Greg Wilson: Cheetahs on the Run | Nat Geo Live

how do we move a camera that can compete

how do we move a camera that can compete with the speed of a cheetah it’s

with the speed of a cheetah it’s

with the speed of a cheetah it’s basically the pinnacle of 134 years of

basically the pinnacle of 134 years of

basically the pinnacle of 134 years of motion picture technology paired with

motion picture technology paired with

motion picture technology paired with millions of years of evolutionary speed

millions of years of evolutionary speed

millions of years of evolutionary speed we didn’t want to just photograph the

we didn’t want to just photograph the

we didn’t want to just photograph the Cheetahs the goal was to deliver

Cheetahs the goal was to deliver

Cheetahs the goal was to deliver something that nobody has ever seen it

something that nobody has ever seen it

something that nobody has ever seen it has an intrinsic value for the beauty of

has an intrinsic value for the beauty of

has an intrinsic value for the beauty of nature itself and the creatures that we

nature itself and the creatures that we

nature itself and the creatures that we share this world with the the amazing

share this world with the the amazing

share this world with the the amazing ability of these these animals they’re

ability of these these animals they’re

ability of these these animals they’re the speed the the quickness their

the speed the the quickness their

the speed the the quickness their incredible talents are undeniable and

incredible talents are undeniable and

incredible talents are undeniable and beautiful so we set out to try to

beautiful so we set out to try to

beautiful so we set out to try to capture this in the most unique way that

capture this in the most unique way that

capture this in the most unique way that we possibly could and it takes us back

we possibly could and it takes us back

we possibly could and it takes us back to 1878 where Eadweard Muybridge to

to 1878 where Eadweard Muybridge to

to 1878 where Eadweard Muybridge to settle a bet set up 16 plate cameras to

settle a bet set up 16 plate cameras to

settle a bet set up 16 plate cameras to photograph a horse running to prove that

photograph a horse running to prove that

photograph a horse running to prove that during its stride all four feet would be

during its stride all four feet would be

during its stride all four feet would be off the ground at one time and he won

off the ground at one time and he won

off the ground at one time and he won the bet but in doing so he essentially

the bet but in doing so he essentially

the bet but in doing so he essentially created motion picture and this is the

created motion picture and this is the

created motion picture and this is the first motion picture ever created and

first motion picture ever created and

first motion picture ever created and what he also did that contributed to our

what he also did that contributed to our

what he also did that contributed to our motivation and the the basic thesis

motivation and the the basic thesis

motivation and the the basic thesis behind this was not only to capture with

behind this was not only to capture with

behind this was not only to capture with today’s most modern technology and most

today’s most modern technology and most

today’s most modern technology and most sophisticated technology of the world’s

sophisticated technology of the world’s

sophisticated technology of the world’s fastest runner it was to achieve a

fastest runner it was to achieve a

fastest runner it was to achieve a similar perspective that Muybridge gave

similar perspective that Muybridge gave

similar perspective that Muybridge gave in this image where it gives the the

in this image where it gives the the

in this image where it gives the the sensation that you’re traveling along

sensation that you’re traveling along

sensation that you’re traveling along with the animal how do we do it you know

with the animal how do we do it you know

with the animal how do we do it you know how do we how do we move the camera that

how do we how do we move the camera that

how do we how do we move the camera that can that can compete with the speed of a

