From the snowy wastes of Alaska to Oman’s sizzling deserts, Falmouth graduate Sam Stewart’s career as a wildlife cameraman is taking him around the world. We catch up with Sam as he reflects on his work for the recent BBC flagship series Wild Isles.
When were you bitten by the wildlife ‘bug’?
I grew up fascinated by nature, animals and the outdoors, but it wasn’t until I was in my teens that I realised there was a chance I could work in this field. When I saw the camera team in action in a behind-the-scenes section at the end of BBC’s Planet Earth, I thought: ‘I could be doing that’. I then started Falmouth’s Marine & Natural History Photography BA, graduating in 2012.
Is filming in far-flung places as glamorous as it sounds?
The physical aspects of hiking or being out there in the elements can make what seems a simple shoot on paper a massive challenge in reality. I’ve worked in -56°c in northern Canada through to +50°c in Oman. Some locations are simply not designed for humans, cameras or lenses, but I love the reward of capturing footage against all odds.
Getting close to wildlife in the UK can be very tricky; it takes a lot of fieldcraft, location knowledge and time. It can be incredibly rewarding to spend time near home to really appreciate what we have on our doorsteps.
Hearing our songbirds is one of the best things about coming back from a filming trip abroad.
What tops the chart as a standout career moment?
It has been estimated that more people have been to the moon than to the bottom of the Fernandina volcano crater in the Galápagos. Going down there with a small team was mind blowing; the raw power of nature was overwhelming. Being asked to film Sir David Attenborough for the opening shots of Wild Isles was another ‘pinch me’ moment – a dream come true.
Any advice for students hoping to work in this field?
Go all in with your passion. If that’s long lens camerawork, practise following focus with any lens you have. Or be proactive with your conservation storytelling, starting close to home and documenting your story. Take it step by step, extending your goals as you reach them, and keep saying yes to opportunities – you’ll always learn something.
“It was a dream come true. Working with him in the field has been my biggest goal since I set out on this path.”Sam on filming Sir David Attenborough for
Wild IslesSam’s credits as a wildlife cameraman, drone pilot and commercial diver include BBC’s Wild Isles, Perfect Planet, Springwatch and Countryfile, Channel 5’s Alaska: A Year in the Wild and Dancing with the Birds (Netflix/Silverback Films).
Torgeir Rørvik has been attracting acclaim and high-profile commissions since graduating from Falmouth’s Fashion Photography BA last year. After being highlighted by PhotoVogue as one of 100 photographers to watch, he won the Fashion Photography award at London’s Graduate Fashion Week and was named Newcomer of the Year at a photographic awards ceremony at home in Norway.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to win several awards, all with photos from my university graduation project,” says Torgeir, whose self-published photobook Post sold out once in print. “I believe that these accolades are partly responsible for the opportunities I’ve received. They’ve helped me become more visible as a photographer in Norway and people have reached out to me."
After gaining experience as a photographer’s assistant, Torgeir was approached by both Universal Music and Sony Music to photograph artists.
“One of the coolest projects I’ve worked on was creating a garment in Clo3D for one of Norway’s biggest clothing brands,” adds Torgeir, who continues to draw on his experience at Falmouth with cutting-edge technologies.
“I produced both photos and videos, and the images were shown in stores throughout Scandinavia. I’ll continue to cultivate my career as a freelancer and I plan to move to London to try my hand at the international market.”
A fascinating project on 100 centenarians’ tips for a life well lived landed Press & Editorial Photography BA graduate Philippa Kelly the front page on The Guardian’s Saturday magazine in February. Phillipa spent six months interviewing centenarians based worldwide to write the piece, using the skills gained largely on a master’s degree in journalism. But she credits the Falmouth course for giving her a strong understanding of the media landscape – and, importantly, an eye for a good story.
“I had no experience of journalism when I arrived at Falmouth, just a photography A-level and a love of documentary imagery,” she says. “I remember being simultaneously excited to get stuck into telling stories, yet terrified of speaking to people I didn’t know – which now, of course, I do every day.
