Video production portfolio:

Broadcast video for the BBC

Veetoo creative director, Stephen Bradley, was commissioned by BBC affiliate Wall to Wall to be director of photography and cameraman for an episode of the series The Genius of Photography, to document a Belfast photographer as he completed photography for a major exhibition of his work, showing the change in areas of South Armagh as they revert back to their natural state as the British army remove lookout towers and equipment put there during Northern Ireland’s Troubles.

Production overview:

Stephen travelled to Bessbrook, where he filmed photographer Donovan Wylie as he photographed the British army dismantling the last of their lookout towers on the hilltops of the South Armagh region of Northern Ireland.

Equipment used:

Sony broadcast camera
Black Mist glass filter
Remote monitor (allowing the director to see what is being filmed live)
Stereo digital audio recording equipment

After filming Donovan preparing his camera equipment at his accommodation in Newry, Stephen and his production crew accompanied the photographer to what was a British army base in the village of Bessbrook, from where they flew with Donovan in an army Puma helicopter as he journeyed to and photographed soldiers dismantling watchtowers on hilltops overlooking South Armagh.

SPECIALIST AUDIO RECORDING equipment was used to record Donovan as he talked through the helicopter’s audio platform with the helicopter pilot to ensure he got the best angles and light for his photographs.

Scroll down the page to see video screen shots of the main scenes from this video production, filmed from the ground and the air.

Video production services for this project:

Director of Photography
Sound Recordist
Video Equipment Hire
Videography

Still image 1 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Establishing shot: Wide shot showing Magnum photographer, Donovan Wylie, preparing his Hasselblad camera equipment for the day’s photoshoot. Lighting for this scene was natural light coming from a large window to the left of frame, supported by daylight reflected from a 2×3 meter white reflector, adding light and detail to the shadows.

Still image 2 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

On the move: A low camera angle was used to film Donovan as he leaves his accomodation, creating anticipation among the audience for the story that unfolds throughout his photoshoot at nearby Bessbrook village and the surrounding South Armagh countryside.

Still image 3 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Army garrison: After filming Donovan waiting for his airborne transport to arrive, our cameraman filmed from the perspective of someone running to and boarding Puma helicopter, giving an indication of what Donovan experienced as he boarded his flight.

A video insert was then added in the edit showing the helicopter rising from the ground, as it made its way from the army garrison at Bessbrook village towards the South Armagh hills nearby.

Still image 4 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Heavy duty protection: This footage was filmed after Donovan and the film crew returned to the army base and was added in the edit to give the impression that cameras in multiple locations filmed Donavan as his helicopter left the army base.

Still image 5 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Smoke and mirrors: The helicopter in this wide shot was not the helicopter used by Donovan Wylie and was filmed to add in the edit as if it was taking Donovan to his hilltop shoot locations.

Still image 6 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Main protagonist: Tight shots of Donovan at work were filmed to help create emotional engagement with him by the documentary’s audience.

Still image 7 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Through his eyes: We cut to footage filmed from the army helicopter carrying Donovan, showing what he was photographing, as army members and their support helicopters dismantle lookout towers on the South Armagh hills

Still image 8 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Through these eyes: The South Armagh countryside is reflected in the visor of one of the crew of Dovovan’s Puma helicopter, as we see the photographer working away in the background.

Still image 9 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Team work: Any good photographer will tell you that a photoshoot is only as good as the crew you work with. Donovan photographs the South Armagh hills as one of the helicopter’s safety crew watches on.

Still image 10 from a video production on Donovan Wylie filmed for BBC television by Stephen S T Bradley of veetoo, a video production company in Belfast, Northern Ireland

A vast space: Filmed from the ground, this wide angle shot was taken to show the scale of Donovan’s helicopter shown small against the largeness of the countryside below.