can that can compete with the speed of a

can that can compete with the speed of a cheetah

cheetah

cheetah which can reach over 60 miles an hour in

which can reach over 60 miles an hour in

which can reach over 60 miles an hour in less than three seconds so the

less than three seconds so the

less than three seconds so the acceleration is is faster than Carrera

acceleration is is faster than Carrera

acceleration is is faster than Carrera 4s turbo Porsche it is unrivaled in the

4s turbo Porsche it is unrivaled in the

4s turbo Porsche it is unrivaled in the natural world and we needed to build a

natural world and we needed to build a

natural world and we needed to build a system and devised a plan and a method

system and devised a plan and a method

system and devised a plan and a method to be able to to to photograph it so I’d

to be able to to to photograph it so I’d

to be able to to to photograph it so I’d like to show you a quick video of a

like to show you a quick video of a

like to show you a quick video of a little speed reference that was taken at

little speed reference that was taken at

little speed reference that was taken at the Cincinnati Zoo during a world

the Cincinnati Zoo during a world

the Cincinnati Zoo during a world record-breaking run of one of the

record-breaking run of one of the

record-breaking run of one of the Cheetahs that we worked with Sarah

so that’s what we’re up against and we

so that’s what we’re up against and we didn’t want to just photograph the

didn’t want to just photograph the

didn’t want to just photograph the Cheetahs what what the goal was was to

Cheetahs what what the goal was was to

Cheetahs what what the goal was was to deliver something that nobody has ever

deliver something that nobody has ever

deliver something that nobody has ever seen and we built a custom dolly that

seen and we built a custom dolly that

seen and we built a custom dolly that used three digital SLRs that would run

used three digital SLRs that would run

used three digital SLRs that would run in sequence and then we use the camera

in sequence and then we use the camera

in sequence and then we use the camera on the right is a phantom flex which is

on the right is a phantom flex which is

on the right is a phantom flex which is a high resolution high speed camera

a high resolution high speed camera

a high resolution high speed camera originally developed for ballistic tests

originally developed for ballistic tests

originally developed for ballistic tests missile tests and aircraft launches and

missile tests and aircraft launches and

missile tests and aircraft launches and NASA research and military applications

NASA research and military applications

NASA research and military applications we ran most of the time the camera 1200

we ran most of the time the camera 1200

we ran most of the time the camera 1200 frames per second which communicates to

frames per second which communicates to

frames per second which communicates to roughly a four second shot we’ll play

roughly a four second shot we’ll play

roughly a four second shot we’ll play for more than three minutes in real time

for more than three minutes in real time

for more than three minutes in real time this year as a rough drawing of the

this year as a rough drawing of the

this year as a rough drawing of the dolly system that I showed you with the

dolly system that I showed you with the

dolly system that I showed you with the phantom camera the three still cameras

phantom camera the three still cameras

phantom camera the three still cameras we had to 86 foot Condors because we

we had to 86 foot Condors because we

we had to 86 foot Condors because we also wanted to use lighting we didn’t

also wanted to use lighting we didn’t

also wanted to use lighting we didn’t want to rely on the Sun and we also were

want to rely on the Sun and we also were

want to rely on the Sun and we also were hoping to shoot at dusk and dawn so that

