Colin Jackson (BBC): “4K is perfect for raising awareness among audiences about the importance of the natural environment”

Jackson highlights at the 4K Summit that the BBC's Natural History Unit has always been a technological benchmark, a pioneer in capturing night images, high definition... and now, 4K.

Colin Jackson, of the BBC Natural History Unit (BBC NHU), has gone to the 4K Summit in Malaga to publicize the relationship of the British public corporation with Ultra High Definition.

Jackson has highlighted that BBC HNU was always a technological referent being a pioneer in capturing night images, high definition and now in 4K. “Currently, BBC NHU is working on almost all the material in 4K,” he stressed.

In 2009, the BBC broadcast Life, a series that was recorded for the first time in large format with Panasonic Varicam for almost three and a half years. In 2011, he released Human Planet filmed in HD also with Varicam but broadcast experimentally in 4K. Later, he arrived Africa, a series of 6 chapters in HD shot with Varicam.

Con Planet Earth II (2016) the BBC first adopted 4K (UHD HDR) in production with large format and high sensitivity cameras. Last year it issued Blue Planet II, the first complete series in UHD that the BBC distributed on its on-demand service.

So much for Planet Earth II as Blue Planet II was mastered in 4K SDR maintaining a standard dynamic range and working a lot on color in postpro.

Now, released in 4K Dynasties with the veteran David Attenborough leading the way in an HDR-mastered production with high dynamic range. The series has been filmed with RED DSMC2 Helio 8K, “a camera that gives us great versatility since it is small and portable, which allows us to place it on all types of supports and stabilizers,” he noted.

“By shooting in 4K, we ensure that the contents have a much longer life. Their useful life is prolonged due to the increase in resolution and quality of the screens,” acknowledged Colin Jackson.

Regarding shooting with high dynamic range, he recognizes that “HDR makes the natural world much more realistic achieving much more dramatic effects.”

On the other hand, filming in 4K allows the BBC to improve the narration with details and movements within the image itself, something essential when working with “actors” as undisciplined as animals.

Jackson concluded his speech by assuring that “4K is a perfect tool to raise awareness among audiences about the importance of the natural environment and its preservation.”