MEDIA

Media students will contribute to the project by creating creative, promotional and documentary assets in three studios: Film, Photography and Design.

MEDIA BRIEFS

RSPB Join Your Dots Media Brief

JOIN YOUR DOTS STARTER PACK

Join Your Dots Starter Pack

LINKS

SUPPORTING CONTENT

Culture Declares Emergency

Introduced by Emma Thompson. "Featuring missives from both celebrities and the general public, 'Letters to the Earth' is an inspiring and provocative collection of personal testimony and a revealing snapshot of outrage at the global climate crisis".

INSPIRATION: FILM

Inspiring film: environment films 1

Environmentalism starts with understanding what we’re trying to save. There’s no better way to see our beautiful planet than through the eyes of the Planet Earth filmmakers. David Attenborough (and his enchanting voice) takes viewers on a journey around the globe—to 64 different countries over the course of four years. The literally breathtaking shots of Earth’s plants and animals will leave you in awe at our marvellous planet.

Inspiring film: environment films 2

In 2001, The Blue Planet with David Attenborough opened our eyes to the worlds beneath the waves. A generation on, new science and technology allow us to journey deeper than ever before at the most crucial time in our ocean’s history. This is Blue Planet II. Produced by BBC Earth, this 8-part TV docuseries is probably the best deep dive into the Earth’s oceans.

Inspiring film: environment films 3

This video called Climate Change is an Official Short Film by Philip K which uses elements from David Attenborough’s documentaries.

Inspiring film: environment films 4

This Netflix documentary investigates how plastic pollution is ending up in Earth’s oceans. A Plastic Ocean features shots from more than 20 different locations to show viewers that the health of our waters may be more fragile than we think—but we can do something about it.

Inspiring film: environment films 5

Al Gore first introduced pop culture to the climate crisis with his documentary An Inconvenient Truth. This was easily one of the top environmental films of all time, if for no other reason than it bringing public awareness to the issue of climate change. A decade later, he released An Inconvenient Sequel reminding us that the stakes have never been higher and we have what it takes to overcome climate change—passion and human ingenuity.

Inspiring film: environment films 6

Surviving Progress takes a look at where we are, how we’ve developed and the consequences our advancement has had on the environment and society as a whole. Featuring interviews with experts like Stephen Hawking, Margaret Atwood, and Jane Goodall, this film leaves viewers with one question: are we living in a truly thriving society? Can there simply be too much of a good thing?

Inspiring film: environment films 7

The 2015 “eco-thriller” Racing Extinction gives viewers a never-before-seen look at mass extinction and endangered species. You may not know this, but the world is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. With the survival of half of all species hanging in the balance, this documentary uses covert tactics and a powerful narrative style to teach views about extinction as it happens naturally, and how that process is being expedited by human actions like our dependence on oil and gas.

Inspiring film: environment films 8

For environmental films with the most impact, many people consider Cowspiracy a life-changer. Taking a look at the planet’s most destructive industry - animal agriculture - the film highlights the impact of our diet on habitat loss, species extinction, erosion, and planetary warming. If you need a final push towards a plant-based diet, this could be it.

Inspiring film: environment films 9

Seaspiracy examines the global fishing industry, challenging notions of sustainable fishing and showing how human actions cause widespread environmental destruction.

Inspiring film: environment films 10

What we eat impacts our planet, Wasted! The Story of Food Waste takes viewers on a journey from farm to landfill and shares how small (and tasty) changes can solve one of the 21st century’s greatest

Inspiring film: environment films 11

Award-winning Seed: The Untold Story reminds us of where life begins and how a loss in seed diversity will have grave impacts on our future. Winning 18 film festival awards and featuring the likes of Dr. Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, and Raj Patel, this is one of the most unique films about environmental issues not widely spoken of.

Inspiring film: environment films 12

As the name suggests, The True Cost takes a look at the true cost of fast fashion and the impact of the clothing industry. Clothing has been getting cheaper and cheaper, while the environmental and social costs have grown tremendously. It offers a solution by showing what an ethical and sustainable fashion industry could look like. This groundbreaking documentary will have you re-thinking your wardrobe.

Inspiring film: environment films 13

Tapped takes a look at one of the greatest threats to our environment—the bottled water industry. Exploring how bottled water affects climate change, pollution, our health, and our dependence on oil, this documentary will cause you to forever rethink what it means to stay hydrated.

Inspiring film: environment films 14

Bag It started as a film about plastic bags but it ended up being so much more—an in-depth look at how plastic impacts our bodies, environment, and oceans. Plastic water bottles may be one of the most unnecessary plastics produced, but it’s far from being the only problem.

Inspiring film: environment films 15

The Forest is a cinematic short film about a woodland with an ambient soundtrack.

TECHNIQUE: FILM

Film Techniques: creating a cinematic style

This video looks at the technology behind the cinematic style of the BBC's Planet Earth II.

Film Techniques: behind the scenes

Behind the scenes on Netflix and WWF's show Our Planet. In this short documentary, they travel to Kenya to meet the crew behind the camera and explore the issues facing grasslands all around the world.

Film Techniques: wildlife footage 1

Shooting great wildlife footage may seem like something that anyone can do, but to truly do it right, you need to do more than simply walk into the woods with a camera and hope you find something. The best wildlife videographers are the best because they have the right gear, they study their subjects with extreme patience, they put themselves and the animals in the best position to get the most epic shot, and more. This video outlines some tips for shooting great wildlife footage.

Film Techniques: wildlife footage 2

There's a lot of things to think about when filming wildlife. Here are 6 tips that can instantly help you get better footage and achieve more consistent results when filming birds and wildlife.

Film Techniques: documentary production

There's a lot of things to think about when filming wildlife. Here are 6 tips that can instantly help you get better footage and achieve more consistent results when filming birds and wildlife.

INSPIRATION: PHOTOGRAPHY

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 1

British nature photographer Ben Hall explains how to bring motion and life to your nature photography, and how nature can be abstract.

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 2

Ten creative photography ideas to get you started.

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 3

This list of 25 photo ideas I've put together is to help you as a landscape photographer to get maybe some new ideas on how to better photograph the landscapes with ideas on photo compositions, dramatic light, silhouettes, reflections, the famous S curve, high and low perspective and even using a drone for aerial photos!

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 4

Produced to accompany the Nature's Best Photography "Best of the Best" Exhibition, this video brings you nature photography from the past 20 years.

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 5

Visual Poetries as a book belongs to certain places of wildlife in India where the pictures included depict not only the natural history of Indian wildlife but also the prettiness of diversified nature at distinct perspectives. It reflects millions of thoughts that provoked during my journey as a Nature Photographer.

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 6

Urban wildlife photography is great for those living in the city. Learn how to photograph animals in a concrete jungle, often right on your doorstep.

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 7

More on urban wildlife photography.

Inspiring Photography: creative ideas 8

Famous landscape photographers.

TECHNIQUE: PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography Techniques: top tips

10 tips to improve your wildlife tutorials.

Photography Techniques: sharp images at slow speeds

Settings and techniques to get sharp photos while both hand holding large lenses, and/or having them on a tripod. When working at slow shutter speeds, it can be crucial to have proper technique and the right settings.

Photography Techniques: back lighting

How to Backlight Photography - Wildlife. This backlighting photography tutorial video will show you how to expose for back-lit images in wildlife and bird photography. This is a great technique for lifting your images. This video is particularly useful for Canon users and shows you how to adjust your exposure for best results.

Photography Techniques: photographing woodlands

In this tutorial, official Nikon Ambassador Ross Hoddinott shows you 3 great techniques you can use to properly capture and document a woodland area. Learn how to take beautiful woodland stream images, as well as macro photos of fungi and some creative ICM images of trees with bold shapes.

Photography Techniques: focusing & exposure

Focusing covers some "No Brainer" settings and issues effecting efficient focus.Exposure begins with a sensible "Go To" setting that works in most situations and then move on to more advanced settings such as Manual exposure and Manual with Auto Iso.

INSPIRATION: DESIGN

Inspiring Design: graffiti

Graffiti has a controversial reputation, regarded by many as vandalism in our towns and cities. Meet Sheffield born spray can artist Faunagraphic, real name Sarah Yates. Inspired by the beauty of growing up in rural England, she uses her artwork to bring nature into the urban jungle. Challenging the idea that spray paint has a negative impact. Sarah reveals the inspiration behind her vibrant artwork as we see her bring to life a huge bird mural in the UK city of Brighton.

Inspiring Design: design by nature

'Design By Nature' challenges UK design students and recent graduates to use their creativity to make day-to-day sustainable living second nature.

Inspiring Design: drawing nature

Tips for drawing from nature.

Inspiring Design: nature books

A series of books which feature nature and botanical illustrations.