hoping to shoot at dusk and dawn so that

hoping to shoot at dusk and dawn so that we could have the most magical soft

we could have the most magical soft

we could have the most magical soft beautiful light we could so we provided

beautiful light we could so we provided

beautiful light we could so we provided additional illumination we had huge

additional illumination we had huge

additional illumination we had huge motors and we tried to be as close to

motors and we tried to be as close to

motors and we tried to be as close to the cheetah as we could to provide a

the cheetah as we could to provide a

the cheetah as we could to provide a perspective that you just can’t get in

perspective that you just can’t get in

perspective that you just can’t get in most most encounters with the cheetah we

most most encounters with the cheetah we

most most encounters with the cheetah we put together 410 feet of dolly track

put together 410 feet of dolly track

put together 410 feet of dolly track which was the most that we could fit in

which was the most that we could fit in

which was the most that we could fit in the field that was provided for us by

the field that was provided for us by

the field that was provided for us by the by the zoo we had high powered

the by the zoo we had high powered

the by the zoo we had high powered motors that were anchored to the truss

motors that were anchored to the truss

motors that were anchored to the truss which are typically used for pulling

which are typically used for pulling

which are typically used for pulling stuntmen up into the air during a

stuntmen up into the air during a

stuntmen up into the air during a explosion in a movie so the track had to

explosion in a movie so the track had to

explosion in a movie so the track had to be perfectly straight perfectly true it

be perfectly straight perfectly true it

be perfectly straight perfectly true it couldn’t have any bows dips because we

couldn’t have any bows dips because we

couldn’t have any bows dips because we had a hundred and twenty-five pound

had a hundred and twenty-five pound

had a hundred and twenty-five pound missile containing our cameras moving at

missile containing our cameras moving at

missile containing our cameras moving at over 60 miles an hour and not any bumps

over 60 miles an hour and not any bumps

over 60 miles an hour and not any bumps big vibrations could potentially shear

big vibrations could potentially shear

big vibrations could potentially shear the cable and send this this dolly off

the cable and send this this dolly off

the cable and send this this dolly off into never-never land which would be

into never-never land which would be

into never-never land which would be very dangerous and we don’t want that so

very dangerous and we don’t want that so

very dangerous and we don’t want that so then came the introduction

then came the introduction

then came the introduction of our subjects the Cheetahs into this

of our subjects the Cheetahs into this

of our subjects the Cheetahs into this heavily equipped environment that was

heavily equipped environment that was

heavily equipped environment that was their stomping grounds they run there

their stomping grounds they run there

their stomping grounds they run there once a week at least if not two or three

once a week at least if not two or three

once a week at least if not two or three times a week they are very used to this

times a week they are very used to this

times a week they are very used to this field and going forward my biggest

field and going forward my biggest

field and going forward my biggest concern was that we would we would move

concern was that we would we would move

concern was that we would we would move forward we would bring the equipment

forward we would bring the equipment

forward we would bring the equipment there and the Cheetahs would not would

there and the Cheetahs would not would

there and the Cheetahs would not would not accept it in their field and their

not accept it in their field and their

not accept it in their field and their stomping grounds where they’re used to

stomping grounds where they’re used to

stomping grounds where they’re used to being and so we started well in advance

being and so we started well in advance

being and so we started well in advance we recorded the the loud sound of the

we recorded the the loud sound of the

we recorded the the loud sound of the dolly which y’all hear in a few minutes

dolly which y’all hear in a few minutes

dolly which y’all hear in a few minutes to play for the Cheetahs well they ate

to play for the Cheetahs well they ate

to play for the Cheetahs well they ate to hopefully build some positive

to hopefully build some positive

to hopefully build some positive reinforcement of the sound so it

reinforcement of the sound so it

reinforcement of the sound so it wouldn’t be so frightening for them this

wouldn’t be so frightening for them this

wouldn’t be so frightening for them this is the system that we go it goes quick

is the system that we go it goes quick

is the system that we go it goes quick so don’t blame so this is one of our our

so don’t blame so this is one of our our

so don’t blame so this is one of our our cheetahs and the the furry ball that

cheetahs and the the furry ball that

cheetahs and the the furry ball that it’s holding in its mouth is the lure

it’s holding in its mouth is the lure

it’s holding in its mouth is the lure that they’re used to chasing and the the

that they’re used to chasing and the the

that they’re used to chasing and the the other main thing that we were trying to

other main thing that we were trying to

other main thing that we were trying to figure out in this whole this whole

figure out in this whole this whole

figure out in this whole this whole process was how do we sync a running

process was how do we sync a running

