RH

Robert Hollingworth

Director of Photography

Robert Hollingworth, Assoc. BSC

Director of Photography

London-based cinematographer working across genres: his work characterised by a blend of technical discipline and a quiet, observational aesthetic.

Robert Hollingworth talking about Welcome to Earth
A lemur on the shoulder of Robert Hollingworth DOP while filming on location in Madagascar with a RED Gemini Camera
Robert Hollingworth with a F55 camera on the shoulder on the flight deck of NASA's SOFIA Aircraft mid-flight

Skills & Experience

Credits

Documentary
TITLE PROD CO. DIRECTOR FORMAT ROLE
Nightmares of Nature Netflix / Blumhouse Charlotte Lathane RED Director of Photography
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure BBC Victoria Bobin RED Director of Photography
24 hours that changed the world Channel 4 Rosemary Cafferkey F55 Director of Photography
A Real Bug's Life Nat Geo / Plimsoll Alex Hemmingway/ Alex Ranken RED, VEO, Venice Director of Photography
A Real Bug's Life 2 Nat Geo / Plimsoll John Capener / James Manisty RED, VEO, Venice Director of Photography
Panorama: Trump, Ukraine and Europe On the Edge BBC Edward McGown F55 Director of Photography
Panorama: HS2; The Railway that blew billions BBC Edward McGown F55 Director of Photography
Panorama: Should we still be working from home BBC Jane Fellner F55 Director of Photography
HOME Nat Geo / BBC James Manisty RED, VEO Director of Photography
The Future with Hannah Fry Bloomberg Tom Ranson F55 Director of Photography
The Battle to Beat Malaria BBC/PBS Cat Gale RED, VEO Specialist Photography
Gladiators Sky Amabel Adcock RED Director of Photography
Life on Our Planet Netflix Barny Revill D850 Specialist Photography
Prehistoric Planet 2 Apple Mike Gunton Arri LF Director of Photography
Prehistoric Planet Apple Mike Gunton Arri LF Director of Photography
Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster BBC Victoria Bobin RED Director of Photography
Super Natural Planet Nat Geo / Plimsoll James Manisty RED, VEO, Timelapse Director of Photography
A Year on Planet Earth ITV/Plimsoll Alex Ranken RED, Timelapse Director of Photography
Frozen Planet 2 BBC Several RED Camera Operator
Green Planet BBC Peter Basset Timelapse Timelapse Photography
One Strange Rock (Series 2) Nat Geo / Nutopia Nat Sharman RED, VEO, Timelapse Director of Photography
Tiny World Apple TV+/Plimsoll Alex Ranken RED, VEO Director of Photography
Night on Earth Netflix/Plimsoll Hannah Hoare A7s, RED Director of Photography
Alien Worlds Netflix/Warner Bros Dan Smith RED/F55
Specialist Photography / Contributor on camera
The Life of Earth from Space Talesmith Luke Wiles RED Director of Photography
Babies Netflix / Nutopia Luke Wiles / Nick Green RED Director of Photography
Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees BBC/Atlantic James Manisty F55 Drone / Aerial Camera
Magic Numbers BBC 4 Giles Harrison F55 Director of Photography
Horizon - Body Clock BBC 2 Tom Cook F55 Director of Photography
From Ice to Fire BBC 4 Alex Hemingway F55, A7s, Drone Director of Photography
World's Tiniest Masterpieces Channel 4 Kenny Scott F55 Director of Photography
Horizon - Weirdest Weather BBC 2 Davina Bristow F55 Director of Photography
The Big Think - Mars BBC 4 Alex Hemingway F3 Director of Photography
Forces of Nature with Brian Cox BBC 1 Stephen Cooter Timelapse / D810 Specialist Photography
Holocaust Testimonials BBC/Atlantic Various RED Dragon
Director of Photography/ Stereography
Dubai 360 (VR) Atlantic Liz Biggs A7s, D810, VR 360/3D Director of Photography
Galapagos BBC 1/Atlantic Ben Lawrie F55/RED Director of Photography
The Secret Life of Puppies Brook Lapping Lucy Haken FS7/A7s Director of Photography
The Secret Life of Puppies (2) Blakeway Kristin Hadland FS7 Director of Photography
Expedition New Earth Brook Lapping Peter Chinn F55/A7s Director of Photography
The Human Body: Secrets of Your Life Revealed BBC Stephen Cooter F55, Timelapse Specialist Photography
In Search of Colour BBC 4 Alex Hemingway, Toby Macdonald, Emma Oastley F55 Director of Photography
Tomorrow's Food BBC 1 Tom Watt-Smith F55 Specialist Photography
How to Stay Young BBC 1 Dani Carlaw/ Nat Sharman F55
Director of Photography / Timelapse / Seasonal Repeats
Inside the Commons Atlantic/BBC2 Tom Beard D800/Blackmagic 4k Repeats
Plant Odysseys OSF/ITV Jonathan Barker D800 Timelapse
Filming my Father: In life & death Verve / Channel 5 Liz Tucker Sony F3 Director of Photography
Seven Deadly Sins Back 2 Back Alex Hemingway Red Epic
Director of Photography / Stereography
The Queens Garden OSF/ITV Martin Williams D800/RED
Timelapse / Live action natural history
Conquest of the Skies Colossus / Sky David Lee RED (3D)
Director of Photography (Natural History) / Stereography
Into the danger zone; Chernobyl Discovery / Animal Planet Chiara Belati F55 Director of Photography
Food prices; the shocking truth OSF/Channel 4 Caroline Walsh D800 Timelapse / live action
The Burrowers Dragonfly TV Martin Williams D800/F3 Timelapse
Mysteries of the Unseen (3D IMAX) World National Geographic Louis Schwartzberg D800 Timelapse / Stereography
Hidden Kingdoms BBC NHU/BBC1 Mark Brownlow D800 Timelapse
Tiny Giants 3D BBC Worldwide Mark Brownlow D800 (3D IMAX) Timelapse / Stereography
Galapagos: Nature's Wonderland Atlantic Productions Mike Davis D800 (3D IMAX) Timelapse / Stereography
Natural History Museum Alive Colossus / Sky Dan Smith D800
Director of Photography (2nd Unit) / Stereography
Micro Monsters Colossus / Sky Tim Usborne / Alex Hemingway Epic (3D)
Director of Photography / Stereography
Galapagos with David Attenborough Colossus / Sky Martin Williams D800 Timelapse / Stereography
Rico's Timezones: Sweden Backwards Roll / CBS Oliver Page Sony F3 Director of Photography
Kingdom of Plants Atlantic / Sky Martin Williams D300 Timelapse
Best of Enemies Arte Kevin Hull HD Director of Photography
Aluna the Movie Aluna Alan Ereira XDCAM
Director of Photography (UK Pickups)
Call of the White Snowline Self XDCAM Self shooting
Narrative
TITLE PROD CO. DIRECTOR FORMAT ROLE
All Quiet on the Western Front Netflix Edward Berger Mavo LF Wildllife DoP (Opening Seq)
Encounter Amazon Studios Michael Pearce RED 2nd Unit DoP
IMAX / Giant Screen
TITLE PROD CO. DIRECTOR FORMAT ROLE
All Quiet on the Western Front Netflix Edward Berger Mavo LF Wildllife DoP (Opening Seq)
Encounter Amazon Studios Michael Pearce RED 2nd Unit DoP
Postcard From Earth Sphere Darren Aronofsky RED Director of Photography - Macro
Mysteries of the Unseen World 3D National Geographic Louis Schwartzberg D800 (3D IMAX) Timelapse DOP / Stereography
Tiny Giants 3D BBC Worldwide Mark Brownlow D800 (3D IMAX) Timelapse DOP / Stereography
Galapagos: Nature's Wonderland 3D Atlantic Productions Mike Davis D800 (3D IMAX) Timelapse DOP / Stereography
Amazing Mighty Micro Monsters 3D Atlantic Productions Mike Davis RED (3D IMAX) DOP/Stereography
Natural History Museum Alive 3D Atlantic Productions Dan Smith RED (3D IMAX), D800 2nd Unit DOP / Stereography
Wingsuit Flyers: The Science of Flight 3D Big Flight Films Christopher J. Scott RED (3D IMAX) DOP/Stereography
Assassins Creed Chris Parks Art Chris Parks RED Specialist Photography
Beyond Dreams URCA Filmes Rafael Duarte Timelapse Specialist Photography
The Rules of the Game Edward McGown RED EPIC Director of Photography (2nd Unit)
Strike Edward McGown RED Director of Photography (2nd Unit)
Commercials
