Bookface team ready to go wild with guest

BAFTA and Emmy awardwinning photographer and cameraman Doug Allan will recount some of his extraordinary adventures on ice at a sustainable book swap brunch next month.

The wildlife snapper, who has worked extensively with Sir David Attenborough, will discuss his captivating book Freeze Frame: A Wildlife Cameraman’s Adventures on Ice at the popular Bookface book swap breakfast at Glasgow’s Glaschu restaurant on March 5.

The Bookface events are the brainchild of Coatbridge-raised broadcaster and creative director Heather Suttie.

Former Coatbridge High pupil Heather is an avid reader and set up her 2020 Bookface book group on Facebook during the pandemic, which has attracted an amazing 1900 members in Lanarkshire, Glasgow and across the globe.

It features a book swap event and a monthly get-together with a host of celebrity authors and guests in discussion about their latest books.

At the upcoming event, Fifeborn Doug will discuss how he spent seven years in Antarctica as a research diver, scientist and photographer for the British Antarctic Survey, before changing direction to full-time filming in 1983.

Since then he has become a world renowned and highly respected cameramen, having won eight Emmys, five BAFTAS, while he has also twice scooped the underwater category in the wildlife photographer of the year award.

Doug will share insights into his experiences of filming nature and living in the polar zones. He

will also tell some of the stories behind his unique collection of photographs featured in his book.

Heather told the Advertiser: “This is a dream come true for me in 2022.

“I absolutely love Doug and his work; he’s fascinating and a brilliant orator.

“This book is simply amazing and I can’t wait to hear how he manages to befriend polar bears

and penguins.”

Doug’s filming career spans four decades and in that time he has worked for Discovery, National Geographic and the BBC, and his camera work has appeared in ground-breaking series including The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet, Ocean Giants, Expedition Iceberg and Forces of Nature.

Sir David Attenborough said

about Doug: “Doug Allan seems to be immune to most of the limitations that govern other humans. Furthermore, he is totally without fear in a way that comes not from recklessness but from a deep knowledge and experience”.

Doug added: “There are big days when animals behave spectacularly right in front of your lens. And other quieter times

when a deeper understanding reveals itself; a new insight into the environment and what’s alive there.

“I’m really looking forward to talking about these moments of truth and how they’re the biggest privilege of a wildlife cameraperson.”

Tickets for the event are priced £30 and available from Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/3fmfccw

Cool customer Doug Allan will discuss how he spent seven years in Antarctica as a research diver, scientist and photographer