MARCH 2025 - Drone pilot on a music video for Beluga Lagoon

Another few days filming with Beluga Laggon. We had a fun few days as we paddled into a remote spot in the Scottish Highlands to film some night scenes and bad weather scenes for a man lost somewhere remote. I never really know entirely what I’m filming when doing these with Andrew and the story is in his head and often they are a little wacky the stories until you see them then sometimes they are a little less wacky when on screen with the music. But sometimes not lol.

Blaine was our main character here but Mark had come along for the banter anyway and ended up as chief smoke machine operator. I mean an actual smoke machine not a euphemism. We got some great shots of Blaine and some fun making my drone carry a little bunch of lights that were to represent some weird object in the night sky for Blaine to follow. It looked pretty good through the ground cameras. Few pics below.

Our paddle out was pretty horrendous in a head wind and complete pishing with rain. Underwear wet in 20 mins type rain. But we made it. Took 30 minutes to paddle in and 3.5 hrs to paddle out hahaha.

Blaine doing a bit of acting

The bad weather comes in for a bit:)

Blaine following the mysterious light

MARCH 2025 - Drone pilot on a Netflix Documentary

A fun few days as a drone operator with Richard Elliott on a Netflix Documentary Glencoe/Etive direction. A local story but can’t tell you anything about it at present unfortunately but should be very interesting.

The Netflix team needed hi-end kit as they were shooting everything in 8K Prores RAW. So the Inspire 3 with X9 Camera were the best option for them. Richard and I worked together here as they were looking for dual operation drone to do some car tracking shots and other shots in the area. A great crew to work with and an enjoyable time there.

A few pics below and a picture of a lovely toilet. Great name for a toilet/sink making company:)

Richard holding one of his drones as we colour match the cameras.

MARCH 2025 - Speyside Way film released

Great fun filming this Speyside way film for Cairngorms Business Partnership. Quite a bit of drone pilot filming here to show the landscape of the different sections along the way from Seaside to the mountains of the Cairngorms. Not a route I have done, I have only paddled the Spey many times, so nice to see the different parts of the footpath/cycle path. Also did a bit as a camera operator to catch the ground scenes and pub, distillery scenes. Was in the Cairn Distillery which was nice to see as a new place. They let me sniff the 70 year old dram but not taste lol. Then an edit of the project until we had what the team wanted:)

Definately worth a walk through the Speyside Way or a cycle also. Enjoy the wee film that Visit Cairngorms shared for Spring coming. Has almost 100k views on facebook now:)

FEBRUARY 2025 - Aerial Filming for a Music video in Scotland with 'Beluga Lagoon'

Had fun making this film with Andrew. A music video for the track ‘Isla’ from the ‘Slugs Bonnet’ Album. I filmed the aerial shots as the drone pilot here which we got a lovely day for. Andrew does the dancing on the hill. Which was a bit exciting at times for him as some reasonably drops off to the sides and tricky seeing anything in these masks. Lindsay his wife is Hula hooping and holding the signs, which Andrew filmed near home. The final shot we did last week. The one with the traffic cone.

All beautifully edited and turned to black and white by Andrew in the edit suite and obviously timed to his music to make a very entertaining, fun and different video. Be interesting to see what happens inside Andrews mind hahahahaha.

FEBRUARY 2025 - Camera operator on a Beluga Lagoon music video

A great fun few days with Andrew and Blaine filming a new music video for a new song, not yet released. I was out with my new cameras which now match Andrews cameras which is a great bonus. The Sony FX6 and FX3

We were filming several scenes of Blaine all dressed up in tweeds and a flat cap crossing the wilderness with his backpack and stick. Starting in the sun and with the weather getting more grim as he goes on. Well that’s the story anyway but was filmed in reverse because you have to go with the weather you have. Canoes were also at hand to get us to some locations.

Always great fun with this pair and a good crack. We also entered the pub quiz in the Clachaig and came third. One of the questions was “What does the Acronym BBC stand for?'“ Now there are a few answers to this question. The poor quiz master got quite embarrassed with all the laughing. But we did get it right in the end with “British Broadcasting Corporation”:)

Oh and we finally filmed the last clip of Isla music video. I think we did the first clip in September or October hahaha. I see it will premiere Saturday night 1st march as Andrew drops in the final clip to his edit, tomorrow on Beluga Lagoon Films on Youtube.

