1. Rory McGuinness ACS
Producer, Director, DOP
Mobile: +61 0417 554 226 rory@rorymcguinness.com
Currumbin Waters, Queensland 4223
Australia
I have celebrated the natural world through quality film and television production for
over 30 years. Credited on over 100 programs in a variety of genres from natural history to
drama, adventure to ethnography, socio-political to environmental, I have a wealth of
experience in all aspects of production.
As a DOP I like to develop a unique visual style that best suits an individual project.
Known for getting results in challenging conditions, I’ve worked in many countries and
environments around the world including the Arctic and Antarctic, jungles, deserts, mountains
and the sea. I specialize in natural history and underwater cinematography.
The following is a roundup of films I’ve contributed to over several decades that have
screened throughout the world by broadcasters such as the BBC, PBS, National Geographic,
The Discovery Channel, NHK, WGBH, ZDF, Canal Plus, ABCTV and CCTV, and have won
numerous awards.
2016 – Primal Survivor – episodes in Taiwan and Central Australia, by Icon Films for NGCI.
DOP.
2016 –River Monsters with Jeremy Wade – episodes in Sulawesi and PNG by Icon Films for
Animal Planet. DOP
2015 – Sea Shepherd – a feature film in production about the story of Paul Watson. DOP
minke whales on the GBR.
2015 - River Monsters with Jeremy Wade – Australia’s Deadly Seas by Icon Films for Animal
Planet. DOP
2014 – Skyworld – a 3 part series about the evolution of flight in animals for the BBC. DOP
wildlife segment in Sydney.
2014 – Spawn of Jaws 1 & 2 – tracking a female great white shark in California and Mexico to
identify her pupping grounds, with Dr Michael Domeier.. Icon Films for Discovery Channel.
DOP.
2013 – Saving Africa’s Giants and End of the Wild, 3 x hour specials with Chinese basketball
and celebrity conservation spokesman Yao Ming in Africa and China for NHNZ and WildAid
about the international campaign against elephant and rhino poaching. Narrated by Ed Norton
for Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and CCTV China. Co-producer, Director/DOP of Africa
and China segments. Emmy nomination.
2012 thru 2013 – Weapons of the Wild – a 6 part series about the evolution of animal and
human weaponry with WildFury for NGCI. Writer/Director/DOP.
2012 thru 2013 – Australia’s Wild Places – a 6 part series about wilderness areas in Australia.
NDR Naturefilm, Nat Geo Wild, NDR LMA, ZDF ARTE and WildFury. Director/DOP
2011 – The Great Barrier Reef – a 3-part series for the BBC exploring Australia’s coral
wonder of the world, featuring Monty Halls. DOP - presenter and wildlife segments.
2010 thru 2013 – River Monsters. Discovery Channels popular series featuring Jeremy Wade
fishing for monster fish in the wild rivers of the world. DOP.
2009 – Life Force – Australia. A six-part series featuring hot spots of evolution around the

2. world, for NHNZ, NHK and France 5. Producer, Director, DOP Australian Program.
2008 - Shark Nicole. A National Geographic Special reconstructing the extraordinary journey
of a great white shark migrating from South Africa to Australia and back. This program was
produced by NHNZ and involved substantial CGI elements. Rating well for Nat Geo and a
finalist in the 2009 BLUE ocean film festival, Georgia. Winner Focal Awards. Producer,
director and DOP
2007 - Whale Shark. BBC Natural World documentary that explores the migration of whale
sharks around the Indian Ocean. By Big Wave Productions. DOP.
2007 The Turtle's Song. A feature documentary for Cinema release for Big Wave productions
about the journey of a loggerhead turtle in the gulf stream of the north Atlantic. This project
combines natural history footage with CGI and animatronic techniques to tell the story of an
individual turtle, from the time it emerges from the egg until it returns to its nesting beach as a
mature female some 25 years later. DOP - ACS Gold award.
2007 - "Island of the Sharks" – a 5 part series for the BBC and Discovery Channel shot on
location at Cocos Island, Costa Rica for Tigress Productions. Featuring presenter Nigel
Marvin. Underwater DOP.
2007 - "Top 5, Eaten Alive!" – A one hour special looking at the 5 worst shark attacks of
recent times where the victims lived to tell the tale. For NHNZ and Discovery Channel. Top
rating show for Discovery Shark Week.. DOP.
2007 - "Sharks" – underwater and topside sequences about nurse, bull and white sharks for
Tigress Productions and Discovery Channel also for Shark Week. DOP.
2006 - "Saved by Dolphins" – a film that reconstructs events that took place in New Zealand
where a group of swimmers were protected from a circling great white shark by a pod of
dolphins. Big Wave Productions for the BBC and Discovery Channel. Substantial CGI. DOP.
2006 - "Invasion of the Crocodiles" - about the recovery of the saltwater crocodile after it's
protection from hunting in northern Australia. Scientists tagged and tracked the animals over
a year. DOP underwater sequences and portraiture of this magnificent animal for Tigress
Productions and BBC Natural World.
2005 - 2006 - "The Big Blue" –The definitive natural history program on the blue whale with
scientist Peter Gill - set off the southern coast of Australia where the largest animal that ever
lived still comes to feed on krill that thrive here as a result of a sub-Antarctic upwelling. For
ABC Australia and NHK Japan. Rory was the principal cinematographer on this project and
won state Gold and national Distinction awards for cinematography for his work. DOP.
2006 - "Caught in the Moment" - following the grey whale migration up the Californian coast
for BBC/Discovery. DOP
2006 - ''Deadly Dozen Africa" – a study of the twelve most dangerous animals in Africa with
an analysis of how they came to get their fearsome reputations, including dramatic
reconstructions of attacks on people by lions, hippos, elephants, snakes, hyenas, crocodiles
and others. For National Geographic Channel. DOP.
2006 - "Deadly Dozen Australia" – Australia has some of the deadliest creatures on earth and
with dramatized sequences of attacks this program explores the natural history of these
animals to see how they have become so feared. For National Geographic Channel. DOP.
2006 - " Wild India" - India is home to some extraordinary and dangerous animals such as
the Bengali Tiger, leopard, cobra and Indian elephant which, in one of the most populous
countries on earth, inevitably cross paths with humans with tragic consequences. This film
re-enacts some of these encounters and seeks to explain the natural behavior behind the
attacks. For National Geographic. DOP.