TITLE PROD CO. DIRECTOR FORMAT ROLE
Max Cooper - Dolby Phoria Trent Clews-de Castella Cine Immersive Director of Photography
Moet and Chandon Chris Parks Art Chris Parks RED Specialist Photography
Simian Mobile Disco Live Chris Parks Art Chris Parks RED Specialist Photography
The Alice Sigizzi Remy Archer FX6 Director of Photography
TK Maxx Jump Sigizzi Remy Archer Veo 4K Director of Photography
TK Maxx Christmas Sigizzi Remy Archer FX6 Director of Photography
Alex Thomson Meets Land Rover BAR Colin Thomson GoPro Specialist Cameras
The Balvenie - Craft Series Wing London Edward McGown FS7 Director of Photography
TENA Lights Wing London Edward McGown Alexa Director of Photography
Kellogg's Grow Rogan Productions Edward McGown FS7 Director of Photography
VERY.co.uk Media Bounty Edward McGown Alexa Director of Photography
Tourism Ireland Tantrum Cheyne McCorkindale F3 Director of Photography
Tourism South Australia House of Greenland Cheyne McCorkindale FS7 Director of Photography
Intrepid Travel - Galapagos Global Elif Mills FS7 Director of Photography
Intrepid Travel - Burma Intrepid Travel Self A7s Director of Photography
Intrepid Travel - Caribbean Intrepid Travel Self A7s Director of Photography
The Datai Langkawi Backwards Roll Oliver Page A7s Director of Photography
Classic FM - Aled Jones Global Cheyne McCorkindale F3/A7s Director of Photography
B&Q Global Daniel Kallberg F3 Director of Photography
Immersive 3D and XR
TITLE PROD CO. DIRECTOR FORMAT ROLE
Talk to Me Nocturne 3D XRTV Craig William Macneill Venice 2 / Cine Immersive Stereographer
Kingdom of Plants VR Atlantic Productions Martin Williams Nikon Specialist Photography
Galapagos VR with David Attenborough Atlantic Productions Martin Williams Nikon Specialist Photography
Museum Alive Vision Pro Atlantic Productions Dan Smith RED Specialist Photography
Conquest of the Skies Atlantic Productions David Lee RED, Phantom Specialist Photography
Micro Monsters with David Attenborough Atlantic Productions Alex Hemingway RED Specialist Photography
Awards
YEAR AWARD FILM DIRECTOR
2026 Nomination Children's and Family Emmys: Outstanding Cinematography A Bugs Life 2 (Nat Geo / Disney+) John Capener / James Manisty
2025 Winner Children's and Family Emmys: Outstanding Cinematography A Bugs Life (Nat Geo / Disney+) Alex Ranken
2021 Nomination BAFTA Nomination for Factual Cinematography Tiny Worlds (Apple TV+) Alex Ranken
2015 Nomination BAFTA: Robert Hollingworth for Factual Cinematography Conquest of the Skies (3D) David Lee
2015 Winner GTC Awards: Outstanding Photography The Queens Garden (ITV & OSF) Martin Williams
2014 BAFTA: Best Specialist Factual Natural History Museum Alive Dan Smith
2014 Wildscreen Awards; innovation Natural History Museum Alive Dan Smith
2014 Wildscreen Awards; music Natural History Museum Alive Dan Smith
2014 Nomination BAFTA Nomination: Robert Hollingworth for Special & VFX Micro Monsters Tim Usborne
2014 Nomination Wildscreen Awards Nomination; innovation Natural History Museum Alive Dan Smith
2014 Nomination Wildscreen Awards Nomination Mysteries of the Unseen World Nat Geographic
2014 Nomination Wildscreen Awards Nomination Hidden Kingdoms Mark Brownlow
2014 Nomination Wildscreen Awards Nomination; Best 3D Tiny Giants 3D Mark Brownlow
2014 Nomination Wildscreen Awards Nomination The Burrowers Oliver Page
2013 International 3D Society: Best 3D Micro Monsters Tim Usborne
2013 Nomination BAFTA Nomination: Robert Hollingworth for Factual Cinematography Kingdom of Plants Martin Williams
2012 Winner IVCA Silver Laurus Award Taste Success 'Chili Baby' Edward McGown
2012 Winner IVCA Bronze Award The Stranger Edward McGown
2011 Winner Sheffield Doc Fest; Digital Rev Award The Scanner Edward McGown