process was how do we sync a running animal that is totally unpredictable

animal that is totally unpredictable

animal that is totally unpredictable behavior to a essentially motion

behavior to a essentially motion

behavior to a essentially motion controlled camera system that’s moving

controlled camera system that’s moving

controlled camera system that’s moving at equal speed so through putting heads

at equal speed so through putting heads

at equal speed so through putting heads together with the team we decided we

together with the team we decided we

together with the team we decided we would bring two motion control motors

would bring two motion control motors

would bring two motion control motors that we could sink the lure up and the

that we could sink the lure up and the

that we could sink the lure up and the camera up and have them run

camera up and have them run

camera up and have them run simultaneously together down the track

simultaneously together down the track

simultaneously together down the track and we would have perfect framing every

and we would have perfect framing every

and we would have perfect framing every time that didn’t work at all for a

time that didn’t work at all for a

time that didn’t work at all for a couple of reasons

couple of reasons

couple of reasons the one the one time that we did run it

the one the one time that we did run it

the one the one time that we did run it that way it is so it was very mechanical

that way it is so it was very mechanical

that way it is so it was very mechanical and the cheetah built in its instincts

and the cheetah built in its instincts

and the cheetah built in its instincts is not going to chase something it

is not going to chase something it

is not going to chase something it doesn’t think it can catch it’s built to

doesn’t think it can catch it’s built to

doesn’t think it can catch it’s built to you know it will pursue with everything

you know it will pursue with everything

you know it will pursue with everything it has if it thinks it’s going to get

it has if it thinks it’s going to get

it has if it thinks it’s going to get its prey if it doesn’t it will not exert

its prey if it doesn’t it will not exert

its prey if it doesn’t it will not exert the energy so this mechanical line with

the energy so this mechanical line with

the energy so this mechanical line with a lure on the end of it flew down the

a lure on the end of it flew down the

a lure on the end of it flew down the track and the cheetah didn’t know what

track and the cheetah didn’t know what

track and the cheetah didn’t know what to make of it so it didn’t run and then

to make of it so it didn’t run and then

to make of it so it didn’t run and then the discussion came up that they have

the discussion came up that they have

the discussion came up that they have non retracting claws and what if the

non retracting claws and what if the

non retracting claws and what if the cheetah grabs on to that lure and the

cheetah grabs on to that lure and the

cheetah grabs on to that lure and the lure doesn’t stop then we have the risk

lure doesn’t stop then we have the risk

lure doesn’t stop then we have the risk of tendon damage ligament damage a

of tendon damage ligament damage a

of tendon damage ligament damage a number of concerns that we immediately

number of concerns that we immediately

number of concerns that we immediately abandoned that because we obviously want

abandoned that because we obviously want

abandoned that because we obviously want the best for the Cheetahs so we went

the best for the Cheetahs so we went

the best for the Cheetahs so we went back to the old tried-and-true method

back to the old tried-and-true method

back to the old tried-and-true method that the Cincinnati Zoo has used for all

that the Cincinnati Zoo has used for all

that the Cincinnati Zoo has used for all the years of running their cheetahs

the years of running their cheetahs

the years of running their cheetahs which is a manually operated pickle

which is a manually operated pickle

which is a manually operated pickle switch where the it’s a pulse motor and

switch where the it’s a pulse motor and

switch where the it’s a pulse motor and the operator one of the cheetah handlers

the operator one of the cheetah handlers

the operator one of the cheetah handlers will hold the button down the lure will

will hold the button down the lure will

will hold the button down the lure will fly ahead they’ll release and the lure

fly ahead they’ll release and the lure

fly ahead they’ll release and the lure will slow down and then they can put

will slow down and then they can put

will slow down and then they can put their finger on the button again speed

their finger on the button again speed

their finger on the button again speed it up and that way they can tease the

it up and that way they can tease the

it up and that way they can tease the cheetah as it runs so that they can

cheetah as it runs so that they can

cheetah as it runs so that they can watch from a ladder and watch this

watch from a ladder and watch this

watch from a ladder and watch this cheetah be almost able to get it but not

cheetah be almost able to get it but not

cheetah be almost able to get it but not quite they can keep pulling it away and

quite they can keep pulling it away and

quite they can keep pulling it away and keep that cat engaged in in the hunt so

keep that cat engaged in in the hunt so

keep that cat engaged in in the hunt so that took my perfect plan of sinking

that took my perfect plan of sinking

that took my perfect plan of sinking these two together and threw it out the

these two together and threw it out the

these two together and threw it out the window this was one of the times when

window this was one of the times when

window this was one of the times when the lure got ahead of the cheetah and