3. 2006 - "A Brush with Giants" –following the internationally famous marine artist Wyland on a
journey around the Sea of Cortez to gain inspiration for a mural of the blue whale painted for
the city of La Paz. Cinematography. For Beyond Productions and Discovery channel. DOP.
2005 - ''Austen Stevens - Cambodia" - Austin searches for the strange and wonderful reptiles
of central Cambodia, set in the exotic surrounds of AnkorWat with a focus on the mysterious
"flying snake". For Tigress Productions and The Discovery Channel. DOP.
2004 - "Scavenger Hunt" - the search for the worlds most notorious scavengers. For NHNZ
and Animal Planet. DOP
2004 - "The Killers of Eden" - dramatic underwater sequences for the ABCTV story about
the special relationship that developed between killer whales and people on the south coast
of NSW. Winner Vic State award for cinematography.
2004 - "Austin Stevens Australia" - Austin Stevens explores Australias reptiles. For Tigress
productions and the Discovery Channel.
2003 - "Killer Croc" - underwater sequences for this BBC special on the efficacy of the
crocodile as a hunting machine.
2003 - "'After Richard" - a one hour documentary about long lost relatives of the British
Monarchy living in Australia. For Spire Films and Channel 4.
2002/2003 - "Happy Feet" - an animated feature film set in Antarctica, for Kennedy Miller
Productions and Time Warner Studios. Using a state of the art synthesis of special effects
and conventional cinematography. The film won an Oscar for best animated film in 2007.
2002/2001 - "Wild Australia" - the ABC/BBC series on the natural history of Australasia. I
produced several wildlife sequences for this series.
2002 - "Muddy Waters" - an environmental film revealing the extent of damage to Australia's
Great Barrier Reef, exploring the issues and people involved. Well received in Australia
recently, this production was shot on Digital Beta-cam for Film Australia and SBS Television.
Winner Best Environment and Conservation Award Japan Wildlife Film Festival.
2002 - "Mamba" –a dramatic 1 hour natural history program featuring the most dangerous
snake in Africa - the Black Mamba. This program mixed traditional natural history with re-
enactments of historical events and dramatic re-constructions of contemporary human
encounters with the snake. By Tigress Productions for Granada and The Discovery Channel.
Silver plaque for cinematography at the Victorian ACS awards DOP
2000/2001 - "The life of Mammals" - with Sir David Attenborough, including a substantial part
of animal behavior in program 1 and various pieces to camera. For the BBC and Discovery
Channel.
2000 - "The search for the PT109" - DOP - a one hour special about the discovery by Bob
Ballard of the PT boat skippered by JFK during WW11. This film included ethnographic
material, dramatic reconstructions and extensive underwater footage for National Geographic.
I won a Gold plaque for cinematography at the 2003 Victorian ACS awards and was
nominated for an Emmy Award for this film.
2000 - "Jurassic Shark"- the history and evolution of sharks. For Survival Anglia for Anglia
Television and The Discovery Channel. Winner of Gold ACS award for cinematography. I
produced, shot and directed sequences involving natural history and scientists on whale
sharks, sawfish, aboriginal rock art, tiger sharks, turtles, reef sharks and shark fossils for this
program.
2000 - "Hunt for the Red Whale" - a story about the adventures of a Russian scientist among

4. the Chukchi people of the Siberian coast. For Survival Anglia and The Discovery Channel. I
produced several wildlife sequences for this film.
1999 - "Wild Asia - Arctic" - Part of a series of natural history films looking at the wildlife of
Asia, this film focused on the polar bears of Wrangel Island off the northern Siberian coastline
for Natural History New Zealand and The Discovery Channel. Winner in its category at the
Japan Wildlife Film Festival
1996 /1998 - "Kakadu - a Living Eden", part of a series about wilderness areas around the
world. ABCTV and PBS in the US. Winner of ACS Golden Tripod award for Cinematography.
Producer, Director, DOP.
1996 /1998 - "They Shoot Crocodiles, Don't They?'' - A one-hour documentary about making
Kakadu, a Living Eden. An intimate, honest, behind-the-scenes look at what is involved in
making a wildlife film. For ABCTV. Producer.
1996 - "Crocodile Territory" - A natural history film of a crocodiles search for a safe haven in
the wild rivers of the northern territory. For NHNZ and Discovery Channel. DOP.
1996 - "Land of the Tiger'' - A BBC series about the wildlife of the Indian subcontinent. DOP.
1994 /1995 - ''Deep Probe'' - a series of 3 underwater films about the whale sharks of
Ningaloo, submerged WW11 aircraft wrecks in Papua New Guinea and the wildlife of
Pearson island. For Beyond International and The Discovery Channel. Field and location
director for "Ghosts of the Pacific" and the Pearson island film in this series.
1995 - "Tracker" - A film about the traditional hunting and tracking skills of indigenous people
in Australia, Africa and Alaska. For ABCTV and the Discovery Channel. DOP.
1995 - "Crocodile People" - a quirky look at the extraordinary relationships that develop
between people and crocodiles. For NHNZ and Channel 4 in the UK. DOP.
1994 - ''Flight of the Rhino'' - about the transportation of threatened Black Rhino from
Zimbabwe to Australia for a captive breeding program. For the Nine Network in Australia and
The Discovery Channel. Winner - Best Action Cinematography at the Chicago International
Film Festival. DOP.
1993 - ''The Big Wet" - a one hour natural history program about the arrival of the monsoon in
northern Australia for the ABC, the BBC and National Geographic. I produced several wildlife
sequences for this project.
1992 /1993 "Turkish Delight", The Wild Side of Japan and The Philippines three adventure
programs that investigated the less well known travel treasures of these regions. For Network
Seven Australia. DOP.
1992 "Islands of Fire and Magic" an adventure sea kayaking voyage around the coastlines of
New Ireland and Papua New Guinea. DOP.
1990 "Lord Howe Island - Jewel of the Pacific" - a one hour film about the people and
wildlife of this world heritage area for Network Seven in Australia. DOP.
1991 "Blue Wilderness" a six part series about marine conservation with Ron and Valerie
Taylor, Australia's best known divers, for ABCTV and National Geographic. I shot and
directed several sequences for this series.
1989 - "Islands in the Sky" - the search for the rare and endangered Black Tree kangaroo of
Papua New Guinea by the then Australian Museums Dr. Tim Flannery for ABCTV and
National Geographic. I shot and field directed a substantial proportion of this film.
1988 - "Passage out of Paradise" - a one-hour adventure documentary about 9 outrigger

5. canoes sailing from Bali to Darwin for ABCTV & National Geographic. I shot and directed a
variety of sequences for this film.
1987 - "The Great Camel Race" - A film about a 3 month journey by camel from Uluru in the
Northern Territory to Surfers Paradise in Queensland for ABCTV and National Geographic.
DOP.
1984 -1985 - "The Nature of Australia" -The definitive 6 part series on Australian Natural
History for the BBC and ABCTV. DOP various wildlife sequences.
1983 - Working with Remote Area Media on documentaries about indigenous issues for the
Australian Northern Territory Government Liaison Office.
1982 - "The Voyage of Bounty's Child" - a re-enactment of the open boat journey from Tonga
to Kupang undertaken by Captain Bligh and his crew after the mutiny on the bounty. For
ABCTV and WGBH Boston. I shot and directed the boat journey.
1972 – 1982 – numerous news/documentary and still photography assignments.
For more information regarding any of these productions please contact:
Rory McGuinness ACS
Mobile: +61 0417 554 226 rory@rorymcguinness.com
Currumbin Waters, Queensland 4221
Australia

6. canoes sailing from Bali to Darwin for ABCTV & National Geographic. I shot and directed a
variety of sequences for this film.
1987 - "The Great Camel Race" - A film about a 3 month journey by camel from Uluru in the
Northern Territory to Surfers Paradise in Queensland for ABCTV and National Geographic.
DOP.
1984 -1985 - "The Nature of Australia" -The definitive 6 part series on Australian Natural
History for the BBC and ABCTV. DOP various wildlife sequences.
1983 - Working with Remote Area Media on documentaries about indigenous issues for the
Australian Northern Territory Government Liaison Office.
1982 - "The Voyage of Bounty's Child" - a re-enactment of the open boat journey from Tonga
to Kupang undertaken by Captain Bligh and his crew after the mutiny on the bounty. For
ABCTV and WGBH Boston. I shot and directed the boat journey.
1972 – 1982 – numerous news/documentary and still photography assignments.
For more information regarding any of these productions please contact:
Rory McGuinness ACS
Mobile: +61 0417 554 226 rory@rorymcguinness.com
Currumbin Waters, Queensland 4221
Australia