A few pics below with some screen shots from my camera of Blaine striding out over the moors:)

Blaine dwarfed by the great Highland mountains

Blaine striding out through the lush mossy birch forest in the sun.

Camera operator Kirk with my new shiny camera and 200mm lens:)

FEBRUARY 2025 - Filming and editing an Avalanche film

An interesting project that I’ve been working on in conjunction with Glenmore Lodge (National Outdoor Centre) and Scottish Mountain Rescue.

This was making a film about Group Avalanche rescue when no one has a transceiver. It is not all that common for people in the UK to walk or climb in the mountains while wearing transceivers. Ski-mountaineers tend to more as they head to where more snow is. There was no videos out there that cover the scenario of when people do not carry transceivers so it was decided that one should be put together as an educational guide for anyone venturing into the mountains.

We filmed this a while back and I went on the mountain as the camera operator for a couple of days. I then started the edit process and then handed it over to a large group of people who all decide on what should go in it and what shouldn’t go in it. At one point the video was also shown to clients on some winter courses and their feedback was very interesting and they also loved the info. This all lead to a few edits for me hahaha. Then an old school mate Rachel did the voice over for it for us.

Here is the finished video below:

FEBRUARY 2025 - Upgrade of Camera kit to Sony Full Frame Cameras FX6 and FX3

So made a big upgrade and changed from my Panasonic micro four third cameras to Sony Full Frame Cameras. This is the FX6 and FX3 Cameras and I have been using them the last few weeks to get used to how they work. Footage is beautiful from them. I also bought four G master lenses with them and a monitor. Amazing having autofocus for first time in 9 cameras hahaha.

So new kit list below. Cameras and lenses are the only new parts to this Kit list:)

JANUARY 2025 - Filming for Rab Equipment in the Cairngorms

A fun few days following a group of shop keepers learning more about Rab Equipment and Gore-tex at Glenmore Lodge as part of a training conference. The first day was all around the Lodge as they dived deeper into the new Gore-Tex (more environmentally friendly). Then learning also about how to look after it to keep its waterproof ability. Much more washing to keep it alive.

Day two everyone took to the mountains with Glenmore Lodge guides leading the way. I headed over to after thought aerate in the Loch Avon basin for my filming. Pretty rushed day trying to fit the filming into the day while the people I filmed tried to get their days done too. Such an awesome weather day filming.

Loch Basin in the Cairngorms. Shelterstone crag on the right with Carn Etchachan behind and Stag rocks on the left. Loch Avon in the middle.

An Ice Bow, formed when there are ice particles in the air. Which there was this day as my drone did not like the fine ice mist!!

JANUARY 2025 - Filming the Strathpuffer 24hr bike race

A fun day hanging out with Jenny Graham to film the Strathpuffer in the snow. A great fun event with a super atmosphere. Pretty amusing in the snow to with adults riding bikes like 3 year olds on balance bikes with both feet out to the sides on the downhills as it was slidy granular snow and many slow motion non injury type crashes going on.

Pretty impressive the grit these women and men who have entered. I filmed into the night but then left them to it in the dark. The dark certainly looked the hardest bit! It goes for 24hrs and they do as many laps as possible.

Couple of films I made on the day below.

JANUARY 2025 - Camera operator for the Hunt for the Lynx with BBC 2 Highland Cops

A fun last minute day filming the actuality of the hunt for the illegally released Lynx cats nearby in the Cairngorms National Park. Unfortunately I did not get to see the Lynx themselves. I got to see the camera trap footage and they looked so cute.

So today I filmed the press in the local area as they gave interviews with Dr Helen the head of conservation for the Royal Zoological society. The press were at Ruthann Barracks so took some drone shots around this area. The Highland park said I could fly there but not any further east as this was where the Lynx were spotted. Then I returned to the park for some actuality of the team doing the search with pics and videos etc. These images I shot will be used when the Highlands cops TV show follow the wildlife investigator as he tries to track down who released the Lynx.

The caught the second two lynx only an hour or two after I left. Few screen grabs below of the day.

Ruthven Barracks

DECEMBER 2024 - Filming Beluga Lagoon largest concert so far.

It’s been a fun year following Andrew and his band Beluga Lagoon as they play bigger venues throughout Scotland. All have been sold out shows and some sold out in literary 2 minutes !

