Behind the Scenes Filming Deadly 60 with Steve Backshall

Working on Deadly 60 is a bit like jumping onto a rollercoaster in the middle of the first loop, it’s fast, chaotic, and completely exhilarating. I had the privilege of filming parts of Season 6 and the upcoming Season 7, both underwater and topside as the Director of Photography (DOP), and it’s an experience that pushes every aspect of your cinematography skills.

The Challenge of the Two Shot:

One of the toughest things we do is the “two-shot”, getting Steve and the animal in frame together, both above and underwater. For example, filming Weedy Sea Dragons in Sydney or Grey Nurse Sharks in Jervis Bay, the animal isn’t going to pause for the presenter. It’s about positioning Steve in a way that feels natural while keeping the composition cinematic, and anticipating how the animal will move so the shot works from start to finish, and there’s enough time for Steve to present,

Underwater, this is often a challenge. You have currents, visibility, and we’re operating in a world that as humans, we’re simply not meant for. This is where knowing how to read wildlife, and how to position yourself, with both you and the presenter working in split second tandom is an absolute necessity. Both myself and Steve have to read the wildlife, and postion ourselves in a manner that allows both Steve and the animal to stay in frame, often with no time to communicate underwater. This may sound simple, but there’s a lot of moving parts! But when it works (and with experienced presenters and operators, it often does), it’s cinematic magic.