Doug Allan

Douglas Allan FRPS FRSGS (born 1951)[1] is a Scottish wildlife cameraman and photographer best known for his work in polar regions and underwater.

Allen in 2013

Biography

Allan is one of twin brothers born in Dunfermline in Scotland, the son of a photographer and photojournalist who ran his own photography shop in the town.[1][2] As a child Allan became a keen snorkeller and underwater diver, which inspired him to study marine biology at the University of Stirling.[3] His first job was as a pearl diver with Bill Abernathy, the last pearl hunter in Scotland.[4] Allan then worked for eight years for the British Antarctic Survey in Antarctica as a research diver, scientist and photographer.[5]

Becoming a full time cinematographer in 1985, Allan has been a principal cameraman on many BBC wildlife programmes, particularly concerning extreme environments, including Life in the Freezer, Wildlife Special: Polar Bear, The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, and Frozen Planet.[6][5]

Allan has won eight Emmys including "Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming in 2002, for Blue Planet, and in 2007, for Planet Earth. He has won four BAFTAs and in 2017 he won an outstanding contribution award at the British Academy Scotland Awards.[7][6][5] He frequently gives illustrated lectures and talks, including at the 2016 Cambridge University Expedition Society annual dinner.

In 2012, Allan was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society.

He appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity in November 2019. His hypothetical donation to this imaginary museum was "The feeling you get when a wild animal trusts you".[8]

References
  1. Peddie, Clare (24 June 2010). "Laureation address - Mr Doug Allan". University of St Andrews. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
  2. Young, Kirsty (presenter); Allan, Doug (interviewed guest) (20 July 2014). Doug Allan (Radio broadcast). Desert Island Discs. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  3. Tyzack, Anna (8 April 2014). "My perfect weekend: Doug Allan, wildlife cameraman". Daily Telegraph.
  4. "Douglas (Doug) Allan". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. "Doug Allan – Wildlife Cameraman – Cultural Connemara – CEECC.org". ceecc.org. Conamara Environmental Education and Cultural Centre. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. "British Academy Scotland Awards: Outstanding Contribution Honourees Announced". www.bafta.org. British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  7. "Doug Allan". Television Academy. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  8. "Gallery 14 - Room Six". qi.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.


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