On the road with Nat Geo!

[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

[Jez]

Does Military training come in handy for tiger Shark encounters?

[CamDiver]

No, but it helps. There is a certain type of mentality that breeds within a military environment. Not trying to belittle anyone who may not have that drive but just pointing out one of the qualities that has to be present.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Jez]

Thanks Mark have you had any scary ordeals or has it excuse the pun been plane sailing?

[CamDiver]

Hi Jez,
It all depends on what you consider as a scary ordeal. I have been on the receiving end when animals have quite rightly defended their territory etc. Before giving any accounts of this I must just mention that I never use the word 'Attack' when it comes to what we perceive as aggression on the part of the animal. Everything, us included, has the right to defend it's own territory, family and food.

I have had to kick off an inquisitive grey reef shark when filming in the Micronesian islands of Yap. Around certain areas of the Pacific sharks are highly prevalent on most dives. The larger predatory species such as Tigers and Oceanic White Tips tend to stay in deeper water leaving the reefs to the more prevalent of reef species. Grey reef sharks can reach up to just shy of two meters in length and can move so, so very fast. Another species sometimes encountered is the Silver Tip Shark. I was once in a situation with a friend who got bitten on the face by one of these 2 meter long sharks. Again, it was our fault, we had tried to induce the animal into a state of higher agitation for imagery requirements and it acted defensively. My friend (an ex Royal marine) was shaken but not stirred. He had a small cut under his eye and a cut airhose on his breathing equipment. Mind you the shark did take his mask so he had to get a new one!!

I've swam in the open water with Tiger Sharks, in Palau, as they fed on the carcase of a dead whale and also with Great White Sharks in south Africa. These larger species are amazingly shy when it comes to using SCUBA equipment, they hate the bubbles. To get the best possible encounter you need to free dive, or hold your breath. I was working on a Nat Geo story in 2005 where we needed in water shots with these amazing creatures so we headed down to South Africa, close to a place called Fish Hoek almost at the Cape of Good Hope theer is a bay called False Bay. Don't know if you've seen the shows where the White Sharks are hitting seals and coming fully out of the water? Well, that's in False Bay. That behaviour aso happens to a lesser extent in another place called Gaansbaii to the north east , and is also the place where we found ourselves doing the open water filming segments for the particular show we were working on. Never one bad experience with the sharks though. They were cautious and wary at the best of times. Two ingredients that make them the perfect predators they are today. I just wish that Hollywood and the media would take a moment to show their real nature and not that which they only imagine it to be.

For terrestrial animals I have yet to find myself in asituation where I feel the animal could potentially be a threat to my well being. I will be working a ,ot more in the coming year or two on some projects in Botswana and in the southern regions of the African continent, plenty of beaties abound. As soon as I get the chance I'll post more news of the adventures I go through.

Cheers,
Mark.

[forevergreen]

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 .
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

[Jason Green]

I may have missed something, but how did National Geographic find you?

[ron1863]

You are so lucky to have a job that most people with an interest in nature and photography would love. I spent 30 years working for the N.H.S. but would have swapped it to work with nature in a heartbeat.

[snowdrop]

I;m looking forward to hearing more of your adventures CamDiver. What a great life you have. I know it can be hard work but the rewards...gosh.

As for forevergreen. What enthusiasm. Methinks he/she is on the way to becoming a household name. Good luck to you.

[Beavo]

Hi Mark,

Wow, I`m honoured to find you on here - I have no doubt watched plenty of your work in the past. I checked out your blog - some great footage on their. I am a keen diver myself being based on the north east coast with access to some great British diving.

Just wondering - in your busy jet set lifestyle do ever find time to dive in the UK? film?

Beavo