25 June 2025

Adventure filmmaking in Southern Africa

Craig Rhodes-Harrison relies on his Atomos Ninja to shoot breathtaking footage in extreme environments.

By Atomos

Craig Rhodes-Harrison is a cinematographer and editor with a passion for outdoor and adventure storytelling. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, he regularly travels across the region, working on projects in Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe to capture remarkable landscapes and wildlife.

Over the years, Craig has collaborated with renowned brands like Dometic, Toyota, and Hi-Tec, as well as leading production houses and industry creatives. His portfolio spans documentary filmmaking, branded content, and commercial cinematography. “I love blending technical precision with creative storytelling,” says Craig. “Having experience in both production and post allows me to provide a smooth end-to-end solution – capturing visuals on set and turning them into polished stories in the edit suite.”

With a documentary-style approach to his work, Craig favors handheld shooting, using gimbals and drones for dynamic and cinematic camera movements. His Sony A7S III camera, paired with Sigma DG DN Art lenses and an Atomos Ninja monitor-recorder, forms the core part of his setup, enabling him to capture high-quality footage in ProRes RAW. “Recording ProRes RAW straight to the Ninja’s external SSD has enhanced my production capabilities. It gives me the flexibility I need while delivering high-quality footage for post production,” he notes.

Craig customizes his handheld rig with a SmallRig cage, matte box, focus wheel, V-lock battery mount, and a wooden handle with a remote trigger. For stabilization, he relies on the DJI RS2 gimbal with the Tilta Basic Plus Ring, using the DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone for aerial shots.

“Ninja gives me the confidence to push my creativity further.”

In early 2024, Craig and his assistant embarked on a three-part short film series in Zimbabwe. One of the films highlighted the beauty of Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Filming in this magnificent yet challenging location meant navigating extreme humidity and mist, alongside the dangers of the rugged and slippery terrain.

“Our biggest challenge was travelling through the infamous River Zambezi in a rubber boat,” Craig recalls. “Though the river wasn’t flooding, it still threw grade five rapids and massive whirlpools our way.” While the river guide ensured their safety, Craig and his team were solely responsible for protecting their equipment. Every piece had to withstand severe conditions while capturing important footage.

“Long story short, we capsized and were temporarily separated from the boat, but still managed to walk away with all our gear and the footage we needed,” Craig says. “Waterproof Pelican cases were lifesavers, and double tie-downs made all the difference.”

Alongside using monitoring tools including custom LUTs and anamorphic frame guides, Craig relies on Ninja’s robust design to tackle extreme shooting conditions. “I’ve lost track of how many times my Ninja has been covered in dust, sand, or exposed to moisture – yet time and time again, it performs just like it did on day one,” he shares.

With Ninja at the heart of his setup, Craig is able to focus on the story unfolding before him. “Ninja gives me the confidence to push my creativity further,” he says. “It lets me focus on the narrative, knowing that every detail will be captured exactly as intended.”

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