“It was a privilege to speak to the 100 centenarians,” adds Philippa, a freelance journalist and a staff writer for the British Journal of Photography. “Working on The Guardian project was an amazing learning experience, both in terms of research and interviewing. We aimed to create a feature that was inspiring and joyful, something I’m proud to say I believe we achieved.”
An insight into the eerie influences of acclaimed author Lynn Huggins-Cooper, a tutor on Falmouth’s Creative Writing BA (Online) degree, now features on the University’s website, after Lynn took time out to talk to us about her writing and storytelling background. Recalling a childhood spent reading Ray Bradbury books and American comics filled with gothic, horror and science fiction stories, Lynn discussed the ideas behind her children’s fiction – including the celebrated Too Ghoul for School series, now transformed into a game for Nintendo DS – and offered top tips for aspiring writers.
Falmouth Illustration BA graduate Katie Ponder hit the headlines when she designed the Royal Mail Christmas stamps – the last of their kind to receive official approval from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“It was a huge honour to be part of people's Christmas celebrations and exchanges,” said Katie, who has built a successful career as an illustrator, working with the likes of Dorling Kindersley, Penguin and Simon and Schuster.
Matt Osbond, who joined the Falmouth team this year as a tutor on our online master’s in Indie Game Development, is no stranger to legendary game franchises. As Principal Technical Art Director at Xbox he has worked on award-winning titles like Halo and Forza Horizon and has been immersed in almost every stage of the games content pipeline. Equally passionate about empowering the next generation of content creators, he said: “Making games is a lot of fun and we’re very lucky to be in an industry that is intrinsically about having fun. If you’re enjoying it, that enjoyment will seep through into what you make, and we will rise to the challenges.”
Anna Barwick is a chartered certified account, business consultant and coach, and a student on our Business & Marketing BSc (Online) degree. With decades of entrepreneurial experience in running successful businesses and numerous awards to her name, she’s a champion of positive psychology, which is the focus of her recently published book Achieving Well-being for Optimum Success.
“I’ve always focused on individual wellbeing, and one of the first topics we covered on the BSc was wellbeing in corporate settings,” she said. “As I was getting stuck into the background reading, I felt compelled to revisit my own expertise. So, in part, joining the course at Falmouth inspired me to put pen to paper and write the book.”
A new mural at London Paddington station, highlighting the diversity of habitats and creatures found along rail corridors, has been created by Fine Art MA (Online) student Cindy Powell. Commissioned by Network Rail to promote its commitment to protecting wildlife, the mural project came about through the Collaboration module Cindy has undertaken as part of her studies. “The concept grew from an idea I’d had around wildlife becoming still life,” explained Cindy, whose surrealist-style oil paintings were professionally photographed and scaled up in print. “I’m very interested in raising awareness of animals on the critically endangered list, as well as encapsulating the joy that wildlife can inspire.”
Shortlisted as one of three ‘Newcomer of the Year’ finalists in this year’s Association of British Science Writers Awards, Journalism master’s graduate Emma Elobeid is a rising star in the world of science journalism – and passionate about telling stories at the intersection of climate and coastal communities. Since completing her studies in 2022, she has been promoted to Senior Editor at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Even more impressively, Emma is forging this blossoming career with no formal science qualifications.
“I honestly think that it’s my very unscientific background – and maybe also that journalistic determination to get to the bottom of something – that helps me turn information-dense insight into stories that make sense,” she said.
Film BA graduate Edie Moles claimed both the Best Film and Best New Talent awards at this year’s BFI Future Film Festival for her short film Underbelly, which follows apprentice butcher Norman as he tries to support his sister through her severe postpartum depression – with devastating consequences.
Describing the film as “deeply affecting and engaging, with an impeccable sense of space and character,” the jury added: “Everything comes together to make something remarkable. This truly is an incredible achievement from a young new talent.”
Comedy Writing MA (Online) students Jane Harvey and Rosie Sosic cut their teeth in the industry by contributing material to Wosson Cornwall?, a BBC Radio 4 comedy sketch show about the county produced by course lecturer Simon Nicholls. Featuring Falmouth University Chancellor Dawn French as the first Cornish Prime Minister, the four-part series was recorded in front of a live audience at the Acorn Theatre in Penzance and aired in spring. “It’s high time we park the clichés and open our eyes to the reality of this wondrously funny and feral land,” said Simon about the primetime show, which also featured work by course graduate Nick Griffiths.
The film Middle Watch may have been pipped at the post at the BAFTA awards night in February, but to feature alongside commercially backed entries from prominent studios in the British Short Animation category is a remarkable achievement. Partly funded by Falmouth’s School of Film & Television, Middle Watch was a truly collaborative effort that enabled students to gain valuable experience of working on a live project with esteemed industry professionals.
Set towards the end of World War II, the animation follows the travails of a Royal Navy sailor, traumatised by his own wartime experience, who is called to keep watch for enemy ships in the early hours of the morning (the 'middle watch'). As he goes about his duties, his routine is shattered by an extraordinary encounter that could tip the balance of his delicate state of mind.
The film was written by DreamWorks director John Stevenson (of Kung Fu Panda and Shrek fame), who first met with Falmouth students in 2020 to discuss his idea. With producer Giles Healy on board, alongside co-director Aiesha Penwarden, a graduate of
the University’s Animation BA, the scene was set for a team of artists, animators and technicians – many of them part of the Falmouth University film community – to bring this mesmerising tale to life.
After hearing a pitch about Middle Watch in a lecture as a third-year Animation BA student, Dimana Bratanova was immediately grabbed by John’s story and the concept art visuals. Her roles as production manager and lead background artist included running the day-to-day tasks of a crew of more than 70 working in different languages and across several time zones.
Fellow graduate Robert Strachan, the film’s animation director and lead clean-up artist, aimed to establish a supportive educational space for people to train, grow and network, all while developing their showreels.
“With a team driven by students and recent graduates, we wanted to create the kind of production culture that we would have wanted to crew on ourselves,” he says. “I couldn't be prouder of what the team accomplished.”
At Falmouth, it’s all about creative collaboration. Find out how students, staff, alumni and industry experts worked together to make a short animation that gave the big studio productions a run for their money at this year’s BAFTAs.
“The BAFTA nomination is a great accolade and stands as testimony to the creative flair and dedication of a new generation of artists, animators and technicians.”
Middle Watch producer Giles HealyAiesha Penwarden Dimana Bratanova
After being forced into a medical retirement from his previous job as a plumber and multi trades worker, Alan started looking for online courses when he realised that the nature of his disability would make studying on campus next to impossible. “My mobility is quite minimal now,” he tells us. “I use a wheeled walking aid, but travel is difficult due to the pain in my back, as well as the side effects from my medication. Fortunately, we live in a world with online distance learning, which turned out to be the perfect solution.”
Alan’s passion for visual arts stems from his love of gaming. He had completed over 700 vector art designs which formed the basis of his portfolio and secured him a place on the course. Yet despite receiving clear acknowledgement of his talents, Alan admitted to suffering from imposter syndrome when he first considered joining the course. “Coming from an underprivileged background, I didn’t believe I could ever get a degree,” he says. “I had gaps in my education and the thought of writing, let alone drawing or painting, made me feel anxious. I had such a low opinion of my abilities that I almost didn’t apply at all.”
His fears were quickly allayed when he started his studies. He puts this down to the support offered to him by the University’s services, explaining: “I’ve been blown away by the support. From my first point of contact to enrolment and beyond, there’s always been someone keeping in touch. Nothing is ever too much trouble; the course leaders put together an Independent Learning Plan for me, which takes my disability into account and gives me a little extra leeway with assignments. Without that support I wouldn’t be here studying today.”
The course has allowed Alan to realise his creative potential and he is reaping the rewards for his efforts. “I’ve achieved grades I never dreamed myself capable of,” he says. “I’ve learned things about myself, become more confident, improved my creative skills and learned new ones. My passion now has purpose and direction. I’ve become a more positive role model to my daughters and have been given the opportunity to shape a better future for my family. It’s surprising the difference these things make in life.”
Alan has big ambitions for the future and is keen to inspire others like himself to pursue online study, adding: “Above all, I want to help those who are young and from underprivileged backgrounds – particularly neurodivergent people, and those with disabilities and learning difficulties – to realise their dreams and shape their futures sooner in life.”
Inspired by family experience with visual impairment, Indie Game Development online master’s student Elliott Dodsworth has developed a pioneering action-adventure video game with access for the visually impaired at its core.
Fortune is Blind uses haptic feedback and 3D audio to replace traditional visual mechanics and includes phone vibrations, gyroscopes and techniques such as surround-sound to represent where the player is in the virtual world. Built from the ground up to suit visually impaired players, every part of the game has been developed and tested extensively with their enjoyment in mind. Each playthrough could offer something different as the blind protagonist navigates the branching story towards alternate endings.
“My dad lost his sight before I got into game development but has always been supportive of me,” says Elliott, who graduates this summer. “Finally, he has had the chance to try out something I’ve created.”
Elliott was already employed as a professional game developer when he enrolled at Falmouth in 2021, hoping to prove his abilities while improving his craft. He had two goals in mind: to work on something of his own and to start a business making games. When Fortune is Blind earned financial support from the UK Games Fund, Elliott’s career dreams were realised with
the formation of his own small games company, Scriptoria Illuminate.
“Accessible gaming requires a lot of forethought and plenty of testing, as we must consider every mechanic and how a user may interact with it,” says Elliott. “With the help of the UK Games Fund, I'll be able to attain a much higher quality than I would have been able to on my own and hopefully will be able to bring accessible gaming to a much larger audience – inspiring more people to focus on this theme. The tutors at Falmouth are also to thank, as with their guidance I am now more prepared than ever to produce my accessible games.”
The company’s latest development is the noirstyled game Murder at the Royal Crest Hotel
“It’s shorter and more gameplay focused, with more dynamic elements,” says Elliott, explaining that players find clues to identify which of the eccentric guests is the murderer. “We’ve also developed an accessible movement system that we’ll test within it, with the intention of expanding the games we can create into puzzle or escape room games in the future.
“As I start my own company, I find that it’s the MA course that’s keeping me on track and the skills I learned within it that are enabling our progress day to day,” he adds. “With Falmouth University’s help, I’ve been prepared to handle whatever may happen.”
“I hope we can create a new genre of accessible video games.”
Elliott Dodsworth, Indie Game Development MA (Online) studentElliott with his father, the inspiration behind Fortune Is Blind
I'm a photographer, curator, speaker, activist and tutor, with an Illustration degree and a background in set design for TV and film. Lecturing on Falmouth’s online Visual Communication BA allows me to translate and share the skills I’ve acquired during my career in a different collaborative forum and community. Self-employed life can be chaotic and unpredictable at times, so it’s great to have something so engaging and rewarding as a constant throughout the week.
Working with students from a wide range of backgrounds and global locations is incredibly rewarding. I also enjoy the collaborative element of Falmouth’s online working spaces and the encouraging atmosphere in the virtual learning environment. It really is a refreshing approach to online learning.
I founded Cheer Up Luv to retell women and marginalised folks’ accounts of sexual harassment. Contributors are photographed in locations related to their experience and their stories are posted online via the Instagram account. By revisiting the place where they were harassed, the effect is to use the surroundings as a stage to speak out – turning a negative memory into something positive by reclaiming the space and taking back control.
The project has gained global interest and developed to encompass different mediums. Since I started Cheer Up Luv in 2017, the series has been exhibited in Colombo, Warsaw, New York, Berlin and London, and featured by the BBC, The Guardian, i-D and Dazed, to name a few. We even partnered with the United Nations Population Fund on 16 Stories, an awareness campaign about endemic sexual harassment on public transport in Sri Lanka. We’ve also launched a podcast, a series of workshops and a mentorship programme.
Life has been busy, even more so since I began the curating collective Hysterical. We recently ran our second Hysterical at London’s Bermondsey Project Space, which comprised events and an exhibition representing topics from a selection of artists whose work centres on exploring issues such as gender, race, identity, politics, climate change and feminism. As well as photography and activism, I regularly lecture about my work and have spoken at TEDx, Girl Rising and UN Women.
I love the flexibility, dynamism and creativity of the Visual Communication course. It’s about storytelling – how we communicate information and create experiences across a range of visual mediums; it can be found in design, illustration, photography, art and advertising, maybe using an image, a quote, a campaign, a film or an animation. The work I do otherwise is predominantly visual communication, so tutoring on the course has helped reframe the way I look at my own practice. @cheerupluv
Blossom Chambers is studying for an undergraduate degree online and, as a part-time student with work and home commitments, she’s always busy! Here she shares her top tips on how to maximise your time to get the most out of your online degree.
My timetable of webinars, tutorials and one-to-one sessions will vary from module to module, so just when you think you’re getting into a routine, it will be a new study block with a different schedule. Use your online calendar and set up reminders; some are cross-device, so you can get reminders on your phone.
Bookmark your regular online spaces and resources in your web browser. I sometimes think my bookmarks bar is like a row of buildings or doors into the different rooms I visit during my study day.
TAKE REGULAR SCREEN BREAKS
Naturally, studying online will mean that you’re spending lots of time looking at your computer, so be extra aware of screentime and remember to take regular breaks – ideally every 40 minutes or so. Rest your eyes, stretch your legs, get up and make a drink, stroke the cat, walk the dog… do something ‘analogue’.
If you get involved as much as you can by attending live webinars, taking part in regular tutorials and keeping in touch with your tutors, you’ll build a rapport with your peers and tutors that will grow as you progress through the modules. If you’re apprehensive about using your mic, type into the chat and when you feel more confident, try speaking. Either way, your contribution is bound to be well received.
CHANGE IT UP AND GET OFFLINE
Try not to rely on the internet for all your reading and research. If possible, visit places: exhibitions, galleries, events. Read books, look at magazines; the physical world can give you a fresh perspective.
Falmouth’s online library is amazing, so spend time getting orientated and make a booking to meet a librarian – they’re available one to one and it really helps! Watch and listen to material and subscribe to relevant podcasts, catching up with them in downtime via headphones. Settle in for a listen while you’re driving, cooking or cleaning the bathroom.
SAY YES!
Do as many of the online events and workshops offered as you can. Sign up for one-to-one tutorials – your tutors are a great resource. They’ll help keep you connected to the work and the cohort, which in turn will make you feel part of the community.
instagram.com/falmouthuni/reels
For a glimpse of life at Falmouth University, fast-forward to our reels page on Instagram – where you’ll find short films about our rising stars and behind-the-scenes features based in our vibrant schools and departments.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
ONES TO WATCH: Ludophoria
Games studio Ludophoria features in the latest episode, as studio directors (and Games Academy graduates) Emma Escott, Byron Crowhurst and John-Arthur Meakin discuss how they formed their team, their unique dynamic and the inspiration behind their production Arm of Satan Look out for future episodes of this in-depth interview series.
Falmouth’s Distinguished Professor of Film Practice Mark Jenkin, who directed Enys Men and the BAFTA-winning BAIT, talks to our Film & Television MA (Online) course leader Dr Jem Mackay. A must-see for budding filmmakers.
