News
A new website dedicated to my foxes, tame and wild
August 2018
I’ve just published a new website, A Skulk of Foxes, with photos, videos and stories about the 4 orphaned foxes I kept between 1984 and 1988, and the wild urban foxes that have been visiting my Birmingham garden since 2011.
A Skulk of Foxes can be found here : https://askulkoffoxes.weebly.com/
Fantastic Mrs Fox is a video on the site, a compilation trailer of UHD 4K video of my encounters with a wild urban fox during 2018
A Skulk of Foxes can be found here : https://askulkoffoxes.weebly.com/
Fantastic Mrs Fox is a video on the site, a compilation trailer of UHD 4K video of my encounters with a wild urban fox during 2018
RSPB Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre promotional video
June 2018
A new £5.3 million visitor centre opens at the RSPB Sherwood Forest reserve in late summer 2018. I've been working on the production of a 4K promotional video for the visitor centre, showing some of the wildlife highlights of the reserve. Shooting on a
Sony FS7 I've been filming the macro content of the film, including Green Tiger and Black oil beetles, wood mice, and the amazing
variety of insect life associated with Sherwood's famous oak trees. I've also been responsible for filming time lapse sequences of
oak foliage and fungi growing.
Sony FS7 I've been filming the macro content of the film, including Green Tiger and Black oil beetles, wood mice, and the amazing
variety of insect life associated with Sherwood's famous oak trees. I've also been responsible for filming time lapse sequences of
oak foliage and fungi growing.
Black Oil Beetle feeding on dandelion flower
Green Tiger Beetle feeding on caterpillar
Wood mouse
New kit - GoPro Hero 5 for macro filming
June 2018
GoPro Hero 5 in protective alloy cage with custom handle
I've been using a GoPro Hero 5 camera since January, for my almost nightly filming of an incredibly friendly fox and also as a very versatile wide angle macro camera. Fitting some additional optics allows focussing to within a few centimetres which gives a whole new perspective to small birds and mammals. I'm controlling the camera with both a GoPro Remo voice activated remote control unit and the Camera Suite Android app which allows remote live viewing and control from a tablet.
Frame capture from 4K video, red fox filmed at ground level on a GoPro Hero 5
Here is a video of a Eurasian wren shot at 2.7K, 50 frames per second from just 8 centimetres away.
Half a million views on YouTube and counting
September 2016
Earlier this year I licensed my YouTube video clip Wonder of Slime – Slugs & Snails on a Razor’s Edge to October Films, for use in the Discovery Channel series Outrageous Acts of Science. In the series, presenters and experts explain the science behind some of the amazing video clips of natural phenomenon, animal behaviour and human achievement that can be found on the internet. The programme, 50th in the series, went out in the USA at the end of June and since then the number of views of this clip on my YouTube Channel have risen from a modest few hundred to, at today’s count, 549,545.
Below are a few still captures from the programme and a link to my YouTube clip. Until the programme is broadcast in the UK I can’t provide a link to Outrageous Acts of Science.
New Wildlife Showreel on Vimeo
DECEMBER 2015
Rode VideoMicro
NOVEMBER 2015
Now using the new Rode VideoMicro compact microphone on my Panasonic GH4. The microphone weighs just 42gm, uses plug-in power from the GH4, and comes complete with a furry windshield and Rycote shock mount.
Panasonic GH4 & CineGearPro cage
OCTOBER 2015
Testing 4K Panasonic GH4 with CineGearPro production cage and loving the UHD images and 2 - 96 variable frame rate in 1080p. The viewfinder is a huge improvement on the GH3 and the peaking feature makes focussing while shooting so much easier. Some wildlife and macro clips from the new camera will be on my video channels soon.
New camera & sound kit added recently
AUGUST 2015
AUGUST 2015
F&V K160 24 LED video lights for getting in close for macro filming on location or in studio.
Powerful lights in a very compact package.
