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Ryan Simmonds

@ryanbsimmonds

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🌍 Places, wildlife, politics, climate.
🎥 Camera technician - Wildstar, BBC NHU, Films@59.

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A little insight into Help Bristol’s Homeless. by @ryanbsimmonds

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18

9 months ago

None of these photos are mine.

They were taken by my mum.

Today would have been her 62nd birthday.

And although she fought hard, two months ago she lost her battle with cancer.
She missed the birth of her first grandchild by a week.

My mum found her passion for photography later in life, around the same time I began working as a camera technician. She would try her hand at any style and stick with things she liked long enough until they became boring, and would then move on. I respect that. She would later teach photography and find herself recognised by the Royal Photographic Society.

My mum was a badass, as a young woman she raised us as a single parent through our early childhood. She was determined, and whilst we didn’t always agree on everything, I have the utmost admiration for the life she gave my brother and I. And I will forever be grateful for those things we shared a love for: photography, wild spaces, and coastal towns. If it was not for her I would not have had the experiences I’ve had nor be doing what I love today.

I’m not sure if sharing such a personal eulogy is my style, but she would post about anything and everything, especially about her love for my brother and me. So it felt kinda right to complete that circle today.

I miss you mum. We’ll make sure our boy grows to know how special you were. by @ryanbsimmonds

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25

a year ago

The people united, will never be defeated.
.
.
Whenever there's injustice you know the people of Bristol will make their voices heard.
.

#freepalestine #alleyesonrafah #shutdownelbit #stoparmingisrael #notinourcity #ceasefirenow #protest taken in Bristol, United Kingdom by @ryanbsimmonds

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0

2 years ago

Giraffes in the Namib. A few stills of our main mammals whilst out in Namibia for the Heat episode of Mammals.

1. Two giraffes emerging from the morning mist. Dwarfed by towering rock faces.
2. The stand off. These guys would happily spend hours just staring at us. It took a lot of time and patience to capture the sequence that hit your screens.
3. O Rly?
4. More staring.
5. Those iconic tongues. Used to pluck leaves from thorny bushes.

#mammals #bbc #nhu #davidattenborough #namibia #giraffe #desert #cameroperator #onlocation #staringcontest #lumix by @ryanbsimmonds

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2

2 years ago

Some BTS from our time in the Namib desert.

1. The Hoanib riverbed at dawn.
2. Our camp for the few weeks we spent out there.
3. The kit tent just after dusk.
4. Myself in the long lens.
5. PD for the shoot @lill.t.j scouting out the surrounding area.
6. Camera op @mat_goodman on the long lens at first light.
7. The vehicle mounted gimbal at dusk as the desert lions slink past.
8. @mat_goodman @lill.t.j scouting for action in the riverbed.
9. The excellent crew from @blackthorn.tv at camp with all the toys.
10. The dunes that went on as far as you could see.

An incredible location.

#mammals #bbc #nhu #davidattenborough #bbcstudios #namibia #namibdesert #hoanib #desert #cameroperator #reddigitalcinema #wildlifefilmmaking #somuchsand by @ryanbsimmonds

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5

2 years ago

Some frames from our time spent in Namibia filming the giraffe sequence for BBC Mammals' Heat episode.

We spent some weeks with the world's tallest land animal capturing the various methods used by these large mammals to survive in the hottest of climates. Whilst usually the giraffe would do little more than eat and stare back at you for hours, we were managed to capture fights amongst male giraffe, mother's caring for their young and the constant threat from small groups of desert lions.

Thanks to the excellent team at @blackthorn.tv for looking after us at camp and getting us safely amongst the action every day, to @lill.t.j for getting me out there and her direction and to @mat_goodman for sharing his knowledge and experience with his enviable number of camera hours in sweaty African locations.

You can catch the entire series on iplayer now and launching in other countries soon.

#mammals #bbc #bbcstudios #nhu #attenborough #namibia #namibdesert #giraffe #lion #wildlifefilmmaking #cameroperator #hotandsweaty #desert by @ryanbsimmonds

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3

2 years ago

Thermal images of the White-winged Vampire Bat filmed in Trinidad for BBC's Mammals.

We were the first team to ever film these rare and cute little critters in the wild. Thanks to the excellent knowledge of the legendary @iere_nation we found a great spot on in rural Trinidad, on the edge of a property, belonging to the kindest of local families, where these bats would fly in most nights to drink the blood of their chickens.

With @howisharry leading the team and the expertise of camera op @skipswildlife already in the field I joined the team for the last couple of weeks to shoot some thermal images on the Selex Superhawk. These bats are often feared despite their preferred prey being birds and this camera allowed us to capture the bats targeting the chickens exposed feet whilst they slept.

