‘Pole-vaulting’ juvenile orangutan.

THE SECRET LIVES OF ANIMALS

Series: The Secret Lives of Animals.

Episode: Episode 4 — “Home Making” (sun bear canopy — crane + remote gimbal); Episode 9 — “Mastering Your Talent” (orangutan canopy — cable-dolly).

Production company: BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Broadcaster: Apple TV+

Role: Director of Photography — Borneo canopy sequences (sun bear crane/remote gimbal; orangutan cable-dolly).

Awards (series): Daytime Emmys 2025 — 3 wins (Outstanding Science & Nature Program; Outstanding Single-Camera Editing; Outstanding Sound Mixing & Sound Editing); nominated for Outstanding Cinematography.

As DoP on two Borneo canopy sequences, I ran separate, purpose-built rigs: for sun bears, a 10-metre crane with remote gimbal working from ground stations and tree-mounted camera platforms to lift above the understory and give a discreet view into the treetops; for orangutans, a cable-dolly network pre-rigged as a web between trees so we could react quickly along natural travel routes. Everything was natural-light, behaviour-led and low-impact—entries, standoff and wind were planned in advance so we were in position before the animals arrived, keeping the footprint minimal while maintaining a crown-height perspective.