Shooting Live

I spent a lot of this summer filming live events, meaning lots of warm clothing and anoraks obviously. Filming for big screens or live broadcast can be tricky, it can mean lots of heavy kit to be carried, quickly set up, held steady on long shots praying the director will cut to someone else before your cramping thighs/arms give up. Alternatively it can be long boring days on a podium moving a camera slowly right to left a few hundred times as the race participants pass your position before resetting for the next lap. There is, however, always a great sense of team and occasion at these events. Spectators are happy, competitors are (generally) happy and apart from the occasional bit of stress it's a fun day. Catering can be ropey at best. I spent 45 minutes of my 'lunch' break queuing at one event only to realise I wouldn't be served in time and had to leave to walk back to my camera position still hungry. Luckily I'd packed a bag of crisps and a banana. Preparation and experience is key.

The final event of the year was the remembrance day parade in Manchester. The police were on edge which made it tricky nipping out for coffee and toilet breaks as there were no passes issued but still the general feeling was that of sharing a special moment. At one point having not had a full rehearsal I was stranded on the wrong side of the ceremony with marching soldiers and shouting sergeant between me and the agreed position. I held my breath and ran across the middle of it all, press photographers, police and soldiers and all, expecting to get shouted at, but I was there helping the large crowds outside the cordon to see what was happening. Being part of any filming team is quite a privilege, you get close access to events, personal and national and have to tread the line between respect and getting the shot, no-one shouted and the director was happy so it was another good job on a special day.