About

Robert Hollingworth based in the UK works across genres include narrative, factual documentary, natural history and commercials. With a practice defined by an understated visual aesthetic and a focus on technical innovation, he has extensive worldwide location experience across feature, documentary, and commercial branded content sectors.

Seeing the light

Robert’s visual language was initially shaped by a deep engagement with the mechanics of the frame. His early experience in theatre and live event lighting taught him to view light structurally—as a dynamic element capable of building depth, shifting atmosphere, and directing an audience’s focus in real-time. This live practice was complemented by a decade spent as a professional stills photographer, a period that instilled a lasting discipline for composition, texture, and the balance of a single image. To this day, he continues to shoot stills both personally and professionally, treating the camera as a continuous tool for creative observation.

The scientific eye

A parallel background in the sciences, holding a BSc (Hons) in Biology, brings an analytical clarity to his cinematography. This foundation directly informs his specialisation in macro, timelapse, and high-speed photography. Whether managing complex lighting setups for studio builds or utilizing specialized microscopy to capture biological behaviors at a microscopic level, he approaches small-scale subjects with the structural weight and narrative intent typically reserved for large-scale drama. His work as a lead Director of Photography in this field has been recognized with an Emmy Award alongside four BAFTA nominations.

Bespoke engineering & studio

Because his creative intentions often require moving beyond the limits of off-the-shelf equipment, Robert designs and constructs proprietary motion-control hardware and specialized software applications. Holding an HND in Film Editing with a focus on motion control, he engineers these custom tools to achieve precise, repeatable camera movement on complex productions. Much of this technical development takes place at his purpose-built, eco-efficient creative studio facility. The studio functions as a dedicated laboratory for complex lighting builds, focus-stacked macro sequences, and the continuous rigging and testing of high-speed setups in a controlled, sustainable environment.

Immersive formats & remote terrains

This technical fluidity extends into the realm of stereography and immersive media. Robert’s significant experience in 3D encompasses giant-screen IMAX productions, modern spatial computing applications, and emerging extended reality (XR) platforms. Managing the delicate geometry of mirror rigs, lightweight configurations, and side-by-side setups, his focus remains on creating deeply immersive spaces that enhance the story smoothly and naturally.

Equally at home in a studio environment or on a remote expedition, Robert is adept at managing high-stakes logistics in hostile terrains. His location work spans the globe, requiring a highly self-reliant approach in extreme environments ranging from sub-zero polar isolation to restricted disaster zones. He is a certified PADI Open Water diver and holds an MSc in Business, combining practical field experience with a strong understanding of production logistics.

Agent: Sarah @ Chapters

Studio: Haddenham Studio, UK

Membership: Assoc. BSC, BAFTA, GTC