content creation
‘Seeing the invisible’
The challenge of
Big Cat Live
eve of the event. "These new cameras are the
first truly widescreen infra-red cameras used in
broadcast. And two months ago, they didn't
exist."
The nine camera systems are an infrared-
sensitive version of Bradley Engineering’s
rugged Cam-Ball HD, developed especially for
the BBC and the programme. The camera is an
integrated multi-standard SD/HD system that
can be remotely switched to IR sensitive mode,
though the broadcast output of Big Cat Live
was in SD. The Cam-Ball cameras have
remotely switchable power outputs for IR
lamps, which can be mounted on the unit to
pan and tilt with the camera. The programme is
also using two IR-sensitive versions of the new
BE-HD20/B4 Mini HD camera, which accepts
standard broadcast lenses. Using radio links
supplied by SIS Live, the cameras will be
controllable from the production centre set up
in a marquee at Governor’s Camp some 20km
away.
"We'll also be using thermal-imaging
IAN WHITE reports.
beginning two weeks before the TV broadcasts. cameras to detect hidden wildlife and a brand
Through multiple live streaming webcams set new image-intensifying 'starlight' camera
fter Big Cat Diary, the first series of up around the Mara reserve, Internet users developed from military tank gun-sight
A
which began in 1996, and the success around the world would be able to see live technology which can film with just the light of
of Springwatch earlier this year, the images of the big cats and their bigger the stars," said Jackson. By any standards, this
BBC’s Bristol-based Natural History neighbours going about the important business was an extraordinary technological challenge.
Unit embarked upon its most ambitious live of surviving by day and by night. So, how did it all go? Well, pretty well
project yet in September when it took some 20 When the broadcast television operation except that the animals under observation -
tonnes of equipment to Kenya’s Masai Mara went live, the intrepid wildlife documentary none of them members of Equity - spent a lot
reserve to set up Big Cat Live. This multi- makers would follow the life-and-death of time doing not very much (though they did
platform extravaganza aimed to explore the fortunes of the lion, cheetah and leopard so with effortless grace). A notable exception
daily adventures and nocturnal habits of the families. Then nightly transmissions would was a lion kill, caught on a webcam and shown
reserve’s wildlife, which includes lions, bring the latest news from the previous 24 on the Internet - a first for the Big Cat team
cheetahs and leopards as well as buffalo, hours, as well as live images of the nocturnal and surely a first for the Internet, which can’t age 12.
elephants and wildebeest. life in the reserve, using specially designed have many ‘firsts’ left.
This would be an eight-day live television infra red and thermal imaging remote cameras. There were, inevitably, problems to be
event, beginning on 5 October, though the "We're using brand new infra-red cameras overcome. A generator that had spent six weeks
whole production would span three weeks on to allow us to film at night without disturbing ‘on the high seas’, as the presenters, Simon
the BBC’s website,
bbc.co.uk.bigcatlive, the cats," said producer Colin Jackson on the King, Jonathon Scott and Kate Silverton
Continued on P
10 IBE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
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