Cinematographers reveal big picture in natural world

Since 1905, generations have grown up poring over the exotic photos in National Geographic.

For many American kids, the magazine marked an introduction to foreign lands and cultures.

None of that has changed, although nowadays some of those still photographers who sweated in the jungles of Borneo or froze in the barren wastes of the Antarctic are cinematographers.

And they are filming shows such as “Explorer,” “Big Cat Week” and “Life Below Zero,” which are shown on the National Geographic cable network.

The job of a nature photographer presents enormous physical challenges, but it also poses unexpected ones.

J.J. Kelley, a 12-year employee of National Geographic who films for “Explorer,” was caught trying to smuggle fake elephant tusks into Tanzania and was arrested. It was all in a good cause, he insisted.

“Ivory is very illegal,” Kelley said. “And it’s a problem because so many elephants are being slaughtered right now. It led to legislation that closed down the ivory market in China. And ivory numbers are starting to come up finally.”

Kelly Sweet, field producer for “Big Cat Week,” also recalled a white-knuckle moment.

“After filming gorillas in the Congo for a month, the plane on the way back made an unexpected landing and the landing gear broke,” she said. “We didn’t know when we were going to get out.”

Sweet, who has worked for National Geographic for 14 years, didn’t plan to be a cinematographer.

“I just wanted to ... (work) with animals,” she said. “And I tried various different things ... working in sanctuaries. I worked at a zoo for a while. I worked at rehab. And this was the best way to have the biggest impact to help animals and to see the most animals around the world.”

Michael Cheeseman, who won an Emmy last year for his work on Natgeo’s “Life Below Zero,” which chronicles life in remote corners of Alaska, has been a cinematographer on the series for five years.

“When I was a child, I used to read all the zoo books from National Geographic,” he said. “And so when I grew up, I started making films myself. And then I was like: ‘I want to see the world. I want to document these cultures around the world.’

“So luckily, in my career, I’ve traveled across the globe. But for ‘Life Below Zero,’ it’s been so inspiring because we meet all these people who live in the middle of nowhere and live off the land and live very comfortably and very happy.”

Kelley said he is keenly aware of what other cinematographers are producing on other programs, including the BBC series “Planet Earth” and the PBS nature films.

“I always think that National Geographic has been a leader in terms of visuals," he said. "We try to capture the best images.”

Kelley recalled living in a tent for 30 days in Antarctica.

“Imagine that you’re there, ... and it’s just cold everywhere," he said. "You’re wearing 30 pounds of equipment to keep you warm. You’re lying on a sheepskin that they gave you to insulate you from the cold, and then you have to get up and charge the camera equipment and document the team.

“There is an element of suffering in that,” he said. “But, at the end of the day, you want to bring home these images.”