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PIM NIESTEN
Wildlife camera operator & filmmaker - Zoologist
FILMOGRAPHY
 SURFING HIPPO'S - Gabon's Jungle Beach2025 - 1 x 50' by ALTAYFILM Deep in the heart of Africa lies a place where two worlds collide: the vast rainforest of the Congo Basin and the untamed Atlantic Ocean. Along the coast of Gabon, jungle and sea merge into a frontier of rare magic. Here, animals usually hidden deep within the rainforest appear at the ocean’s edge. Forest elephants and hippos – some even venturing into the surf – share the beach with antelopes, monkeys, reptiles, and countless smaller creatures. |  EUROPE - One Continent, Five Worlds2024 - 6 x 50' by LIGHT & SHADOW From the icy desert of Svalbard to the sun-kissed Mediterranean, this six-part wildlife series explores Europe’s most important and fascinating habitats, and meets their most remarkable wild inhabitants. Blue whales, polar bears, wolverines, and soaring golden eagles star alongside rarely-seen marvels such as genets, Iberian wolves, Eurasian lynx and rare Persian leopards. |  GALAPAGOS, Hope For The Future2019 - 1 x 80' by Nature Conservation Films Director of Photography Responsible for the wildlife sequences and some conservation stories included in this film. A portrait of the Ecuadorian archipelago and its unique nature. The film boasts striking images of unspoiled nature and extraordinary species, such as the Galapagos penguins, Hammerhead sharks, Blue Footed Boobies and the largest tortoises in the world. It tells the hopeful story of passionate researchers committed to save them. |
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 ONZE NATUUR - WILD BELGIUM2023 - film 1 x 90' & series 6 x 45' by HOTELBONKA Director of Photography & Field Director 'Our Nature'/'Wild Belgium' shows a variety of amazing wildlife stories in Belgium (my home country) as never seen before. |  GOING NUTS - The Squirrel World2019 - 1 x 50' for ALTAYFILM Wildlife Camera Operator This blue-chip documentary explores some of the most fascinating squirrel species worldwide and shows how the squirrel family became so successful dealing with extreme environments and human neighbors. In funny and entertaining episodes we will experience what they all have in common and what makes them so special. “Going Nuts” unveils the enchanting world of one of the most watched mammal on the planet. |  REALM OF THE ROBBER - Christmas Island2018 - 1 x 50' for ATARAFILM Wildlife Camera Operator Christmas Island looks like a Jurassic Park paradise and is home to the worlds biggest land crab, dense rainforests, and is a breeding station for thousands of tropical sea birds. This enchanting film reveals the natural wonders of Christmas Islands, also known as 'the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'. |
 WILD ICELAND2017 - 1 x 50' for RAZORBILL FILMS & NHK Wildlife Camera Operator Wildlife docu on the natural history and wildlife of Iceland. |  EXPEDITION MOZAMBIQUE2017 - short 7' for CANVAS Director, DOP & Editor Part of a docu series: '4x7' A short documentary in which I follow (as a one-man-crew) an international group of scientists of BINCO doing a biodiversity survey in the remote and understudied Niassa region in Northern Mozambique. |  NEW ZEALAND - Earth's Mythical Islands2016 - 3 x 50' for BBC Wildlife Camera Operator A three part wildlife series on the unique natural history and the historic/cultural heritage of New Zealand. |
 MEGETI - AFRICA'S LOST WOLF2017 - 1 x 50' for ALTAYFILM Coproduction with Terra Mater & NDR Naturfilm Doclights & France 5 The Roof of Africa is home to the last of the world’s Ethiopian Wolves. They inhabit a unique place, which rises 4.000 meters into the sky. This film tells the dramatic story of Megeti, a lone wolf who lost her pack and is suddenly left to fend for herself, wandering across the highlands on a quest to find a new home. |  EXPEDITION T.REX2013-2016 - 1 x 43' for BlazHoffski Documentary on the quest for an original T.rex skeleton by Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL). |  GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK2014 - 1 x 50' for ALTAYFILM Project for National Geographic, NDR Naturfilm DocLights, ORF & arte Wildlife series: 'North America’s Natural Wonders' An eight-part series (8 x 50') on North America's wildlife and spectacular landscapes in the countries most renowed National Parks. |
 SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK2014 - 1 x 50' for ALTAYFILM Project for National Geographic, NDR Naturfilm DocLights, ORF & arte Wildlife series: 'North America’s Natural Wonders' An eight-part series (8 x 50') on North America's wildlife and spectacular landscapes in the countries most renowed National Parks. |  LIVING ON THE EDGE: TARA CANYON2010-2011 Wildlife Camera Operator for NHK Cosmomedia Nature documentary: 'Living On The Edge: Tara Canyon' (49 min) Over the centuries, the emerald green Tara River in Montenegro has etched a canyon 1,300 meters deep. Herds of chamois live on the steep slopes where no human can venture. Golden eagles circle imperiously overhead, waiting for the chance to strike. 'Living On The Edge' chronicles a year in life of the magnificent Tara Canyon. First Camera Operator |  WILDKATZEN - WILDCATS2009 Wildlife Camera Operator and Assistant for Marco Polo Film and NDR Naturfilm Wildlife documentary: 'Wildkatzen, Versteckt in Deutschlands Wäldern' (43 min) by Annette Scheurich Additional Cinematography |
 HELGOLAND, ISLAND IN THE STORM2009 Wildlife Camera Operator project for NDR Naturfilm Doclights Nature documentary: 'Helgoland, Island In The Storm' (45 min) by Robert Morgenstern AWARDS: Marian Zunz Newcomer Award @ Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 2011 Camera Operator for wildlife sequences. |  TANZANIA SAFARI CHANNEL2008 Wildlife Camera Operator for Nature Conservation Films W.W. Series of short documentaries on african wildlife and the spectacular scenery of various National Parks in Tanzania: Serengeti, Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains, Zanzibar, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron and Lake Victoria. First Camera Operator |  WILD DOG ISLAND2007 Wildlife Camera Operator for Nature Conservation Films W.W. project for Animal Planet US, Animal Planet International, France 5 and ORF Wildlife documentary: 'Wild Dog Island' (55 min) for the series Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (season 7, episode 6) Additional Cinematography and Soundman |
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