MAY 2023 - Aerial Filming Cairngorms and Moray with BBC 'This Farming Life'

Great day out doing the spring aerial filming for ‘This Farming Life’. I visited two farms with my Inspire 2 with the prime lenses and cycled through my set of 16 batteries 2.5 times haha. A lot of footage.

The last time filming with these guys was in the autumn and now back for a different weather season. We started up in Dallas at a farm with Water Buffalo, goats, rabbits, bees, pigs and more with Ollie and Nikki filming several Spring shots. Emma and Alison from BBC keeping me right on what they needed out of the day.

Then we headed to Newtonmore with Robert and Jenni to film Alpacas and spring lambs. Great bunch of people and good fun content to create for the program.

In between being a drone pilot getting kissed by an Alpaca, not my type but a nice gesture:)

Drone filming the sheep in Newtonmore and Robert driving to check the lambs:)

MAY 2023 - Drone showreel show some of my filming work as a drone operator, drone pilot while aerial filming in Scotland during the winter months:)

Had a few days spare so thought I’d edit up a wee drone showreel of the past few winters for you to see. Summer one coming later:)

Drone showreel of aerial filming in Scotland during the winter months:)

'Winter in the Scottish highlands' is a drone showreel from the past winter seasons around Scotland filming.

This was filmed mainly on the Mavic 2 pro DJI Drone and sometimes the DJI Inspire 2 drone with X7 Camera.  All filmed by myself Kirk Watson.  I am a qualified drone pilot, drone operator or aerial cinematographer living in the Scottish Highlands.

Music is from https://www.belugalagoon.com the track is called 'King of the Cold'

Dana on BBC ALBA is available on iplayer (at times) season 3 out in autumn

Roaming in the Wild BBC Scotland is available on iplayer (at times) or Amazon prime

Ephemeral with Guy Robertson, Greg Boswell and Hamish Frost climbing is available at: https://filmfestivalflix.com/product/brit-rock-iv-purchase/#tab-description

Here's the clips if you are wondering where they are taken:)

1: Caledonian pine forest Cairngorms National Park

2: Caledonian pine forest Cairngorms National Park

3: Glen Tilt and yes a fox appeared in my shot which was beautiful

4: River tilt and Atholl Highlander Sandy Ried's car

5: River tilt and Atholl Highlander Sandy Ried's car

6: River tilt and Atholl Highlander Sandy Ried's car

7: River tilt and Atholl Highlander Sandy Ried stood on bridge

8: Glen tilt

9: Red deer at Blair atoll castle

10: Sgùrr nan Gillean, Skye

11: Looking towards Sgurr a' Bhastier, I think:)

12: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn heading up Sgurr nan Gillean, Skye.

13: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn heading up Sgurr nan Gillean, Skye. For TV show Dana

14: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn heading up Sgurr nan Gillean, Skye. For TV show Dana

15: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn heading up Am Basteir, Skye. For TV show Dana

16: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn heading up Am Basteir, Skye. For TV show Dana

17: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn stood on summit of Am Basteir, Skye. For TV show Dana

18: Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Matt Glenn stood on the Basteir tooth, Skye. For TV show Dana

19: The Campsies in December at sunrise. For Roaming in the Wild BBC Scotland.

20: Andrew O'Donnell and Mark Taylor rafting the Glazert river. For Roaming in the Wild BBC Scotland.

21: Andrew O'Donnell and Mark Taylor rafting the River Kelvin. For Roaming in the Wild BBC Scotland.

22: Andrew O'Donnell and Mark Taylor rafting the River Kelvin. For Roaming in the Wild BBC Scotland.

23: Guy Robertson and Hamish Frost walk into An Teallach for a new route. For award wining film Ephemeral by Alastair Lee of Posing productions link above to purchase from Britrock film tours.

24: Guy Robertson and Hamish Frost walk into An Teallach for a new route.

25-27: Guy Robertson climbing on An Teallach.

28: View into Loch Avon in the Cairngorms

29: Coire an Lochain, Cairngorms National Park.

30: Coire an t-Sneachda, Cairngorms National Park.

31: Beinn Eighe with Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Rori Hawthorn teaser of Dana season 3 on BBC ALBA out in Autumn.

32: Beinn Eighe with Coinneach MacFhraing (Kenny Rankin) and Rori Hawthorn teaser of Dana season 3 on BBC ALBA out in Autumn.

