An Evening… With The Awesome Wildlife Filmmaker Gordon Buchanan

Gordon Buchanan’s “30 years in the wild” talk is an awe-inspiring account of his experiences as a wildlife filmmaker, documenting the world’s most beautiful and dangerous creatures. Having worked on numerous projects with the BBC and National Geographic, Gordon’s passion for wildlife is evident in the way he speaks about his work.

As someone who grew up watching programs like Springwatch and Autumnwatch, I was instantly drawn to Gordon’s talk. His work on these shows provided me with a glimpse into the world of wildlife and nature, which sparked my own interest in exploring the outdoors and observing the creatures that inhabit it.

He begins by talking about his childhood and how he ended up in the career he is in today. From personal stories of his youth to his luck of meeting Nick Gordon, a wildlife cameraman and producer, and how a trip to Sierra Leone kickstarted his desire to become a wildlife cameraman.

One of the most memorable moments from Gordon’s talk was his account of filming leopards in India. He shared experiences of being near these beautiful yet deadly creatures, and how he had to always remain alert not only with these but the many predators he’s been lucky enough to capture on film. His passion for these animals shone through in his storytelling, and it was evident that he had a deep respect for their power and grace.

Another aspect of Gordon’s work that stood out to me was his time spent filming tigers. He shares his both his successful and unsuccessful experiences with these big cats as well as heart-warming footage of moments with a mother and her new-born cubs. It was fascinating to hear about the challenges he faced, but more so his passion for his job.

Gordon’s work has taken him to some of the most remote and inhospitable parts of the world, such as the Arctic, where he spent time filming polar bears. His stories of the rewarding moments he had with the Arctic wolves and how they accepted him as one of their own in his series Snow Wolf Family and Me.

However, Gordon’s work is not limited to exotic locations. He is also passionate about capturing the beauty of the native wildlife in Scotland, where he grew up. His love for his home country and the creatures that inhabit it was evident in his stories about working with White Tailed Eagles on Mull to Orcas off the coast of Shetland but even more so being able to do it with his son as they experienced the chance to swim with a Basking Shark.

Overall, Gordon Buchanan’s “30 years in the wild” talk was a captivating insight into the world of wildlife filmmaking. His passion for nature and the creatures that inhabit it was infectious, and it was clear that his work has had a profound impact on both him and those who have been lucky enough to witness it.

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Gordon with my dad earlier this year: