Conquest of the Skies

with David Attenborough

3 x 60′ for Sky 1 and Sky 3D.

Conquest of the Skies

with David Attenborough

3 x 60′ for Sky 1 and Sky 3D.

Conquest of the Skies

with David Attenborough

3 x 60′ for Sky 1 and Sky 3D.

Natural History Director of Photography

RED Epic (3D), Mirror Rig and Macro Rigs

Robert was responsible for all asked of the 3D natural history photography on the series. Shooting on RED Epics in stereoscopic rigs ranging from mirror rigs to bespoke macro rigs developed especially for the film by Peter Parks.  The series was filmed on location in Borneo, UK and at Shepperton Studios.

Pioneering stereo technology

The series demanded a leap forward in the technology behind the pictures. Capturing macro 3D pictures of natural behaviour meant doing back to the drawing board, and in the process we tested and developed new LED lights for Phantom 4k cameras, macro 3D rigs capable of being used on location, macro motion-control for heavy rigs (55Kg+) and compositing techniques.

Light-weight 3D mirror rig

Hurricane rig with twin RED Epics, with matched Nikon primes, custom-engineered wireless IA designed by Robert Hollingworth, all mountable on a ultra-light carbon fibre 20′ crane for maximum portability.

The aim was to create a more flexible and responsive camera rig enabling us to be more reactive on location while keeping good 3D. We successfully captured scenes that otherwise would not been possible both in terms of behaviour and location reached.

3D compositing

High speed LED lighting development to facilitate capturing insects behaving naturally with the Phantom 4k cameras in our macro stereo rig

Wicken Fen

Gomantong Caves

Shepperton Studios

Danum Vallery, Borneo

BAFTA Nomination

Television Craft | Special, Visual & Graphic Effects in 2015

Blu Ray DVD

Gallery