BBC Earth " Enchanted Kingdom" 3D

[Tom Lowe]

OK, this is impressive! I have filmed in Dallol and throughout the Danakil last Dec and that is a serious environment to battle test in. Heat is not so bad this time of a year sitting at around 35- 47c (sorry don't know the conversion) but it still oppressive. Just getting in there is a challenge too, the area is land mined, and you have to drive a submerged road that if you make a mistake the car sinks into the salt. I'd like to see you guys get that rig up Erte Ale the old fashion way without helicopters.

Tom, the area is incredible film in, but also challenging for what you want to do because of the politics. In order to go to Dallol, you need to arrange it through the local military, and they don't like anything out of the norm. We had great difficulty to get the army to stay for several hours, and it took a lot to get them agree to go back in the afternoon. There we 5 in my group, and we had to take 6 army, 6 Afar security, plus our guides etc. So you need vehicles to accommodate all the help, and getting them there is difficult. Staying overnight is impossible do to security threats in the area. It's the closest point to Eritrea.

Hotels? There are not really anything around, you can rent an outdoor bed for 2 dollars a night... There are no bathrooms, just a field where you'll squat next to mom and kid. How ever if you are like me and love coffee, they have ample little places in the salt mining town near by where you can get a cup for about 2 cents. There is one place that sells cold drinks, which you can go 5-10 days without if you go via Erte Ale. It amazing at days end when the camel caravans carrying salt pass through the town.

I have travelled all over the world to exotic locations filming stuff that airs on National Geographic and Discovery etc... and crossing the Danakil for 2 weeks ranks as my all time favourite. I'm writing this from Hawaii where I just camped beside some incredible lava flows flowing towards the ocean... too bad my scarlet did not arrive yet.

some images from the area. http://www.digitalcrossing.ca/gallery.htm

Great post. Sounds like an adventure!

 

[Subhadip Sen]

Neil Nightingale had an extraordinary run as Head of NHU. In his time, NHU captured the most striking images anywhere on our planet. So, I am excited at whatever he's working on.

Now, the EPICs just need to find their way to BBC NHU. Especially to shoot whatever comes after Frozen Planet, led by the Fothergill team. Could be in production till beyond 2015 though, I wonder what cameras RED be making then?

 

[Omar Al-Masab]

Good to hear
Here in Kuwait it reaches the same temperature in summer

 

[Josh Kameyer]

000

 

[Gary Paul Walker]

Like any other country, the UK produces good and bad television - but when the BBC makes a documentary its very much a worthwhile event to take time out to watch.

Especially so, now it's being shot on Red - I'm very much looking forward to this!

 

[Jay Birch]

Great news.... I've just finished watching frozen planet and that was beautiful, those cameramen have true craft and incredible patience and endurance. I can't wait to see how they work with 3D cameras.

Did they mention how this was going to be displayed? Cinema launch?

 

[Bérenger Brillante]

nice picture.

Good to know too that a Talonhead with extensions can handle a 3D rig

 

[PaulClements]

some images from the area. http://www.digitalcrossing.ca/gallery.htm

Nice pictures Michael, I especially like the Elephant in the wing mirror!
It's great to see the BBC using Red frankly, let's hope they do more and more with it.
Paul

 

[Sam Taylor]

Good stuff! I wonder how long it will take for the average UK tv audience to have the technogology to be able to view it in it's full high Rez 3d glory!

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Amazing news!!!!

 

[Evan Starkey]

This surely is the definition of battle tested

 

[Ketch Rossi]

FANTASTIC... CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT!!

 

[Joey R.]

So wonderful to see the rig so much bigger than the camera!

Perfect Camera for that and every job!

HEY! Its the head that makes it look so big :wink5:

 

[Tom Wardrop]

RED should actually take a camera to the gun range to see if it can withstand a direct hit from a 9mm or something. I wouldn't be surprised if the metal camera body could deflect such a round, in which case RED could use that as a pretty awesome market campaign without risk of false advertising. "BulletProof... Literally".

 

[Roberto Lequeux]

This is gonna be something... oh man, this is gonna be something else. Can't wait. They need to finish in 4k and release in IMAX! I am not particularly excited about 3D, but you know they'll make beautiful use of it.

 

[Ken Wilson]

Great shoot.

 

[Thommes Ulfeng]

Acid test ...

what a benchmark, hope I wont be shooting in those conditions.

 

[Michael Dalton]

There is very sad news out of Ethiopia today that 5 tourist have been killed and another 7 wounded by bandits in the Danakil. 3 People have also been kidnapped. Although it was initially reported that it was at Dallol where the photo was taken on page one, but it turns out to have occurred at the volcano Erta Ale which is about 30km away as the crow flies. The tourist were up on the volcano's crater rim when the attack took place. A place I spent 4 night last year. I'm glad to know that the BBC is crew is now in Rawanda and safe.

Here are a series of photos taken in the Danakill last year. Aside from the tragedy it is a shame that this area will now close for a while. From a photographic perspective it is one of the most incredible places on earth. Certainly the trip I loved the most out of some 50 Africa trips. The people attack were staying in the small camp pictured in a self portrait below.

http://www.digitalcrossing.ca/gallery.htm For more photos of the Danakil

 

[Ale Houston]

Well, that's really reassuring for someone that lives in a country where the temperature in a "cool" summer night is 32Cº.. heard MANY times our climate would make it impossible to operate a RED camera, but nevertheless, we still made the jump this week!!

Can't wait to see the images this babies will produce :emote_popcorn:

 

[Wayne Morellini]

From Neil Nightingale @ BBC :

"BBC Earth's "Enchanted Kingdom" 3D project had a very successful shoot in Ethiopia. We filmed for 3 weeks in the Simien Highlands at altitudes of nearly 11,000' chasing Gelada monkeys around the mountain. Very satisfying shoot, tough conditions and the cameras were bullet-proof.

We then took them out to the Dallol Volcanic region of the Danakil depression for a week. This place is like the Death Valley of Africa. Temperatures range from 115-122 degrees each day. Sulfuric gas everywhere, corroding metal and skin. Nice, huh?!!! Cameras shot for hours every day and performed faultlessly! Gloves were required to handle the gear it was so hot. Film crew suffered like dogs but the gear held up. So, great results and very satisfying to see our strategy pay off."

BTW, interesting rig and camera placement.