I’ve filmed several of the bigger concerts with Rupert Shanks for Andrew to do an edit at some point to make a bit of a documentary of the year, not for TV or the likes just for Andrews Youtube channel where he pops all his films over the years https://www.youtube.com/@belugalagoonfilms8620 . Wish I’d gone along to film them receiving a few awards along the way too. Anyway I’m sure there are phone pics and video of these occasions.

O2 Academy in Glasgow would be the biggest so far 3500. There are some pretty big nerves before these concerts for some of the band. Andrews worries he will catch the flu or the likes and he had a little bit of a sore throat coming into this but managed to miss it getting worse thankfully. Some of the band seem to not get nervous at all. Although Andrew and Matt the drummer were the most nervous earlier in the year they seem to have gotten slightly more used to it as time has gone on. Just shit themselves on a medium level now until the first 2 songs are in the bag:)

Such great fun seeing this set up and loved the massive tree at the back of stage with eye balls in an opening and an owl on a branch, made by Jamie and Andrew. True to form Andrew manages to make every concert different. So for those fans, of which there are quite a few, that go to many of the shows they never see the same show twice. This one being special (like Dunoon, Queens Hall) had the voices of Argyll join as an all female choir giving a much bigger sound to the music for the first half of the show.

Going to be fun to see what Andrew does this year. He certainly doesn’t stop and is with Gregor right now doing something in the studio. How he fits it in I’m not sure, always impresses me how productive he is, daily! A few pics below of the O2 Night, what an awesome night:)

Wee drone shot of the venue from the mini 3 pro tiny drone

One of Ruperts angles from back of Hall

DECEMBER 2024 - Aerial filming Rannoch Moor, Glencoe

Rannoch Moor near Glencoe. A lovely winters morning with ice covered trees so I decided to make a little flight with my drone to see the beauty of Loch Ba which was slightly frozen too. I think on this morning it was -8 degrees as we drove homewards. A loch I have paddled across a few times with my Canadian canoe. It is a very cinematic and very Scottish landscape to film.

I was just returning from filming a Beluga Lagoon practice with a choir so it seemed apt to put a little Beluga Lagoon to it. This track is 'Eas A'Chual Aluinn' (soft version). The version without piano which Andrew possibly made for use in films of his. It is very atmospheric:)

I used a DJI Mavic 3 pro CINE for these aerial shots.

www.belugalagoon.com to see more of Andrews work

DECEMBER 2024 - Camera Operator for Good Morning Britain in Inverness (Drone too:)

Great fun day meeting this team and seeing what they do. We were filming Angela who is partially sighted who has organised a group where each month a team of partially sighted and blind folk (there were 21 this day) go for a walk and lunch together in Inverness. She is a great person and we were filming her as she is one of several folk who might be selected for an award for amazing people like Angela who have helped several people in making their lives better. I’ve actually forgotten the exact name of the award but if you watch on Christmas day then you will see the finalist and find out who wins.

I got to film this one because it is close to home but other camera operators will film the other people. Would have been good to see them all as always very fascinating and fun shoots these. A few screen shots below of the day.

The team and Inverness

NOVEMBER 2024 - Filming a Beluga Lagoon practice with 'The Voices of Argyll"

Always fun filming with Beluga Lagoon and great to see a practice on the go, especially with ‘The Voices of Argyll’ joining in here. We all headed to Dunoon for the practice and the place of the upcoming gig on the 7th of December where they will perform together at the Queens Hall. The choir and Beluga Lagoon will then perform at the O2 Academy to 3500 people on the 19th of December. The biggest concert so far for Beluga Lagoon and a great way to finish off the year for this band.

Here we were capturing some BTS for the documentary Andrew will make of this first year of Beluga Lagoon playing larger venues. So we caught a bit of chat with the choir and and followed Gregor doing a bit of directing of the team to polish where and how the choir come in to create the best sound possible. It does sound amazing and complements the band brilliantly.

I have a few screen grabs of the practice below. Enjoy Dunoon if you have a ticket for tomorrow night. I’ll be along to O2 Academy later in the month to film the big gig, can’t wait. After the practice we went for a few beers and the choir carried on a different practice, busy Ladies! Dunoon pub was £3 a pint of Guiness, amazing!!!

Having fun with ‘Ronnie and the Reindeer’ song:)

Very atmospheric singing ‘Still”

Not sure if Gregor is giving me the fingers or if it’s some music directing thing?

NOVEMBER 2024 - Filming pub Bingo in Glasgow for Opposite Land Productions

Fun night filming Flamingo Bingo in the ‘Slug and Lettuce’ in Glasgow, this was for a mate Sam who runs www.oppositelandproductions.com who film pubs, restaurants and buildings throughout the UK. I often help out on the Scotland shoots. The second time filming in this pub.

The team put on a fun night with this Bingo. Ewen dressed in the flamingo suit does a great job keeping it fun while looking a bit silly in his suit. Adam the manager kept me right when things were happening so I could follow bits of the action:) Gregor always seemed to be concentrating hard on his seating arrangements. Amy and Connar did a good job making some cocktails for the camera which were then handed out randomly. I just wished I could have joined in the fun lol. A few screen grabs below from the night.

Bingo Winners

Slug and Lettuce

Ewen dressed up

NOVEMBER 2024 - Roaming in the Wild back on player:)

Roaming in the Wild returns to BBC Scotland and iplayer for everyones viewing pleasure. Was great fun making these films with Andrew and Mark. Doing fun trips with two good mates, what is not to like:)

OCTOBER 2024 - Filming Mountain Biking for Glenmore Lodge

A day out with cameras and drone to film a few adverts on FAQ’s for mountain bike courses at Glenmore Lodge. We spent the morning filming near Aviemore the actual biking part then we filmed indoors with interviews of the guys chatting about the courses. A fun day out, a few pics from the day below.

OCTOBER 2024 - Aerial filming and Camera Operator at the Kelpies for a high ropes course inside them

A friend Jono has built a high ropes course inside the Kelpies to help bring more people to the Kelpies for Scottish Canals. The course is brilliant and gets you up into the mouth of the highest one via a network of obstacles like wire bridges and ladders and nets. It finishes with a jump on a decelerator cable which I found pretty exciting. It is weird how inside a manmade structure it feels more scary to me:)

Jono commissioned me to make a main film, website opening film and 10 stories/reels for Instagram also. Which I edited together and should be launched soon on his website and Scottish Canals site. Jono’s is Zone Events and the website will go live before the end of the year:) Few pics from the day below.

Drone pic of the Kelpie with people in the mouth

Inside the Kelpie mouth

The Kelpies from above

SEPTEMBER 2024 - Filming pub promo's for Opposite Land in Aberdeen and Edinburgh

A fun couple of nights filming some pub promos for www.oppositelandproductions.com in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Sam who runs Opposite Land is one of the top companies covering pubs, restaurants and building in the UK.

The day and evening involved getting shots of the empty pub then trying to capture the atmosphere in the evening. Pretty easy as the pubs were both busy. Amazingly the folk in the bar all seemed happy to be filmed each time I asked. I finished up each day around 9-9:30pm just so no one is drunk on camera hahaha. Few screen grabs below.

SEPTEMBER 2024 - Aerial filming with Guy Martin on 'Proper Jobs' TV Show

An amazing few days as a drone pilot over Aberdeenshire way filming Guy Martin (lovely person) working with SARDA (Search and Rescue Dog Association). We spent a day doing crag rescue at Pass of Ballater, a very familiar crag for me having climbed there many times as a teenager and beyond.

Mark Chadwick was leading the safety (also a SARDA member) and Stu MacIntyre and Paul Noble were doing the chat to Camera alongside Guy Martin as well as a few others. Great fun crew from North One TV and the SARDA team were great to.

Once we had done stretcher lowers and carries mixed in with first response first aid, the guys then went to do dog handling at Glenshee for a day. I went and filmed trains then I joined them again another day for a trip up to Derry Lodge to do a search and rescue involving a helicopter and up on Derry Cairngorm mountain in the mist.

A very friendly pilot was happy with me flying with him in the air. We just laid down where we would be and what to do if change of plan in his flights etc. So much fun filming a helicopter in the air. Only done it a few other times in the past, All in all a great few days and hopefully make a fun TV program when it comes out. A few pics below of the days out with some screen grabs.

Air to Air filming with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro CINE

Myself and Guy Martin

Crag Rescue