33: Ben Nevis North Face

34: Guy Robertson soloing an ice route on the Ben.

35-37: Greg Boswell on a first ascent of some hanging ice on Ben Nevis.  Hamish Frost and Guy Robertson are below belaying.  Alastair Lee filming from above.  Full film available on link at top, Brit Rock.

38-42:  Cairngorm Plateau with Andrew O'Donnell and Mark Taylor of Beluga Lagoon ski mountaineering and I am in a few shots flying and skiing.  This was the Cairngorms episode of Roaming in the Wild.  Can see on Amazon Prime.

APRIL 2023 - Drone pilot in Orkney and some camera work for Stramash Films Ltd

Great few days filming with Deva Smith from Stramash films as we film with Orbital a company leading the way with tidal power. Super interesting to see what they do. Also very interesting flying my drone from a moving boat that can’t stop for me as it’s towing a 700 ton turbine. usually have the option of getting the boat to slow down or stop completely as I land. deva was catching the drone and did a great job at it as he has done it many times before.

Had to set up NOTAMS with Kirkwall airport for this as the final position was within the FRZ . Lovely being out on a boat round Orkney and it was a great sunny day:)

April 2023 - Filming at Dumfries House with Camera and drone for ITV This Morning

A lovely day working with Will (director) and Daisy (presenter) at Dumfries House, one of the King’s properties where the Princes Trust does several activities. We were there to film in the Gardens, Farm, Chinese Bridge, and the lovely house.

Always good working with Will and lovely to meet Daisy who is brilliant and cheery:)

The Maze at Dumfries house

The Team Will, Daisy and myself:)

Daisy on the steps of Dumfries House

April 2023 - Aerial filming North West Highlands on the 'The Old Man of Stoer' for Dana.

Second episode of ‘Dana’ for Solus Productions that will be on BBC ALBA in the autumn. Here we head to the Old man of Stoer in the NW highlands. First climbed by Tom Patey and Brian Robertson in 1967. We planned to climb the other popular route on it and a few grades harder than the original which is the E1 that goes up the face to the left of the original and is a very photogenic route. Joining the team was Calum who is from Skye and the first contributor apart from Coineach (Kenny) who presents that speaks Gaelic.

The weather definitely made us work here and Rich and milky headed up a day early on a lovely sunny day to fix the ropes for Hamish to jug up infant of Kenny and film. Hamish Macleod was directing and doing the main camera, while I shot two second cameras from the shore. We then got them to climb it again so we could get my drone shots without the extra ropes etc on the route. with heavy swells and often rain we managed to get the sequences done in the end:) Hopefully make a great episode. Rich Parker and Malcolm Airey did the safety for this. Shetland next I believe but into June for that:)

Kenny and Calumn on top:)

Kenny and Calumn with a weirdly short looking stack lol.

Team on top Hamish with camera.

April 2023 - Drone Pilot Tain for Glenmorangie advert

A few days filming with Ross of Trenchone Industries Ltd who is making and advert for Glenmorangie so I am doing the aerial filming for it. Fun place to fly and used a little mix of mini 3 pro and the Inspire 2 with X7 Camera. Sunrise and low light used the X7. The distillary is actually within a live firing range for RAF but today it was Sunday so they were closed and day two I phoned them and was all good to fly as we were finished by 9am when they opened so they were happy. Secondly there is also a railway line running along front of distillery so Ross spotted for me as you can fly over the tracks but not if a train is there then need to be 50m away. Well with the large drone, mini 3 pro doesn’t matter and no spotter needed. Sunday we never saw a train but a few early morning on Monday.

The last time here I remember flying in the still with the mavic 2 pro and the video looks awesome and so smooth. But I remember the flying was so hard with all the metal and the drone would freak out every so often which kept me on the edge! It never actually did anything funny just flashed loads of warnings.

Fairly straight forward GV’s of the new Glass house which was in construction last time we were there.

The old and the new parts of the distillery

The distillery and the arrival of a crane stopping us filming as a bit obvious in the shots lol.

MARCH 2023 - Drone Operator Orkney for National geographic "WW2 Secrets from Above'

Up in Orkney with Nathan a director I’ve worked with previously but on a nature film. This time we would be filming from a boat. Thankfully on a wonderfully calm and sunny day. Which was sandwiched between two pouring with rain and windy days lol. Very lucky!

