I’m very honoured to have won a BAFTA in the Photography: Factual category for my camera work on Blue Planet II – One Ocean (the first episode of the BBC’s Blue Planet II). I was filming in Australia and couldn’t attend, but being chosen along with fellow cinematographers Roger Horrocks and Ted Giffords to represent the hugely talented camera team is a real honour in itself, for which I’m very grateful. The full list of nominees is below:
PHOTOGRAPHY: FACTUAL
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DANIEL VERNON, DANIEL DEWSBURY
The Detectives: Murder on the Streets – Minnow Films / BBC Two
FADI AL-HALABI, HASAN KATTAN, THAER MUHAMAD
Storyville, Last Men in Aleppo – Larm Film / Aleppo Media Centre / Kloos & Co / Medien / BBC Four
OLIVIER SARBIL
The Fight for Mosul (Dispatches) – Mongoose Pictures / Frontline PBS / Channel 4
CAMERA TEAM
Blue Planet II (One Ocean) – BBC Studios / BBC Natural History Unit / BBC One
As I’ve said in a previous blog, much of the credit for the images we get as underwater cinematographers on these big landmark projects must go to the production team and local support crew. The Bristol-based team research, plan, produce and direct each individual story with that incredible passion and attention to detail that the BBC Natural History Unit is renowned for, and those characteristics are always echoed by the fantastic local crew we are privileged to work with in the field wherever we are. Therefore, with that preparation and field assistance, when we go on location as camera ops we always have the best possible chance of getting great images. I always feel that a photography nomination is a reflection on the whole team’s work, not just the cinematographers.
Overall, Blue Planet II received five nominations at the British Academy Television Craft Awards. Two for Editing: Factual, and one each for Photography: Factual, Sound: Factual and Titles & Graphic Identity. It won both the Cinematography category and the Sound category.
You can read more about my work on the series on my blog: working as a Blue Planet II underwater cameraman and explore the full list of the winners and nominees on the BAFTA website. Congratulations to everyone involved. For a taste of some of our cinematography enjoy the Blue Planet II trailer below: