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Originally Posted by CamDiver  Hi all,
OK so I see a lot of postings asking about how to become involved in wildlife jobs etc. So here's how I went about it. I'm new here and whilst I don't want to sound like a plonker, I feel I have the best job in the World. I'm a freelance underwater camera operator. Over the past 16 years I have been on assignment with National Geographic, and am continuing into a greater relationship with them as we speak. I have also worked for many international TV production and broadcast entities.
How did I start out? I spent 16 years after leaving the military teaching myself all there was to learn about the cameras, equipment and wildlife that would shape my career. I had no formal training, have no diplomas, degrees or honours etc. What I do have is experience, the equipment, a commercially required diving license to allow me to work underwater and a massive desire to succeed. Thats the way I took. Others go to film school or camera training classes but hey, you may have the deep pockets to go take those protracted, and expensive, courses but what happens when the time comes for you to jump in the middle of feeding Tiger Sharks or any other potentially dangerous animal. If you don't have the mindset to be able to do that then you probably aren't going to get that much work. I speak from the underwater aspect. There is a market for stock from small colorful reef critters but people, and production entities in particular, are always on the prowl for the juicy marine life images.
Land based shooters also need to have a lot of courage too. Whilst it may be nice to shoot insects and garden critters, larger financial gains are to be found when dealing with terrestrial mega fauna such as species found in Africa, species with potentially life threatening abilities.
There are other wildlife related jobs but in the big scale of things the life encountered behind the camera lens is done so more for a love of interaction with wildlife as opposed for any financial one.
Just my thoughts,
Cheers. Mark Thorpe a.k.a. CamDiver |
Im 14 wildlife filming/photography has always been a passion for me since i emmergrated to australia. I was swimmming then all of a sudden a guy said to me look under the water and i did and there where 3 big mantas all as big as a mini and they where swimming back and four under me prsumably filter feeding little organisms. Since then ive always loved wildlife more than i used to. I dont know how marine filming will go for me well see but filming mammals like big cats, and reptiles i could do, Its actually one of my dreams to touch a wild shark and get a good look at a wild komodo dragon. Perhaps you could give me some tips? im starting with photography right now my dad says theres not alot i can do with a camcorder. My first test is coming soon there have been many sightings of a large black cat in my local woods. I did a bit of resaerch and i beleive it is a black panter or just an oversized moggie
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Either way im getting some footage/photographs of it. All the while since i swam with those rays ive been buying books on differennt animals and doing the resaerch i can, Im doing my best in school (but i still suck at maths) and i am keeping physically fit, i would say mentally aswell but why bother? itll only make me more scardy
Could you perhaps give some pointers?
Thanks