Produced by marketing experts Centigrade, and taking place on the Alladale Wilderness Reserve in northern Scotland & public roads near Inverness, it was a privilege to be invited to film all the Scottish aerials for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan launch film & accompanying National Geographic documentary.
Rather than creating yet another piece of test drive content, Centigrade’s campaign concept involved a journey across three continents with Nat Geo adventurer & photographer Cory Richards,in honour of Charles Rolls & Sir Henry Royce’s rigorous adventures a century ago.
Filmed over a long two days in Scotland, one day single operator, & the day on public roads with Matt Harmsworth as a dual-operator drone crew, we used DJI’s Inspire 2 with its then recently released Super 35mm X7 Hasselblad camera. We had all four X7 lenses with us for the shoot (16mm, 24mm, 35mm & 50mm), but most of the shots were created on the 24mm.
Our carefully planned & risk-assessed drone shots included filming a helicopter from diagonally above as it landed, & making the most of ‘run & gun’ opportunities as they presented themselves (such as Highland cows blocking the Cullinan’s route).
Friendly locals
Every shoot brings the use of a particular piece of kit to the fore, & on this project it was the need for a satellite phone when filming in remote Scottish locations – rapidly improving weather conditions meant the helicopter could suddenly be called back into action when it had been stood down & returned to base.
I always pack light
CAA approved for aerial work, PFCO company number 532, FAA number 4242184
