Home movies: Springwatch special
Post categories: In depth
| 10:48 UK time, Thursday, 11 June 2009
The main thing that struck me when I made this Springwatch Special was how good the footage was that you sent. What makes it so appealing is that it's the kind of material you'd never seek to capture as a professional wildlife cameraman. Photography is all about being in the right place at the right time, and recording what you see... even if that's in your own garden using the camera on your mobile phone.
You don't need state-of-the-art equipment or an amazing knowledge of wildlife; just scratch the surface and find out what's happening right under your nose whether that be in your garden, in the park down the road, or literally on your doorstep.
Fox Diaries, which I made for Springwatch in 2007, is a perfect example of this. It was a surprise to me to find a wonderful drama playing out right outside my home in Glasgow. If that's happening in a major city then there must be dramas playing out under every hedgerow.
If you see anything interesting, film it on your mobile phone, your camcorder or whatever's to hand - it really doesn't matter. That's what so great about Springwatch - it's all about the animal behaviour. It doesn't matter if the framing's not perfect or if it's slightly out of focus - if it's interesting behaviour then we'd love to see it.
On the Home Movies special, there are a couple of films that really stuck in my head. The first was about Lindsay McCrae (you can see a Springwatch film about him on the Mole's blog), a 19-year-old wildlife filming fanatic. He reminded me of when I was that age although to be honest, he's got more passion for wildlife than I had then. To see him four years later and still mad keen gives you a real idea of his commitment to the subject.
The other film is the brilliant footage of a barn owl taken by an oil rig worker. This guy spends half his year stuck miles out in the North Sea and seeing this barn owl obviously meant a huge amount to him.
A 15-year-old boy, an oil rig worker... anyone can do it. Get your camera, get out there and get filming. (And please send your films to us!)
You can watch some of the best of your home movies here. And remember, it's not just moving footage you've been sending us: the Springwatch Flickr group has some wonderful stills of spring flora and fauna.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~20~RS~)
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We sent our film in (wood mouse stealing nuts) and it was included in the montage of home movies clips in last night's programme. Cue lots of squealing and jumping around from daughter who filmed it. Really looking forward to seeing other people's films of the wildlife in their gardens :)
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After watching tonights programm other than the amazing footage there was something that stood out to me more than anything. It was the words the of the camerman in the last film, his discription of finding beauty and light made me feel so warm and content. Unfortunalty I didnt quite catch his name and have looked on the sight but cant find it, if possible does anyone know his name?
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I watched this evenings Springwatch episode about Home Movies which I thoroughly enjoyed. I really loved the poem which one of the filmmakers wrote about 'Persistance'. Does anyone know the name of this gentleman and where I might find a copy of his poem?
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Great TV! I'd love to know about the poem too!?
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Great program - loved the advice.
The camera man at the end was John Aitchison - he did a few spots last year, but has been surprisingly absent this year. He's been mentioned by the presenters a few times though.
I want his life!
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It's been driving us mad. What was the wonderful music used to accompany the John Aitchison part of Thursdays Spring Watch Special. The first was Lark Ascending but the wonderful music used in the dawn/early morning section is a complete mystery, please help.
Regards
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The name of the film maker who wrote the poem 'persistance' is called John keeling. However I do not know where to find a copy of the poem as I have already looked myself. I found out the name of him in an artical named stoat-man on a BBC website.
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Actually the article is called weasel-man, not stoat-man SORRY
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