the lure got ahead of the cheetah and

the lure got ahead of the cheetah and the cheetah realized that there was a

the cheetah realized that there was a

the cheetah realized that there was a huge dolly flying along next to it and

huge dolly flying along next to it and

huge dolly flying along next to it and you can see that it’s constantly looking

you can see that it’s constantly looking

you can see that it’s constantly looking over at the dolly and absolutely not

over at the dolly and absolutely not

over at the dolly and absolutely not engaged in what it’s doing so this is a

engaged in what it’s doing so this is a

engaged in what it’s doing so this is a was a completely experimental stage for

was a completely experimental stage for

was a completely experimental stage for us we were trying to understand how we

us we were trying to understand how we

us we were trying to understand how we need to do this but matching the speed

need to do this but matching the speed

need to do this but matching the speed and that and getting the timing what

and that and getting the timing what

and that and getting the timing what right was was really difficult this is

right was was really difficult this is

right was was really difficult this is uh you’re going to hear the voice of

uh you’re going to hear the voice of

uh you’re going to hear the voice of Catherine Hill Kerr who is a renowned

Catherine Hill Kerr who is a renowned

Catherine Hill Kerr who is a renowned she’s the cheetah cheetah lady she’s

she’s the cheetah cheetah lady she’s

she’s the cheetah cheetah lady she’s been working with cheetahs for over

been working with cheetahs for over

been working with cheetahs for over forty years she’s 82 years old she’s a

forty years she’s 82 years old she’s a

forty years she’s 82 years old she’s a beautiful human being and you’ll get to

beautiful human being and you’ll get to

beautiful human being and you’ll get to see her being incredibly excited about

see her being incredibly excited about

see her being incredibly excited about the potential run that this is

Sara

Sara Oh

so Wow

so Wow what she said at the end was you’re not

what she said at the end was you’re not

what she said at the end was you’re not gonna beat that and this is what it

gonna beat that and this is what it

gonna beat that and this is what it looked like on our end entirely

looked like on our end entirely

looked like on our end entirely different tone don’t let him fall don’t

different tone don’t let him fall don’t

different tone don’t let him fall don’t let him go don’t let him go do not go

let him go don’t let him go do not go

let him go don’t let him go do not go there we go let’s go oh I can’t do it

there we go let’s go oh I can’t do it

there we go let’s go oh I can’t do it without her

it was as soon as you said that and the

it was as soon as you said that and the trainer’s not working either yeah okay

trainer’s not working either yeah okay

trainer’s not working either yeah okay so while we are working with the most

so while we are working with the most

so while we are working with the most sophisticated technology of our time the

sophisticated technology of our time the

sophisticated technology of our time the technology doesn’t do it for you

technology doesn’t do it for you

technology doesn’t do it for you you know this came down to real

you know this came down to real

you know this came down to real perseverance and it’s basically the

perseverance and it’s basically the

perseverance and it’s basically the pinnacle of 134 years of motion picture

pinnacle of 134 years of motion picture

pinnacle of 134 years of motion picture technology paired with millions of years

technology paired with millions of years

technology paired with millions of years of evolutionary speed to try to mesh

of evolutionary speed to try to mesh

of evolutionary speed to try to mesh this together and we had I believe 17

this together and we had I believe 17

this together and we had I believe 17 runs total attempts to photograph these

runs total attempts to photograph these

runs total attempts to photograph these animals and in the provided amount of

animals and in the provided amount of

animals and in the provided amount of lighting that we had and the speed we

lighting that we had and the speed we

lighting that we had and the speed we were traveling at we had a effective

were traveling at we had a effective

were traveling at we had a effective real time shooting photographing for

real time shooting photographing for

real time shooting photographing for less than 35 seconds the whole week of

less than 35 seconds the whole week of

less than 35 seconds the whole week of actual shooting time it was a challenge

actual shooting time it was a challenge

actual shooting time it was a challenge and it’s a tenacity and a team effort to

and it’s a tenacity and a team effort to

and it’s a tenacity and a team effort to be able to do these types of projects

be able to do these types of projects

be able to do these types of projects that have a home really only here at

that have a home really only here at

that have a home really only here at National Geographic where it has an

National Geographic where it has an

National Geographic where it has an intrinsic value for the beauty of nature

intrinsic value for the beauty of nature

intrinsic value for the beauty of nature itself and the creatures that we share

itself and the creatures that we share

itself and the creatures that we share this world with and with that I’d like

this world with and with that I’d like

this world with and with that I’d like to play the piece that will be one shot

to play the piece that will be one shot

to play the piece that will be one shot at night and then a compilation of the

at night and then a compilation of the

at night and then a compilation of the best of so thank you