Powerful lights in a very compact package.
Own design battery converter for running long term time lapse sequences ( days / weeks ) on location using Panasonic GH3 / GH4.
The unit can be modified to operate eg. Sony Alpha A7, Canon 5D, 7D etc.
The unit can be modified to operate eg. Sony Alpha A7, Canon 5D, 7D etc.
Extended life 10,400 mAh Li-ion battery pack for TASCAM DR-60D field recorder
TOKINA SD 400mm lens. GH3 /GH4 or any camera with a Nikon mount converter.
Carl Zeiss DISTAGON T* 28mm F2.8 & PLANAR T* 50mm f1.7 lenses for GH3/GH4
The Private Life of Plants on BBC2
NOVEMBER 2014
David Attenborough's THE PRIVATE LIFE OF PLANTS documentary series is currently being repeated on BBC2 on Saturday mornings. First broadcast in 1995, the 6-part series featured a great deal of timelapse and motion control photography to reveal insights into plant biology never before revealed. I worked on the GROWING programme in the series and for several months had 4 Bolex 16mm film timelapse cameras running continuously in my studio.
The BioWall
OCTOBER 2014
Nine of my Vimeo Channel videos are to be showcased on the BioWall in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA from this month.
The BioWall is an outdoor public space art and education video installation featuring non-commercial, life sciences, artistic and educational programming. Measuring 16’x9′, it is a state of the art HD video display offering a platform to educators, artists, students, scientists, and the community for the purpose of public enlightenment and entertainment. The BioWall exists through the sponsorship of United Therapeutics Corporation, which specializes in manufacturing medicines to treat the rare disease pulmonary arterial hypertension. The BioWall is intended to operate 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week. www.thebiowall.org
OCTOBER 2014
Nine of my Vimeo Channel videos are to be showcased on the BioWall in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA from this month.
The BioWall is an outdoor public space art and education video installation featuring non-commercial, life sciences, artistic and educational programming. Measuring 16’x9′, it is a state of the art HD video display offering a platform to educators, artists, students, scientists, and the community for the purpose of public enlightenment and entertainment. The BioWall exists through the sponsorship of United Therapeutics Corporation, which specializes in manufacturing medicines to treat the rare disease pulmonary arterial hypertension. The BioWall is intended to operate 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week. www.thebiowall.org
David Attenborough's THE TRIALS OF LIFE.
Back on the BBC after 24 years and in HD.
SEPTEMBER 2014
I was one of the main contributors to the 12-part BBC natural history series THE TRIALS OF LIFE, first broadcast in 1990, so I’m very pleased that it is being repeated on BBC2 and BBC2 HD from Saturday 13th September. The programmes are being shown over a 4 week period, 3 programmes each Saturday morning at 8.30, 9.30 & 10.30am.
Back on the BBC after 24 years and in HD.
SEPTEMBER 2014
I was one of the main contributors to the 12-part BBC natural history series THE TRIALS OF LIFE, first broadcast in 1990, so I’m very pleased that it is being repeated on BBC2 and BBC2 HD from Saturday 13th September. The programmes are being shown over a 4 week period, 3 programmes each Saturday morning at 8.30, 9.30 & 10.30am.
Deep Focus Macro Lens System
AUGUST 2014
A demonstration of my Macroscope deep focus macro system, now configured to work on Micro Four Thirds size sensors as in the Panasonic GH3 and GH4 cameras. Available to hire with myself as camera operator only.
A demonstration of my Macroscope deep focus macro system, now configured to work on Micro Four Thirds size sensors as in the Panasonic GH3 and GH4 cameras. Available to hire with myself as camera operator only.