It was an intense yet rewarding night shoot with heaps of learning about one of my new favourite mammals. Check out the Heat episode of Mammals on BBC iplayer now to find out more about these rad little guys.

#mammals #bbc #bbcstudios #mammalsofinstagram #thermal #trinidad #wildlifefilmmaking #bats #vampirebat #davidattenborough #cameroperator #nhu by @ryanbsimmonds

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1

2 years ago

Emilio. The alpha from the troop of pig-tailed macaques we filmed with for The New Wild episode of Mammals.
This guy enjoyed eating, chasing the ladies and having rats fall out of trees and land at his feet.

Without dedicated researchers on the ground we'd have never had a story or access to such a unique family of Mammals. You can find it now on iplayer.

#mammals #bbc #nhu #davidattenborough #malaysia #pigtailedmacaque #cameraoperator #wildlife #lumix taken in Malaysia by @ryanbsimmonds

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0

2 years ago

The Southern pig-tailed macaque. BBC Mammals, The New Wild.

Widely thought of as vegetarian we travelled to Malaysia to film a new sequence showing pig-tailed macaques entering plantations to feed on rats.

This sequence is a pretty special one for me.
As much as I'd enjoyed my 10+ years as a technician (and I still do) this was the first time I found myself filming on location. It is also my first ever TV camera credit. The uniformity of the palm oil plantations were as much fascinating as they were depressing, creeping into the wild primary forest. And the macaques were so rewarding to follow and film. Sleeping in the forest at night these intelligent mammals, each with their own character, slowly allowed us to follow the troop on their daily hunts for food into the plantations. Although with covid hotel quarantines, so many leeches and sweaty bodies carrying heavy cameras, it wasn't without its challenges.

More than 2 years since the shoot, I'm stoked to finally be able to share what we got up to in Malaysia with an excellent team of @amydownes @japan_uk_camera @ericmadeja and Series Producer Scott Alexander and grateful for the team that got me out there @ollie.grainger @robynhumphreys and Producer Lydia Baines.

#mammals
#bbc
#bbcstudios #nhu #attenborough #naturalhistory #wildlife #malaysia #macaque #pigtailedmacaque #drone #cameraoperator #hotandhumid by @ryanbsimmonds

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4

3 years ago

The Etruscan Shrew.

At about 4cm long and weighing under 2g these guys are the smallest terrestrial mammal and featured in last night's Dark episode for the BBC's Mammals.

PD Stu Armstrong sent me out to join a talented team and assist on some high speed filming, capturing the shrews using their whiskers to hunt prey almost their own size. Whilst out there I spent a couple of days shooting some second angles on the shrews going about their business.

The shrews were a real challenge to wrangle, never doing what you wanted and expected them to, but you can't help but feel fond of these cute tiny critters.

Catch up on iplayer to see the full sequence and an excellent first episode of Mammals.

#mammals #bbc #bbcstudios #nhu #attenborough #naturalhistory #wildlife #shrew #etruscanshrew #documentary #macro #cameraoperator by @ryanbsimmonds

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0

3 years ago

This Sunday, 31st March, put it in your diary!

It's been over 20 years since Attenborough presented The Life of Mammals, so it was about time we revisited this diverse group of animals with all the new stories and camera tech we could get our grubby paws on. And don't worry, the man himself returns!

This series was 5 years in the making with the most talented and passionate wildlife filmmakers. I spent more than 2 years getting cameras to crews on location in the remotest corners of our planet and even filmed on a few sequences myself.

Six episodes, weekly on Sunday at 7pm. Starting this week with the Dark episode.
I've seen some of the sequences and you're in for a treat!

#bbc #nhu #wildlife #mammals #documentary #attenborough #naturalhistory #camera #onlocation #bbcstudios by @ryanbsimmonds

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1

3 years ago

I spent over 2 years working on this show with an incredible team of talented and passionate filmmakers. In that time we sent hundreds of cameras to the most hostile and remote locations to film exciting new wildlife sequences that'll hit your screens in the next few weeks.

I even managed to sneak myself on a few shoots, some giraffes I filmed have even made this trailer. To have something I filmed narrated by Attenborough has always been a bucket list moment, I'm so stoked to have had the opportunity.

Have a watch of the trailer, tune in for 6 weekly episodes starting very soon and watch this space for more Mammals spam.

I'm super proud to finally be able to share this.

#mammals
#bbc
#coldplay
#wildlife
#giraffe
#cameraoperator
#filmmaking
#attenborough by @ryanbsimmonds

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10

3 years ago