I’m in Java, Indonesia, filming a documentary on the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa – read part one here. Today was a day of mixed blessings. It started well, with filming at the 4th point lighthouse destroyed originally by the 1883 tsunami and rebuilt two years later – such was the importance of the spice trade … Continue reading
Tag Archives: filming
Krakatoa revealed?
So, here I am in Java, Indonesia (again) on my way to shoot a documentary (again) with Pioneer Productions ( I must say I thought they would be sick of me by now) on the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. The series is called Top Ten Natural Disasters – Indonesia. On the flight out, in between … Continue reading
Notes from a small volcanic island: Part 2
One of the most time consuming things about filming outdoors is the walking shot. Speaking to camera interview style is mostly achieved easily after just a few takes. But the seemingly trivial and non-technical activity of filming me walking takes an inordinate amount of time. Yes, walking. From all angles and directions. Walking into shot, … Continue reading
Notes from a small volcanic island
Early start from Gatwick to Tenerife, but greeted on lading with warm sun and blue skies. We are here for three days to film a documentary for the Weather Channel on volcanoes and their effects on the earths climate. Apparently the US meteorological community and weather watchers in general have got a taste for volcanoes … Continue reading
Survivors: Nature’s indestructible creatures
An ex – President of the Geological Society is bound to be one of the survivors. But starting on Tuesday 24th at 9 p.m. I am fronting a BBC4 series about different kinds of survivors – animals and plants whose relatives are known deep in the fossil record. “Living fossils” was how Charles Darwin described … Continue reading
Etna, Stromboli and smelly tshirts: part 2
Filming is just about wrapped up here – we had a good morning shoot on the flanks of Stromboli yesterday, now the weather has cleared. The hydrofoil back to Messina stopped off at all the main Aeolian islands, then we hopped in a taxi to Catania airport for a 21.30 hrs flight to Naples. We … Continue reading
Filming on location – Etna, Stromboli and smelly tshirts…
It is hard sometimes to overestimate the amount of time spent faffing around when making a documentary (or any kind of filming for that matter). I am currently on location in southern Italy making a documentary commissioned by National Geographic and produced by Pioneer Productions, a UK firm run out of London and set up … Continue reading
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