Bill “on location” in the Suwannee River, Florida filming Gulf Sturgeon with a RED Weapon camera.

Bill Hawthorne is a camera operator specializing in filming wildlife, natural history, and adventure documentaries

  • FAA Part 107 DJI Mavic 4 Pilot Owner/Operator

  • Experienced Operating RED, ARRI, Canon, and Sony

  • Ikelite and Nauticam Underwater Systems

  • Technical SCUBA Diver & 130ft Freediver

Partnered Brands

Brands I have worked with in the past or present

Bill’s Skills

Sidemount & Doubles Cave Diver

Script Writing

CAD Design & 3d Printing

Audio

Long Lens

Nitrox Diver

Interviews

Time Lapse

Macro

Wildlife Expert

Lighting

Drone

Photo Editing

Video Editing

Underwater

130ft Freediver

PADI Rescue Diver

Gimbal

Gear and Rates

Photography and Videography Achievements

Ikelite Ambassador, September 2023 - Present

Ambassador for one of the largest underwater camera housing manufacturers.

Turtle Survival Alliance Underwater Photographer, November 2023 - Present

Contract hire to photograph/video turtle surveys

Photography and Videography for Earth Expeditions, July 2026.

Created social media campaign including video reels, photographs, and call for actions. Seven days of filming and photography in the Azores including underwater, drone, interviews, and much more.

Assistant Camera Operator for WildPath’s Lasting Hope, May 2026.

AC for cinematographer Hayes Baxley, assisted filming Gulf Sturgeon for an upcoming documentary slated for release on National Geographic and Disney+

Optioned Footage to the BBC, December 2023

Optioned underwater footage of manatees to be used in BBC natural history documentary narrated by Tom Hanks with music composed by Hans Zimmer.

Production Assistant for History Channel Television Series, Ruskin FL, November 2022

Production assistant for TV series on Teddy Roosevelt’s journey down the river of doubt. Shot over/under video and forest sequences on RED Komodo. Helped producers and set designers as needed. Animal wrangler for tarantula and snakes.

Underwater Camera Operator for “The School Duel” Feature Film, Dunnellon FL, December 2023

Underwater cameraman for feature film shot in Dunnellon Florida. Operated Alexa Mini LF while on SCUBA to record scenes of main actor swimming and floating underwater.

Cover Image for “Biology and Conservation of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys), June 2023

Underwater image of an Alligator Snapping Turtle was selected for use on the book cover and special volume journal cover of “Biology and Conservation of Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys)

Forrest Galante Production, Camera operator, September 2023

Topside and underwater camera operator for Animal Planet & Discovery host Forrest Galante. One week shoot around Florida in springs, swamps, and rivers.

WildTimes Podcast, Producer, September 2023

Produced the WildTimes Podcast for a live audience in Orlando Florida.

History Channel Pilot, Camera Operator & Production Assistant, November 2022  

Production assistant for History Channel pilot about Teddy Roosevelt’s journey down the river of doubt. Helped with various duties around set and camera operator for underwater shots.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 2022 & 2023

Two images shortlisted in the largest wildlife photography competition in the world (2022); eight images shortlisted in ‍ ‍2023.

Florida Wildlife Corridor Creative Competition, 2022

First place photography and first place overall for underwater image of a turtle.

Eckerd College Winter Term Photography Contest, 2022

First place winner for underwater image of a snapping turtle.

Bill with his trusty Ikelite camera set up. Photograph by JosephRickettsPhoto