National Geographic · Since 2003
National Geographic Director of Photography
James Peterson has worked on National Geographic (Nat Geo) productions since 2003, first as a sound recordist and later as a camera operator and Director of Photography.
As series DP on Chain of Command he spent a year filming with U.S. military units, including in Mosul, Iraq. He has filmed Jane Goodall's chimpanzees at Gombe for National Geographic Explorer, prisons for Hard Time, and Greenland's Thule Air Force Base for StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
National Geographic credits
- Chain of Command2018 · 8 episodes · series DP
- U.S. Secret Service: On the Front Line2018 · 90-minute special
- The New Air Force One: Flying FortressNational Geographic / Disney+ · 2021
- Shark BaitHalf Yard Productions · 2024
- Protecting Paradise: The Story of NiuePristine Seas · 2024
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson2015 to 2016, 2019 · includes Thule Air Force Base, Greenland
- National Geographic Explorer2016 · 3 episodes · Jane Goodall's chimpanzees at Gombe
- Live Free or Die2015 to 2016 · 18 episodes · seasons 2 and 3
- Polygamy USA2013 · 6 episodes
- Hard Time2012 to 2013 · 14 episodes as DP · earlier as sound recordist
- The First Wave2021 · contributing cinematographer · 3× Emmy winner, Oscar shortlist
- Paris to Pittsburgh2018 · second unit DP
- Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet2014 · camera operator · 4 episodes
- World's Toughest Fixes2008 to 2009 · sound recordist · 7 episodes
Remote, restricted and hostile locations
James is FAA Part 107 drone certified, HUET and hostile environment trained, has extensive experience embedded with U.S. military units, and works under NDA when a location requires it. He has filmed in 44 countries and territories and 49 U.S. states.
Natural history and expedition
Expedition work includes the Pristine Seas expedition to Niue in the South Pacific, as topside DP for the land crew, plus Shark Bait and Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin, where he was series DP for 26 episodes and won a Bronze Telly for cinematography.
Questions producers ask
Has James Peterson worked for National Geographic?
Yes. He has more than a dozen National Geographic credits since 2003, including series DP on Chain of Command and DP on StarTalk, Hard Time, Live Free or Die, Polygamy USA and National Geographic Explorer.
Can he work in remote or restricted environments?
Yes. He is FAA Part 107 certified, HUET and hostile environment trained, and has worked embedded with U.S. military units and under NDA in restricted environments.
Where is he based?
Brooklyn, New York City. He travels worldwide and is available for union and non-union productions.