Antarctic Expedition: Documenting the End of the World for Serbian TV (RTS)

Working as a cameraman for the program Fantastična planeta from RTS took me to one of the most challenging and visually breathtaking scenarios on the planet: Antarctica. In this expedition, the mission was clear, but the execution demanded absolute technical and physical resilience to capture wildlife and human presence on the frozen continent.

The Mission with RTS: Visual Narratives in Extreme Conditions

Participating in an international high-level production like that of Serbian TV requires a perfect alignment between narrative and technique. In Antarctica, there is no room for errors; each frame needs to tell the story of resilience in an environment where nature dictates the rules.

Equipment Logistics: How to Film at -30°C

One of the biggest challenges for a cameraman in Antarctica is maintaining the equipment. The extreme cold affects everything from the fluidity of the tripods to the response of the camera sensors.

The Challenge of Thermal Condensation

Moving the camera from an outdoor environment to a heated base can disable the equipment for hours due to internal fogging.

Micro-Adjustments: Lubricants and ND Filters

Even the internal lubricants of the lenses need to be specific to prevent the freezing of the focus rings.

Wildlife: The Documentary Perspective

Beyond technique, Antarctica demands patience. Capturing the local fauna requires profound respect for the habitat and a visual anticipation ability to capture unique moments of animal interaction.

From Antarctica to the Amazon and the Andes

This experience in Antarctica is part of a larger journey with RTS, which included the Quechua peoples in Peru and climate impacts in the Amazon. This international background shaped my adaptability skills.

Drone Equipment in Polar Winds

Using drones for aerial images in Antarctica is a test of fire for any pilot. Magnetic interference and gusts of wind require precise manual piloting to ensure the aircraft's safety and image quality. Not to mention that the battery drops from 100% to 10% in 1 minute, depending on the cold.

What Does the Experience on Ice Bring to Your Corporate Project?

You might be asking yourself: "What does a documentary in Antarctica have to do with covering an industrial or offshore event?" The answer is: Resilience and Reliability.

Prepared for High Complexity Environments

If I can ensure the delivery of 4K content to a European TV under snowstorms and negative temperatures, I am more than prepared for the technical documentation of an oil platform or a complex industrial plant.