Wired For Sound
JUNE 2014
Taken delivery of a TASCAM DR-60D Linear 4 Track PCM Field Recorder / Mixer for DSLR cameras.
http://www.tascam.eu/en/dr-60d.html
Taken delivery of a TASCAM DR-60D Linear 4 Track PCM Field Recorder / Mixer for DSLR cameras.
http://www.tascam.eu/en/dr-60d.html
Godzilla & the Slug 2
MAY 2014
GODZILLA opened in UK cinemas on the 15th and I was very pleased to see that my slug embryo video clip has been used in the film. The slug shot appears about 45 minutes into the movie, during a sequence where the lead character, Lt. Ford Brody ( Aaron Taylor-Johnson ) is being given a briefing on board the USS Saratoga. Scientists are showing him archive footage of Godzilla and his enemy Muto on a video projector, and the slug shot appears on screen as an embryonic Godzilla.
GODZILLA opened in UK cinemas on the 15th and I was very pleased to see that my slug embryo video clip has been used in the film. The slug shot appears about 45 minutes into the movie, during a sequence where the lead character, Lt. Ford Brody ( Aaron Taylor-Johnson ) is being given a briefing on board the USS Saratoga. Scientists are showing him archive footage of Godzilla and his enemy Muto on a video projector, and the slug shot appears on screen as an embryonic Godzilla.
Godzilla & the Slug
MARCH 2014
Last month I licensed one of my Panasonic GH3 video clips to Warner Brothers, for use in the forthcoming feature film GODZILLA. An editor at Prologue Films, the FX company for the film, spotted my shot of a slug embryo on You Tube. The film is released on May 16th. At the moment I don’t know where the shot appears in the film, or even if it made it to the theatrical release version, but for the time being here is the GODZILLA trailer:
MARCH 2014
Last month I licensed one of my Panasonic GH3 video clips to Warner Brothers, for use in the forthcoming feature film GODZILLA. An editor at Prologue Films, the FX company for the film, spotted my shot of a slug embryo on You Tube. The film is released on May 16th. At the moment I don’t know where the shot appears in the film, or even if it made it to the theatrical release version, but for the time being here is the GODZILLA trailer:
Noah's Dogs - a new website for dogs and dog lovers
APRIL 2013
This is the launch video for NOAH's DOGS, the new matchmaking website for dogs and dog lovers. http://www.noahsdogs.com .
I am camera operator and stills photographer on this project, filmed on RED cameras at the ANIMALS ON BLUE studios in Buckinghamshire.
This is the launch video for NOAH's DOGS, the new matchmaking website for dogs and dog lovers. http://www.noahsdogs.com .
I am camera operator and stills photographer on this project, filmed on RED cameras at the ANIMALS ON BLUE studios in Buckinghamshire.
Save The Bees campaign
MARCH 2013
EJF ( Environmental Justice Foundation ) and PAN UK ( Pesticide Action Network ) are working to protect Britain's bees and pollinators. They've produced a short film which explains why bees are so important to our food supplies and economy. I supplied some footage of bumble bees and hover flies for the film.
The film can be viewed on Vimeo here http://vimeo.com/62417267#
For more information on the Save The Bees campaign go to http://www.ejfoundation.org/bees
Visions of the Arabian Desert
MAY - SEPTEMBER 2012
I've spent the Summer working as Wildlife Director of Photography on a 20 minute feature film for the Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The film will be presented at the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre at the Wildlife Park in 2013, projected on to a 19 x 10 metre cinema screen. For more information on the project, and my experience of shooting in temperatures of 55°C with a RED EPIC, see my blog at http://stevedownerfilms.wordpress.com/
The Seasons, with Alan Titchmarsh. On ITV3 in March
MARCH 2012.
THE SEASONS, WITH ALAN TITCHMARSH.
The 4 episodes of the series will be broadcast weekly on ITV3 from Monday 12th March, at 9.00pm.
THE SEASONS, WITH ALAN TITCHMARSH.
The 4 episodes of the series will be broadcast weekly on ITV3 from Monday 12th March, at 9.00pm.
Tarka the Otter - the making of the classic feature film
NOVEMBER 2011. I was lucky enough to begin my wildlife film making career working on what was to become one of the favourite family films of all time, TARKA THE OTTER. In 1972 the renowned wildlife filmmakers, Ron and Rosemary Eastman, had given me my first experience of filming natural history for television by taking me with them on a three month shoot in Oregon, USA. Four years later they contacted me again to ask if I’d be interested in “helping out with the otters” for a few weeks on a film they were making for the cinema. The few weeks turned in to nearly two years, and as well as helping the film’s senior animal handler, Peter Talbot, with the otters and other creatures that appear in TARKA, I was also given the role of production photographer. My pictures appeared in magazines and newspapers, and in several new illustrated editions of Henry Williamson’s book that were published to coincide with the film’s release.
Now, 35 years on since we began filming TARKA THE OTTER in the actual locations that Henry Williamson described so beautifully in his novel, Peter Talbot has published a book telling the story of how the film was brought to the screen. In particular, Peter’s book tells of the two years he spent with the very special little otter who plays the part of Tarka in the film.
TARKA AND ME is available for download on Amazon from this week at
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tarka-and-me-ebook/dp/B0062IP3SS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320271923&sr=1-
Now, 35 years on since we began filming TARKA THE OTTER in the actual locations that Henry Williamson described so beautifully in his novel, Peter Talbot has published a book telling the story of how the film was brought to the screen. In particular, Peter’s book tells of the two years he spent with the very special little otter who plays the part of Tarka in the film.
TARKA AND ME is available for download on Amazon from this week at
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tarka-and-me-ebook/dp/B0062IP3SS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320271923&sr=1-
Wildscreen Festival Panda Awards 2010
OCTOBER 2010. The Pioneer Productions / FOX TV Studios / National Geographic programme, IN THE WOMB - EXTREME ANIMALS, has won the Parthenon Entertainment Award for Innovation at the 2010 WILDSCREEN FESTIVAL in Bristol.
I filmed the sequences of Kangaroo joeys in the pouch for this programme.
I filmed the sequences of Kangaroo joeys in the pouch for this programme.
The Seasons, with Alan Titchmarsh. Broadcast dates
MAY 2010. The series will run on ITV 1 over four weeks, beginning Sunday May 9th at 7.00pm.
A DVD of the programmes will be available from May 31st.
A CD of the music used in the series, specially composed by Howard Goodall, is available from May 17th.
A DVD of the programmes will be available from May 31st.
A CD of the music used in the series, specially composed by Howard Goodall, is available from May 17th.
The Seasons, with Alan Titchmarsh
OCTOBER 2009. Filming is now completed on the 4 x 1 hour nature series I've been working on for Tiger Aspect since Autumn 2008. Presented by Alan Titchmarsh and filmed in HD, the series will be aired at prime time on ITV 1 in 2010, dates to be announced.
The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos
25th SEPTEMBER 2009. The Disney Nature feature film, THE CRIMSON WING: MYSTERY OF THE FLAMINGOS, was released in UK cinemas today. I helped to film the sequence of a flamingo chick hatching from its egg. The sequence was filmed at Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre in Gloucestershire.
A link to the trailer of the film can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi406454809/
A link to the trailer of the film can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi406454809/
In The Womb - Extreme Animals
OCTOBER 2008. The Pioneer Productions / FOX TV Studios / National Geographic film IN THE WOMB - EXTREME ANIMALS will be broadcast in the UK on Channel Four, Monday 20th October 2008 at 9pm.
Using ground-breaking photographic techniques, state-of-the-art graphics and 4D scanning, the programme follows the embryonic journey of four animals - a kangaroo, a lemon shark, a Emperor penguin and a parasitic wasp.
I contributed to the kangaroo section of this programme, filming baby kangaroos in the pouch using a High Definition endoscope system.
A Telegraph article about the programme can be found here : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/10/15/nosplit/bvtvanimalwomb15.xml
