I’ve been shooting Natural History TV & Films for a little over ten years now, with a commercial background going back further, and am lucky enough to have been triple Emmy-nominated, and even won a couple of awards for my cinematography over the years, so some of it must have been in focus.
During this time I have been heavily involved in many ‘Blue Chip’ level projects, starting with Seven Worlds One Planet, to shooting on every episode of Frozen Planet 2, and even DoP-ing an episode for Apple TV. I specialise in long-lens filming, and movement dynamics (Gimbals, Drones etc) for behavioural work. I have a degree in Documentary Film, and absolutely love the craft of filmmaking and telling a story using all the amazing tools we have at our disposal these days. I especially love the challenges of storybuilding in the dynamic and reactive way that wildlife and documentaries often require.
As well as my long lens and ‘standard’ work, I’m trained and experienced at shooting with GSS & Shotover systems on dirt, water or air as well as having 1000s of hours flying drones of all sizes in extreme conditions, and I love a good expedition shoot. I’ve worked in Antarctica, across the Arctic, and from the sea ice to mountain peaks.
PoV sequence building work in Eastern Russia, tracking Amur Leopards - Petr Sonin
Filming Grey-Headed Albatross in 2019 for ‘Seven Worlds’ - Abi Lees
Before I got my break into wildlife, I put a roof over my head working in more ‘commercial’ aspects of filmmaking, shooting & directing several high end music videos, live sessions etc (Hozier, Ed Sheeran, Arcane Roots) - and VR work with clients like Gucci, Saatchi & Saatchi, and more. This gives me a unique creative and technical background, and a love for the perfection of the image and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the field.
Due to the versatility of my work, it’s hard to maintain showreels for everything, but please contact me if there is anything you would like to see!
Contact
@OllyJelley on most social websites
ojelleyfilm@gmail.com
+447837843319 - whatsapp is best!
S C R O L L D O W N F O R M A J O R C R E D I T S
UNDERDOGS II TBA 2026/7 - Wildstar Productions - NDA - Scenics, Aerial Time Studies, VFX Plate Work remote location.
UNDERDOGS 2025 - Wildstar Productions - NDA - Macro set work, long lens, high speed (veo) & gimbal.
HOME 2025 - BBC Studios / National Geographic - NDA - North Africa, Long Lens, Drone & Gimbal
WILD SCANDINAVIA 2023 - BBC Studios / SVT - Beavers, Base Jumping, Glaciers - Long Lens, Drone & Gimbal
( UNANNOUNCED ) 2024/5 - Wildspace Productions / Netflix - Greenland Icesheet - DoP Macro, Gimbal, Drone
MAMMALS 2024 - BBC studios - DoP Greenland West Ice, Galapagos. Long Lens, Drone, Gimbal.
( EARTH SOUNDS 2024 ) - Offspring Productions / Apple TV+ - DoP 2 sequences, 2nd Cam 1 sequence, Sync. Remote sub-antarctic long lens Albatross, Rockhopper Penguin & Souther Elephant Seal. Handheld gimbal, sliders, high speed (Phantom Flex).
BIG BEASTS 2023 - Plimsoll Productions / Apple TV+ - DoP Elephant Seals, Albatross, Humpbacks & Blue Whales. Long lens, Shotover, Drone & Gimbal. 11 week expedition shoot.
FROZEN PLANET 2 2022 - BBC Studios - Var. Roles, Golden Eagles & Chamoix, Wrangel Island Polar Bears, Amur Tigers, Amur Leopards, Harp Seals, Hooded Seals, Greenland Ice Sheet Melt Lakes, Greenland Glacier Calving, Antarctica Dry Valleys, Lemmings, Retrogressive Slump lapse times & significant technical development and assitance.
EDENS 2022 - BBC Studios / BBC America - Galapagos Islands, Gimbal and Long Lens, sea lions & sharks.
ONE PLANET, SEVEN WORLDS, 2019 - BBC Studios - Grey Headed Albatross, Polar Bears vs Beluga Whales, Fireflies. Long Lens, Gimbal, Drones, Lowlight Macro Field & Studi, GSS assist, sync.
Commercial Clients include: Tate Modern, Gucci, Saatchi & Saatchi, Sony RED, Eurosport & more.