We would be on the dive boat mvhuskyan (www.huskyan.com) with Emily and Ben. Emily was our presenter here and she was brilliant on camera and had pretty interesting stories on the ships of Scapa Flow where we were filming.

As far as the drone went I was mainly tracking the boat here and doing a few GV’s (General Views) of the lookouts and machine gun placements and some shots of the blockade ships. Most of the interesting bits are underwater so this would be Emily’s stock footage and some amazing 3D models that she has. Not sure when this will be out but it’ll be on the Nat Geo channel on Disney plus.

We filmed a few bits afterwards pretending I was a German submarine in Kirk’s Bay where the Nazi’s snuck through several defences to then sink the Royal Oak killing many men and obviously surprising the British army in the worst way that Scapa flow was not 100% safe. Really interesting history. Nathan did a fantastic job of launching and catching the drone about 8 times. Thankfully it was smooth. The boat was brilliant and very comfortable too. Probably the best I’ve flown from.

Stromness where we met the MVHuskyan

Me tracking the boat with the Inspire 2 drone with X7 Camera. Video by Emily out her window:)

March 2023 - Drone filming Torridon, Highlands. First episode of Dana season 3

Off to Torridon with the great Dana team. Hamish Macleod directing and doing camera, Kenny presenting in Gaelic, Tori as second presenter, Rich Parker doing the safety. Was pretty disgusting weather but a fun trip and got the most out of it we could:)

Torridon:)

Hamish filming

March 2023 - Aerial filming on Beluga Lagoon feature

Back with the Beluga Lagoon team to film on their feature for the last bit. Again another great week working with this team:)

FEBRUARY 2023 - Camera operator and Drone for BBC Education in Edinburgh and Borders.

A few days making four films for BBC Education geography lessons:) Just me on my own following a shot list and script for plate shots for animations. A fun few days fitting things in-between the weather.

February 2023 - Drone Operator on a feature film near Glasgow

So I headed to Glasgow to work with one of my favourite filmmakers Andrew O’Donnell and the great Beluga Lagoon team. Andrew has been working on the script for a feature film for the last few years and building a hut for one of the locations. Now starts the ambitious bit of filming it and bringing it together. Andrew is Directing and DOP on it with the lovable Mark being the main actor in the film. Blaine and Willy also have some roles.

So I headed there to do the aerial shots for the film for the week and also help with the sound and lighting when needed. I even dressed up as an owl a few times too lol.

I still don’t know exactly what the film is about as Andrew keeps it close to his chest. As always with andrew he has also produced an album (Beluga Lagoon music) first before starting the film which will be the sound track to the movie. A very talented man!

We had a great laugh filming this film and enjoyed every bit of it. Also got Andrew camera operating on the DJI Inspire 2 on occasion which he took to effortlessly:)

The toilet scene. Mark and Willy peeing with me on sound and Andrew filming:)

February 2023 - Filming Comic relief in the Cairngorms - Drone and Camera operator.

What a brilliant fun week with this team of Rylan, Oti and Emma. Also the whole safety team who I know from my work in the mountains, and Graeme and Kirsty who guided them on camera. A very wild weather week with 108mph on the summits. People, even heavy ones, get blown through the air at 100mph so pretty windy.

We hiked and filmed and I was covering the socials for Comic relief and for the uploads to BBC Breakfast and news crews each day. While along the way the a BBC crew were filming the documentary to go out a little later. The celeb team were new to the hiking and camping etc so was fun to see how they got on and how great they are with chatting to cameras and always being observed. Great week and Hamish Frost did the stills and Rupert Shanks helped me out.

Hamish, me, Rylan, Oti and Emma at the end.

Rylan getting a rare moment to himself to take in the surroundings on Cairngorm summit.

Emma and Oti on the summit of Cairngorm.

January 2023 - Camera operator and aerial filming on Lewis and Harris with the Hebridean Baker

So off to the Western Isles for some filming and cooking. I seem to get out to the isles often in my line of work which is fantastic. Here was to do a cooking show for ITV This Morning with usuals Julia organising the food and Ian doing the sound. A new PD to work with Rhian who is wonderful and a new presenter for me Coinneach the Hebridean Baker who is a lovely guy:)

We started in Harris filming on Luskentyre beach which is always lovely and to Harris distillery and up to Lewis for the other days with Callinish stones and Stornaway etc. Quite a bit of jumping round the weather as it is January so good bit of rain but thankfully sun too and rainbows:)

Luskentyre Beach

Amazing backdrop for cooking.

January 2023 - Drone pilot Kishorn for BP job for Chris's company Sky Hook TV

Chris gave me a phone to head along to Kishorn to pilot his Inspire 2 while he camera operated and all flying from a boat. Great to see Chris again as first time since we worked together on a job Filming sheep several years ago. This was his job I was just working for him and his company Sky Hook TV

Was a fun job and after some initial rain we got some stunning weather. Such a cool place at Kishorn where oil rigs are set in a backdrop of amazing mountains and Britains highest road on Being Bhan. The filming will be used in a BP advert.

Two BAFTA winning drone pilots on the same boat:)

January 2023 - Drone pilot in Shetland for National Geographic

So back on with the ‘Europe from Above’ series and filming the Up Helly Aa Viking festival in Scalloway, A pretty challenging shoot with it being mainly at night time and it was pouring with rain once the parade started lol.

Filmed with the DJI Inspire 2 and X7 camera mainly here with a few shots in town with the mini 3 pro. Then once the rain was so heavy I flew one of my old Mavic 2 pro’s over the empty sea just to get some shots.

Filming started early with the show of the boat and marches by the vikings. Then in the evening the march happened all pretty quick and I relied on several vikings drinking to remember to remove my GoPros from their boat before they burnt it lol. Luckily they did and left them in a pub for me to find.

Was a great bunch of people and my very first time in Shetland. I’ll be back. An interesting very rough 12 hrs return ferry trip:)

Dawn start at Scalloway.

An island with two sheep

Screen grab from the GoPro.

January 2023 - Camera and drone operator Aberdeen and Ballater for ITV 'This Morning' crime segment.

Did an interview with a murder detective and GV’s for this in December in Aberdeen city but today we were out in Ballater to film some more pieces and interview around the village. Pretty chilly day but nice sunshine and an interesting days but some gruesome facts and scary what humans can be like.

Isla was presenting this piece and Dom directing and using my second camera. With myself on ground camera drone and sound.

Ballater from the Air

My setup for the interview with the detective and Isla.

November 2022 - Self shooting PD on the Moray Coast for BBC 'Paramedics on Scene'

Another day filming for a BBC TV Show’ Paramedics on Scene’. This time filming in a room in the fire station as its bigger than ambulance station in Banff:) Was a good crack and had some pretty good weather to get some drone shots of the area too.

On this shoot the interview was done through my laptop and hotspot on the phone while I did the 3 cameras, 3 lights, sound and after the drone:)

November 2022 - Camera operator and aerial filming in Thurso for BBC 'Paramedics on Scene'

A super windy day up here in Thurso but managed a bunch of drone shots early morning. Then had a laugh meeting the Ambulance teams and setting up for an interview. The interview was about previous incidents that had been filmed and the interviewer was on my laptop hot spotted from my phone:)

Involved setting up in a small living room type area and moving chairs and getting 3 lights up then three cameras and sound:) A fun day out.

October 2022 - Camera Operator and aerial filming Scotland for ITV This Morning on Rewinding

Here working with Martin (Producer director with ITV This Morning who I have done many shoots with) and Dr Scott an Aussie vet presenter and my first time with.

We had a great week filming about rewinding and travelling about areas, planting trees, feeding squirrels and swimming in a freezing river. Great to be back up at Alladale too.

Our great team at Alladale:)

September 2022 - Aerial Filming on Holy Island for Nat Geo

A trip to Holy Island for a bit of filming of an archeologist dig for the program “Europe from Above” can see last years on the Disney channel. Super interesting learning about this very early healing island and early Christian place and who lived there.

Also ome interesting weather to deal with. Was rewarded for both my early mornings filming the Sunrise though. Especially liked the castle framed through the church spire:) Had to occasionally fly the small drone due to the number of tourists around. Nice and quiet when the causeway is closed lol.

Castle framed through the Spire in 25mph winds and a bouncy drone:)

A 600 or more year old day person eeek.

Holy Island castle at dawn:)

Abbey and the dig from the mini 3 pro drone

The dig