CASE STUDY — 2018
EXTREME TREKS — SEASON 3
Eight countries, eight one-hour expeditions in 4K — and the 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 at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards — the craft prize of the run, alongside the series' recognition for direction and presenting.
GETTING THE CAMERA THERE INTACT IS HALF THE CINEMATOGRAPHY.
Outcome
- ASIAN ACADEMY AWARD — BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- 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