Hi, I’m Ben.
I Create
Documentary cinematographer and director based in Wānaka, New Zealand. I tell human-powered stories.
About me
My background spans a wide range of projects: documentaries, commercial campaigns, branded
content, and TV. I’ve operated solo on long expeditions deep in the backcountry and worked as part of large international crews. Either way, I bring the same focus – clear storytelling, cinematic visuals, and a practical mindset in challenging environments.
Originally from the UK and now a dual citizen of NZ, I’m based in the Southern Alps and regularly travel for projects all over.
I’m known for operating a camera in conditions where others struggle. I have solo-filmed a month-long expedition in the wilderness, self supported and created a series of commercials over 100+ miles on foot and kept up with the fastest teams in an adventure race TV show that spanned almost two months.
At the heart of what I do is a deep love of storytelling – especially stories rooted in our natural world and the people within it. I’m drawn to real, human moments, whether through a short-form documentary, a commercial with genuine depth, or an expedition film deep in the backcountry. It’s that blend of technical skill, story instinct, and grounded energy that’s led producers, broadcasters, and brands to trust me with their stories.
Recent Highlights
- Race to Survive: New Zealand | Shooter-producer, USA Network.
- The Adventure of Racing | Director & DP. Best Documentary, NZ Mountain Film Festival 2024. Aired on Sky TV, now on Amazon Prime.
- Tenzing | Behind-the-scenes camera operator, Apple TV feature documentary.
- Basa Rising | Cinematographer & director, Nepal. Nominated for Best Short Film at NZ Web Fest.
- Onwards | Director. Vérité cancer documentary, premiered at Doc Edge.
- Aspiring Lifestyle | Commercial director & DP, described as “the most powerful piece of advertising in our sectors I have ever seen in 30+ years in the industry.”
Where this all began
Before filming full time, I was a cop.
I joined the police in the UK at eighteen, and on my days off, had a camera in my hand just for the love of it. A lot of that first job was knocking on strangers’ doors after the worst had already happened to them – I quickly learnt how to be someone that people can talk to. Later I moved into specialist units and became one of the country’s youngest flight officers, navigating and operating the high-spec camera on a police helicopter. This gave me several thousand hours operating an aircraft gimbal system in a multitude of dynamic situations… much like documentary filming!
At 29 I sold most of what I owned, including my cameras, to buy a one-way ticket to New Zealand, a country I’d only ever Googled for the mountains. I crewed a rescue helicopter in Taranaki, bought another camera and found myself doing what I had an obsession with – crafting stories with a camera.
These days I’m a search and rescue volunteer here in Wānaka.
Most of the people I film are going through something. Getting them to trust a stranger with a camera is the same job I’ve been doing since I was eighteen.