aerial filming on Rona near Skye for Dana with BBC ALBA

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Another great trip aerial filming for BBC ALBA . This time with new team member Owen we head to the Isle of Rona near Skye to see if we can climb any new rock routes😁. Pretty interesting trying to find routes and how safe they maybe as you climb up. Might even see a drone in this show? Was great fun few days somewhere new😁. Kenny presenting, Hamish directing and A Camera and editing (most things really), Rich Parkermountain safety and myself on aerial filming😁🎥. Production by Solus Productions

The ace Dana team on the way:)

Rona Bay

AUGUST 2022 - Drone operator on the Isle of Arran for Dana BBC ALBA Show

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Great to return to another Dana TV show this time on the isle of Arran. Again here I am doing the aerial filming while Hamish does the directing and A camera. Kenny presenting and Rich doing the mountain safety. We are now all good friends after several trips together and these are a total pleasure to do. Day one I think spent 14hrs on our feet and half of this carrying all our camping kit, food and drone kit. Fortunately we set up camp in the morning then headed to film the main part of the Arran ridge. I hadn’t climbed here since I was a student and I’d forgotten how amazing the mountains here are.

We were lucky with the weather after a midgy and damp start it cleared to an amazing day as we walked up. Then the ridge itself was spectacular and we got a great sunset. As in almost all Dana episodes we arrived at our pre set camp on the ridge in the dark with head torches. No minutes of the day wasted without filming lol.

The next day we awoke in the clouds and rain after a blustery night. Then we walked on into another clearing day that was very atmospheric:) Rona next

Kenny at his bivvi site on the ridge:)

The Epic Team:)

AUGUST 2022 - Drone pilot Orkney for more light shows and filming round the islands including North Ronaldsay

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This was a fun trip getting to fly a drone on Orkney and North Ronaldsay. We had about a week or more up here to create a few light shows and get a bunch of shots of the islands. North Ronaldsay was a new Island for me with 4.5hrs further north from Orkney where myself and Rupert did the filming of the light shows up there. then Richard Elliot and several hundred volunteers joined us in Orkney at the stone circles for a great light show there! Again great editing and directing from Rupert Shanks.

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse

AUGUST 2022 - Drone pilot Aviemore with a night shoot and light display

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This was the first of several shoots to come of filming lights at night as several hundred volunteers create a light show. Part of Green spaces dark skies series. Rupert Shanks was directing with James shooter doing daytime drone and both doing night shots on the ground. I did some camera and long lens during the day and then Drone at night with the Inspire 2 drone with X7 camera shooting in prores.

Pretty exciting shoot as only have 40mins at night to get the shots. But longer during the day. Camping shots by Rupert and beautifully put together by Rupert and Lindsay the editor.

Practice as the light starts to get right for it:)

AUGUST 2022 - Aerial filming Perth, Scotland at Scone Palace

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Today was filming for a large event with Joe Wicks the body coach at Scone Palace. Definitely some tight Risk Assessments for things like these each time. Was a fun day and all a bit of a blur as happened so fast lol. Flying the inspire 2 but trying to use longer lens to seem like I am closer to the crowds than I am. Had some good shots and the rain stayed off just for us:) This is to create an advert of these type events:)

Drone Pilot Perth

Standby for the start of the show

Joe Wicks on stage

AUGUST 2022 - Drone pilot at St. Andrews for a drone demo with Nat Geo and Journalist

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So this was first for me. Here I was doing a drone demo and letting other people fly my drones eeeek!! Several Journalist from round the country came to do a piece on Europe from Above and to find out more about drones. I was losing my voice a bit from a post cold (not covid this time thankfully) but I think I held it together with my speaking lol.

Was great to meet this group and I set up a little kind of assault course with the drone for them to do. All at the Fairmount hotel which was nice. If the photographer on the ground sees the images below please give me a shout I’ll pop a link to your site as pics are superb.

Some of the articles here:

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/how-aerial-photography-reveals-scotlands-complex-beauty-in-national-geographic-show-europe-from-above-1790354

https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/17-stunning-pictures-that-show-scotland-from-the-air-3799319

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1652679/Europe-From-Above-series-4-National-Geographic

https://www-tmp.thenational.scot/news/20614505.europe-national-geographic-set-showcase-scotland-new-season/

A few pics below of the day:)

Drone Pilot St. Andrews

Pics from photographer that day. Who I can't remember eeek! If you see this remind me I'll pop a link to your website:)

The Fairmount Hotel and golf course

AUGUST 2022 - Drone Pilot on the Western Isles, Barra for National Geographic

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A trip to Barra for the second time this year. This time for ‘Europe from above’ a National Geographic program you can get on the Disney channel. Can see last years series just now, where I filmed about 70% of the Scottish parts:)

Well this was a challenging shoot travelling all the way there with ferries needing booked well in advance and then first day of shooting the winds are 40mph and raining!! Fortunately we got a couple of moments where it cleared and winds dropped and managed to film two planes landing. A few permissions were needed for this lol.

What an awesome airport where the planes only land at low tide on the beach. Great bunch of crew working there to making for some fun filming. the weather was a bit better day two after a morning of rain. Had to squeeze my 2 day shoot into an afternoon. I was like a headless chicken trying to get it done and ticking off the script as i went.

JULY 2022 - Live Drone pilot filming at Belladrum, Inverness

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This was an exciting day filming live for BBC and BBC ALBA at Belladrum during the main event evening then shooting the massive fireworks at the end. The fact it is live makes everything more exciting especially the fireworks as they go off just nearby you as you are flying nearish to them and hoping none go off track towards the drone lol.

JULY 2022 - Drone pilot Aberdeen direction as I aerial film storm destruction at Haddo House

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Pretty interesting and a real shame for the estate and many others in Aberdeen area with the destruction of forests and trees all over Aberdeenshire. This was for a TV show about the storm. Some shots from the air below to see the destruction. Pretty windy day for flying but got some great shots all the same:)

JULY 2022 - Camera operator and Drone pilot Isle of Arran for BBC Countryfile

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A great few days over on the Isle of Arran with Countryfile as we do a piece on the poor state of the CalMac ferries. Bit of touring round the island speaking to different business’s. Great bunch of locals, from hotels, farmers, shop owners, cocktail bar etc. We got some good weather too so was a fun journey. Tom Heap was presenting, Becky Whitefoot directing/producing and Martin McNair on the sound:)

We also had a bonus day out on a rib filming the calmac ferries by drone. This was great fun and always a bit more adrenaline flying from small boats. But a smooth day at sea:)

JULY 2022 - Aerial filming trains from London to Luechars

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A few days as drone operator for Richard Elliott Aerial Filming. Richard was away on a cruise filming ships so myself and Pete stepped in for a few days. A few dual op days and a few solo days and a lot of driving. Finished footage was for use in a TV Commercial for LNER. Always exciting filming trains and trying to find nice spots but also spots so you can see the train coming and actually have the drone rolling in time for it:)

JULY 2022 - Aerial filming in Melrose in the Scottish borders and down in Ribchester England. More horses

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Here we are back with the Stunt horse team to film as they pack up in the Scottish Borders for a journey to Ribchester for the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show. Here they are putting on a Cowboys and Indian show. I am filming with my drone the Inspire 2 when it doesn’t rain and also doing some long lens slow mo action of the riders. A Great day seeing this team riding, they are pretty amazing at what they do:) This is for a BBC prime time program following this team and directed by Ramsay.

JUNE 2022 - Drone and Camera Operator and editor for Wolftrax films

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Spent a few great days filming with several different people for Wolftrax as put together a few short films for their new website. Below to see:)

JUNE 2022 - Aerial Filming highlands on a short fictional film with an all female cast:)

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A fun challenging day working on this short fictional film. A costume drama with lots of sword fights and a great all female cast. I was filming with the Inspire 2 and trying to get some stable running scenes in winds that slowly increased to about 35mph lol. We managed to get some good shots and everyone seemed happy. A great crew from all over UK here and a fun crew to work with.

JUNE 2022 - Drone pilot Scottish Borders for BBC show on a horse stunt team

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Today I was back with Ramsay and Robyn from Caledonia TV for a program about a horse stunt team in the borders of Scotland. Today was a little different where we were filming an annual ride out of 300 or more horse, which was pretty amazing to see. Very busy few hours so not much chance for pics as had to film then run to the next spot lol. Will go out late summer on Prime time BBC.

JUNE 2022 - Filming on Moray coast with camera and drone for Glenmore Lodge.

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Great few days with Derek and Vicky plus a few other filming rock climbing movement techniques. These are creating tutorials for their YouTube channel. Now made maybe 150 films for the channel 😁

MAY 2022 - Countryfile episode Camera and drone in Kilmarnock and Aviemore

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Always fun filming with BBC Countryfile. Here we filmed a piece about the making of a Children in need hat in a Kilmarnock factory and also interviewed a Ukrainian farmer online. Then we came to Aviemore to film with Fiona’s ponies on a piece about the Queen for the Jubilee. Great to finish on my own patch and meet another local too.

APRIL 2022 - Drone pilot on Mingulay over on the Western Isles for BBC ALBA

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Now this was an amazing trip with the Dana crew. Filming the 8th episode together and the 2nd episode of season two. Here we head to Mingulay the un-inhabited island on the far south of the Western Isles. We are going for 4 days camping and climbing on the massive sea cliffs. there is something very special about this island, not sure what it is just feels great being there with the wildlife and sea and cliffs:)

We amazing get great weather although quite windy. We almost get stuck there which we were all looking forward to but Angus in his boat managed to get in to the little rocky gully where we load up. Some pics below just to show how amazing the place looks.

The footage was stunning here with climbers high on the cliffs and an ever moving background of waves crashing against the cliffs. Akira Kurosawa would have loved the movement in the shots lol. These episodes are out in October:)