PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHER
C overing the personal and professional lives of National Geographic photographers, the aptly named Photographer is more than just a detailed account of a dream gig; it’s a story ‘about love, work and impact’, according to Jimmy Chin, co-director on the first episode. Following the careers of Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen, this opening episode was filmed on a boat near the Bahamas. “The directors, Chai (Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi) and Jimmy, had a strong vision of what they wanted the episode to look and feel like,” begins Alex Pritz, DOP on episode 1, “but shooting on a boat in the middle of the ocean – with storms and saltwater and unpredictable wild animals – made for a dynamic and
often challenging environment.” This location lended itself to the episode’s intimacy, with the entire crew living in close quarters. “Luckily we all got along, or it would’ve been tough,” Pritz jests. “Ultimately, though, for a story so based on relationships, having all the characters together in the same space with their lives overlapping gave us lots of opportunities to highlight how compelling Mitty (Mittermeier) and Paul are.” “Once you live on a boat for a couple of days, nothing offends you,” laughs Mittermeier. “The hardest part for me was being miked all day and having everything you say recorded.” “We’ve worked closely with our DOP and our producers, and we trust them, especially in a confined space,” adds
MAKING A SPLASH The series gives viewers a glimpse of the lives of National Geographic photographers and their work
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