CASE STUDY — 2020–2021
EXTREME TREKS — SEASON 4
Myanmar, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Poland — the season the pandemic interrupted, and the team finished anyway.
- CLIENT
- DISCOVERY ASIA / AMAZON PRIME
- YEAR
- 2020–2021
- ROLE
- DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
- CATEGORY
- TELEVISION
THE ROUTE
The final season: Myanmar, Ethiopia, a double episode in Switzerland, and Poland. Myanmar was shot in February 2020, Ethiopia that March — and then the world closed. The season was completed and released in late 2021.
THE WORK
A decade in, the discipline was fully formed: minimal kit chosen for weight-to-image ratio, coverage planned around weather windows, and a shooting rhythm that never held up the climb. Across four seasons the series took the camera to 16 countries.
LOGISTICS
The hardest production-management season of the run: borders closing mid-schedule, repatriation planning alongside shot lists, COVID protocols layered onto the usual carnets, permits and altitude power budgets — and every delivery deadline still met.
THE MOUNTAIN DECIDES THE SCHEDULE. IN 2020, SO DID EVERYTHING ELSE.
Outcome
- 4 SEASONS COMPLETE
- 16 COUNTRIES ACROSS THE SERIES
- RELEASED 2021 — AMAZON PRIME
Credits
- DP — CHAD INGRAHAM
- HOST — RYAN PYLE
- PRODUCTION — RYAN PYLE PRODUCTIONS
Watch the Extreme Treks Season 4 – Opening Titles (1:01)
All projects · Chad Ingraham, cinematographer and photographer, Fredericton NB