Doug Allan
Documentary film-maker and photographer
Having studied marine biology at university, run a dive school in Jersey, and been on two expeditions to the Red Sea, Doug started working for the British Antarctic Survey in 1976. While based at Signy Research Station, Doug had the chance to help David Attenborough and his film crew; this inspired him to buy a camera. The BBC bought his material, and with that Doug took his first steps to becoming a wildlife film-maker.
Since the mid-1980s, Doug has worked for leading international broadcasters including the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel and Netflix, contributing to The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and more.
Stories from his life as a cameraman are in his book Freeze Frame, with a foreword from Sir David Attenborough, for whom Doug remains a go-to camera operator.
One of the headline speakers at The Photography Show Virtual Festival in September, Doug Allan talked about how he made the break as a wildlife photographer; how he transitioned from stills to movies; the equipment he selects for assignments; and how he overcomes the extreme conditions he faces while in the field. For any Digital Camera readers who may have missed Doug’s talk, we’re delighted to present some highlights from the 40-minute interview.
How did you make the move from being a diver to a photographer?
