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Behind-the-Scenes Photos of the Day I Spent Filming a TV Episode for an Australian Travel Show
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Behind-the-Scenes Photos of the Day I Spent Filming a TV Episode for an Australian Travel Show

Keith Dotson
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Words I never expected to say: ‘I was invited to film a TV episode for an Australian travel show’

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Mississippi Delta where I filmed an episode for an Australian television travel show focused on the American South

Fine art photographer Keith Dotson on location in the Mississippi Delta with British television host and comedian Griff Rhys Jones, O.B.E.
Fine art photographer Keith Dotson on location in the Mississippi Delta with British television host and comedian Griff Rhys Jones, O.B.E.

That’s Griff Rhys Jones, O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire), a British comedian and television personality who hosts travel shows for Australian TV. He was in the U.S. with an Aussie crew of four, traveling across the American South from Charleston to New Orleans.

About a month prior, I received an email from a researcher for the production company in Sydney asking if I would be willing to meet Griff for a session making photographs of an abandoned location in Mississippi. (AND also could I recommend any good spots to film!)

Having shot my way all across Mississippi, and especially in the Delta — of course I knew some places. Luckily they accepted my top recommendation, and the light was perfect!

I won’t lie, shooting with a crew and a host was a little weird for me!

Video and more details to come

Teena was with me on location and made a lot of behind-the-scenes video footage which I will eventually publish. The production company asked me to hold it for a while until they could get their own show ready.

Me with Griff and some of the TV crew in a Mississippi Delta ghost town, discussing photographic composition and light.
Me with Griff and some of the TV crew in a Mississippi Delta ghost town, discussing photographic composition and light.
British comedian and travel show host Griff Rhys Jones closing out the filming with a final talk to the camera.
British comedian and travel show host Griff Rhys Jones closing out the filming with a final talk to the camera.
First time ever riding with a member of the Order of the British Empire in my car! The recording session started with a 20-minute car ride (in my car) where the show's host and I talked to a Go-Pro camera mounted on the windshield. I picked him up at his hotel in Cleveland, Mississippi and took us to the location.
First time ever riding with a member of the Order of the British Empire in my car! The recording session started with a 20-minute car ride (in my car) where the show’s host and I talked to a Go-Pro camera mounted on the windshield. I picked him up at his hotel in Cleveland, Mississippi and took us to the location.
One of the cinematographers recording b-roll while the rest of us were busy elsewhere.
One of the cinematographers recording b-roll while the rest of us were busy elsewhere.
A friendly local walked over to see what all the ruckus was about.
A friendly local walked over to see what all the ruckus was about.
Going low to get the shot.
Going low to get the shot.
It was weird for me to be on an abandoned places site with so many people around! I’m definitely more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it.
Here I was explaining some of the history I have learned about the location, which I had visited several times prior to reurning to film the television episode.
Here I was explaining some of the history I have learned about the location, which I had visited several times prior to reurning to film the television episode.

When will the show be on television?

I don’t have any details about when the show will be aired in Australia and the UK, or even what the title will be! My segment may not even go into the final cut — who knows? But Teena and I had fun spending the day in one of my favorite locations with Griff and the crew.

AND I got further confirmation of something I already knew . . . I am much better behind the camera than I am in front of it.

A new portrait of me on location in the Mississippi Delta, shot on new Polaroid i-type black and white film. Teena made this photo earlier in the day, before the Australian film crew arrived.
A new portrait of me on location in the Mississippi Delta, shot on new Polaroid i-type black and white film. Teena made this photo earlier in the day, before the Australian film crew arrived.

Above, Teena shot this Polaroid portrait in a small ghost town in Mississippi on new Polaroid i-type black and white film. I really like this new film — I think Polaroid is finally getting close to good on their materials. It commemorates our trip to the ghost town for filming of an Australian TV show about the American South.

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1 comment

  1. Joe says:

    Very Cool, Keith! Could end up with an invite to Down Under. 🙂

    Reply

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