Cinematography

Parer & Parer-Cook Productions

Emmy and Gold Panda award-winning Producer/ Cameraman DAVID PARER & Producer/ Sound Recordist ELIZABETH PARER-COOK have filmed in many remote locations around the world including Australia, the Galapagos, South America, Alaska, Canada, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Antarctic & sub-Antarctic. Based at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Natural History Unit for many years, they worked on co-productions with David Attenborough, the BBC’s NHU, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, PBS-WNET (New York), Canal Plus, NHK, ORF, TBS Productions & many other broadcasters making blue-chip natural history documentaries. In 2008 the ABC’s Natural History was closed down and since then David has worked as a freelance wildlife cameraman for Australian and international producers. Their own productions have won over 130 Australian and international awards.

DAVID IS AVAILABLE TO WORK AS A CAMERAMAN IN AUSTRALIA, OR ELSEWHERE.
HE IS HAPPY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY AS A CAMERAMAN/DIRECTOR OR WITH A
CREW. LIZ IS AVAILABLE TO RECORD SOUND AS REQUESTED.

CONTACT DETAILS
Email: parercoo@ozemail.com.au
Mobile (David): +61 (0) 408 368 762
Mobile (Liz): +61 (0) 407 334 254

EXPERIENCE
As an experienced filmmaker, David is well versed in working to a brief and
shooting footage that will cut together as a sequence. He is experienced in the following areas:

  • Long-lens footage of animals in the wild using the RED Gemini and CN20
    lens, in flight of birds and action behavior
  • Slow motion action footage
  • Nocturnal animals under very low-level visible light and infra-red –
    including the platypus, echidnas and many of Australia’s marsupials
  • Macro footage of insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles and detailed work
    on marsupials such as births
  • Underwater footage including large mammals such as humpback whales,
    sharks such as great whites, manta rays, invertebrate aggregations such as
    spider crabs and coral reef sequence
  • Time-lapse, both day & night
  • Extensive experience working with scientists in the field, and directing
     should it be necessary

4K VIDEO CAMERA & LENSES                                                                                                                       2x Sony A7S mark 3 full-frame mirrorless camera. Records S-log 2 & 3 and ProRes RAW into an external monitor/recorder to 60p. Sony lenses include:

  • 24-105mm f4,
  • 90mm macro f2.8,
  • 70-200mm zoom f2.8,
  • 200-600mm f5.6 with x1 and x2 extenders
Laowa Probe lens                                                                                                                   Canon300mm f2.8 with Metabones E mount adaptor
Full kit of Nikon lenses with Metabones E mount adaptor    
Multiple Sony battery packs for time-lapse & High end Sony memory cards
     

EXTERNAL MONITOR-RECORDER & COMPUTER
2x Atomos Ninja V with Angelbird memory cards – records ProRes RAW to 60p   MacBook Pro 16″, 2021, Apple M1 Max Chip 

UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT
Nauticam underwater housing for Sony A7S mark 3 with wet optical port
Sony 28 to 60mm f5.6 lens for Nauticam wet optical port
Sony 28mm f2.8 prime lens for Nauticam wet optical port
Nauticam port for Sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens with ancillary wet close-up lens
Nauticam underwater housing and cable for Atomos Ninja V recorder/monitor
Underwater LED lighting
Nauticam underwater tripod
Sony 4K FDR-X 3000 action cameras with underwater housings & INON wide
angle wet dome port

VEHICLE & TRAILER
Toyota Land Cruiser, Troop Carrier model 2016 with roof-rack & winch
Lockable and sealed storage trailer
Full range of SCUBA diving & camping gear

QUALIFICATIONS
ACS (Australian Cinematographers Society) accreditation
ACS Hall of Fame 2008
Qualified SCUBA Diver certification with Cave Diving accreditation
Victorian Recreational Boating licence & Marine Radio Operators Certificate
Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), Monash University
Bachelor of Science (Hons. In Physics), Monash University
Queens Polar Medal (Services to Polar Science)
Phillip Law Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Antarctic Affairs & the
Antarctic community (shared with Liz)

2024 Awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)           “For distinguished service to wildlife cinematography, to literature as an author, and to the environment”.