National Geographic ‘Explorer’ Weathers Emmy-Winning Shoot with Petrol

Wildlife cinematographer Bob Poole was able to get close to gorillas in their native environment for the National Geographic Explorer episode “Gorilla Murders” using Petrol‘s rain covers to protect his camera and lenses.

The stunning footage helped catch the eye of the Emmy judges, resulting in four News & Documentary Emmy Award nominations for “Gorilla Murders.” Nominations were in the categories of Outstanding Investigative Journalism—Long Form, Best Documentary, Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Cinematography, and Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Editing. The show received an award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism—Long Form at the News & Documentary Emmy Award ceremony on Sept. 21.

While principal shooter Erin Harvey concentrated on the events surrounding the execution-style murder of six mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, Poole shot extreme details of the gorillas (eyes, fingers, etc.) so that the editors could cut back and forth between the story of corruption and greed and the gorillas.

“Rain was a big issue,” Poole explains. “But I never worried about my trusty Sony HDW-F900 camera or Fujinon 16.5x25mm lens and image stabilizer. I simply put them under my favorite piece of gear, a Petrol rain cover.

“Petrol has saved me so many times,” he explains. “Since I discovered their products, I don’t put my camera in a case. I put it on a saddlebag and cover it with a rain cover. The camera always stays clean and running, even during the continuous rain that I had to contend with while I got in close to show the gorillas and how they really are so much like us.”