CASE STUDY — 2018
EXTREME TREKS — SEASON 3
Eight countries, eight one-hour expeditions in 4K, and a 2020 Asian Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
- CLIENT
- BBC EARTH
- YEAR
- 2018
- ROLE
- DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY · FIELD LOGISTICS
- CATEGORY
- TELEVISION
THE ROUTE
Eight 60-minute episodes in a single production cycle: Russia, Iceland, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Bolivia, Argentina, Jordan and Uganda — from Elbrus's glaciers to tracking endangered mountain gorillas. Aired on BBC Earth in 2018, now on Amazon Prime.
THE WORK
Broadcast-hour 4K coverage from a unit moving at trekking pace. Every frame earned twice — once by the legs, once by the light. Long-lens landscapes, verité climbing coverage, and aerials flown in whatever weather the mountain allowed.
LOGISTICS — THE PRODUCER SIDE
The part a DP doesn't usually own: ATA Carnet paperwork shepherding a full camera package through eight customs regimes without a single impound; drone import and flight permits negotiated per country; lithium battery transport compliance across a dozen flights; power budgets for two weeks off-grid; fixers, porters and evac insurance arranged before a single frame was possible.
RECOGNITION
Chad's photography on this season won Best Cinematography for Hong Kong SAR at the 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards, the craft prize of the run, alongside the series' wins for direction and presenting.
GETTING THE CAMERA THERE INTACT IS HALF THE CINEMATOGRAPHY.
Outcome
- 2020 ASIAN ACADEMY AWARD · BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (HONG KONG SAR)
- 8 COUNTRIES · 8 EPISODES · 4K
- ZERO GEAR IMPOUNDS, ZERO LOST SHOOT DAYS
Credits
- DP / FIELD LOGISTICS — CHAD INGRAHAM
- HOST — RYAN PYLE
- NETWORK — BBC EARTH
Watch the Extreme Treks Season 3 Trailer (1:02)
All projects · Chad Ingraham, cinematographer and photographer, Fredericton NB