JANUARY 2024 - Live drone from Scotland

A fun day and adrenaline fulled as normal with a live drone. Today I was experimenting with the Mavic 3 Pro CINE for the live drone and a bit of use of the Inspire 2 with x7 Camera. Wildly the image for the £5k drone is better than the £21k drone lol.

We were filming Carol Smillie for the ITV Competitions that run over ITV This Morning, Lorraine etc. Hadn’t filmed Carol Smillie since covid and she said she hadn’t been filmed since then either lol.

Jordan Summers was on ground camera and Rich on sound and Athene directing. Great team for the day. We also got to stay in Cameron house always a bonus.

I’ve done live drone a dozen times now or so and it still remains exciting work as you know a lot of folk are watching if you did anything wrong. Also making sure the drone is in the right spot and flying perfectly as no second take chances:) So much fun.

Inspire 2 with LiveU ready for filming

Experimenting with the Mavic 3 pro CINE live. Image is way better.

JANUARY 2024 - Filming at Walkers Shortbread for ITV This Morning

A fun day out seeing round the factory where they make the famous shortbread. Donal MacIntyre was the presenter who is a great laugh and Will Thomas was directing.

The factory is in Aberlour so a job pretty close to home. The smell all day was amazing. Made you so hungry.

Aberlour

Donal, Will and myself outside Walkers shop on Aberlour high st.

A freebie from our day out:)

DECEMBER 2023 - Filming Edinburgh Christmas markets and Edinburgh Castle light show

Filming the Christmas Markets and Castle light show with ITV ‘This Morning’. Was a date night for Roger and Janey from ‘My Mum your Dad’ TV program. Was fun going round the markets and seeing everything and going on the big wheel, and Ice skating. The highlight for me was flying my drone at the Castle to film the amazing light show. The Castle is very hard to fly from as in the centre of the city and an active military building too. But it was closed off for our exclusive use for two hours and with all the permissions there we could film the stunning light show. Just a couple of shots below for you to see:)

SEPTEMBER 2023 - Aerial filming Scotland for Nat Geo on TV Now

So a bit of my filming was on last night for this TV Show on the National Geographic program. Was working with Nathan Budd on the Isle of Orkney flying from a boat for the day over the old WWII sunken ships, with the Inspire 2 drone with X7 Camera. Amazingly we got great weather for this as the day I arrived on Orkney to was horrible and the day after the shoot it was also horrible lol. So we were very lucky.Can probably see it on the Disney channel now:)

AUGUST 2023 - Aerial filming in Scotland for Jules and Greg Wild Swimming for BBC

So a large part of my August was taken up as the Drone pilot for this TV show produced by Solus Productions with Tony directing, Jim Producing, Sean as DOP, Colin on sound, Rowen as production, and Kitty and Niamh in trainee positions. It will be released later this year or the start of next year:)

Then Jules (the teacher in Balamorey) and Greg (Victor in Still Game) were our talent who travelled round Scotland filming with different cold water swimmers to find out why they all do it. We were in Fife, Aberfeldy, Kenmore, Aviemore, Loch Ness, Skye, Mull and Iona:)

Was such a brilliant crew and made for a very fun job. Jules and Greg are superb fun too. Plus we all got in swimming in a lot of the places as we went too. A few pictures of some of the BTS.

Aerial Filming the Boat swim day:)

The awesome Solus Productions crew:)

Loch Ness

AUGUST 2023 - Aerial filming for 'Scotlands home of the Year'

Fun day popping round a few houses in the North east of Scotland to get drone shots for Scotlands home of the year. Nice to meet the owners and see these places. One was near my parents house and one was near my house lol.

I had free rain just to be creative with my drone for an hour or so at each location. looking forward to seeing the show:) Unfortunately I can’t show the houses until after.

JULY 2023 - Drone Pilot on Skye and Rona for Ben Fogle Sacred Isles

Great fun working with this team from the central belt with Tern TV. Craig Directing and Seamus MacCrackin as DOP. I was doing the aerial filming as we did several different activities on the Isle of Skye and Rona. the Mavic 3 Pro was put to test as at times it was too windy for my Inspire 2 with X7 Camera. Gusting 45mph on the Quirking and still held a stable image just had to do the landing in the lee of the hill.

I think it comes out in the autumn.

The team on the boat to Rona

JUNE 2023 - Drone pilot Shetland for the final episode of Dana.

Compared to my last time in Shetland we had amazing weather this week here. The Dana team headed to Shetland by boat and plane.

Hamish Directing as usual and first camera, Kenny presenting with Owen alongside, Rich and milky on safety and my self doing the aerial filming. Produced by Solus Productions for BBC ALBA.

We climbed on some spectacular sea cliffs and even did a first accent in one of the UK’s most Northerly spots:)

Kenny leading up an E3 at Esha Ness

Esha Ness Lighthouse

Shetland team

JUNE 2023 - Drone pilot in Morayshire for 'This Farming Life' at Thorabella Farm open day near Dallas.

Fun day filming with Nicky and Ollie at Thorabella Farm open day. Hundreds of people turned up to look round the farm and see the animals. Weather was perfect too. I spent most of the day with a ground camera but also several drone flights during the day to see the farm from the air:)

The farm as people start arriving:)

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:)

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.

November 2022 - Camera Operator and Drone pilot Northumberland with John Torode

So John is back on the road on his bike as we tour a few spots in Northumberland and cook several lovely dishes. John is always great and easy to work with and so are the ITV This Morning crew. Will Thomas, directing, Natalie managing the cooking and Ian on Sound.

Was a fun week and weather amazingly held for us for November:)

Bamburgh Castle, the amazing spot for one of the cooks:)

John on Holy Island for a cook:)

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

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 with G2 Outdoor for their new webpage

Fun day out today at Falls of Bruar canyon filming Joe, Roy and Jess as they took a group down the gorge 😁. One of many filming to complete.

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

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

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

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:)

FEBRUARY 2022 - Drone pilot London to St Andrews while aerial filming trains

So this week I have been working for Richard Elliot aerial filming. Richard does a lot of filming of LNER trains and needed a hand from myself and Pete as we had to cover London to St Andrews. A lot of driving for this job but fun. There is always a bit of adrenaline filming trains as they usually come allow pretty fast and and gone quickly. Easier near london as the next one is along 5mins later but in Scotland its a bit more exciting as when you miss it. It might be 2-4 hrs before the next one lol.

This was for creating their new TV advert