How do you approach polar bears without being eaten? Or make sure you don't lose that important dive hole when you’re filming seals under the ice? Can you really talk to whales and are they interested anyway? What freezes first at minus 35o – your eyeballs or your shutter button? And what’s harder – photography on Everest or in the rainforest?
In this exciting talk, Doug Allan talks about marine biology, diving and filming some of the world’s most charismatic animals, and how climate change is affecting the planet. With over 40 years' first-hand experience of the Poles, he has witnessed first-hand the effects of the changing sea ice on the populations of animals north and south.
In Natural Born Thrillers, the highs and lows, techniques, tools and tips, imagination, inspiration and perspiration – all will be revealed.
Doug Allan spent eight years in Antarctica as a research diver, scientist and photographer for the British Antarctic Survey, before changing direction to full time filming in 1984. He specialises in natural history, expeditions and science documentaries in some of the wildest and most remote places on our planet, particularly the polar zones. Over his career, he's filmed for series like The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, Ocean Giants, Operation Iceberg and Forces of Nature, as well as making programmes for the Living Oceans Foundation about coral reef conservation and overfishing.
Doug’s photographic awards include eight Emmys and five BAFTAs. He has twice won the underwater category in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year and has four Honorary Doctorates in recognition of his camerawork, as well as two Polar Medals. He’s an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and of the Royal Photographic Society, and in 2018 was awarded the RSGS Mungo Park Medal for his outstanding contribution to geographical knowledge through exploration in potentially hazardous environments.
The Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong wishes to express its thanks to
Kellett School as the Sponsor of this talk.
The opinions expressed in this talk are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of the Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong.