Gordon Buchanan: How Nature Became My Escape from Mental Health Struggles

This passage describes the career achievements and anecdotal story of Buchanan, a renowned wildlife filmmaker known for his work on shows like Planet Earth and Frozen Planet, Family & Me documentaries, and receiving an MBE for conservation and wildlife filming. Despite having a trick to stay alert (the coffee trick), he’s admitted to experiencing “KitKat moments,” referencing an old advert where a photographer misses an opportunity due to a snack break. In simpler terms, Buchanan has had important career successes, but like any other wildlife filmmaker, he too has missed opportunities while taking breaks for snacks.

Previously, I was occupied with the Big Cats 24/7 project. On a particularly sweltering day, the lions were deeply asleep for four hours straight, which gave me an opportunity to tune into my podcast. With one earbud in and one out, my mind drifted away from the Okovango Delta, only to return when the lions stirred and became active again. This experience emphasized the importance of staying alert and anticipating the unexpected if you wish to capture footage effectively.

In the spirit of sharing an engaging account from a fellow film enthusiast, allow me to recount my experience with capturing urban leopards during the production of “Planet Earth II”. Filming these elusive creatures hunting was our primary objective, yet we were only granted thirty nights to achieve this seemingly simple task. However, as you may well imagine, this had never been accomplished before for a good reason – it’s incredibly challenging.

It was only by maintaining an unwavering focus and honing my senses to the utmost degree that I could discern the subtle signs indicating the leopard’s approach: the barks of watchful dogs, the hush that fell upon the city dwellers, the specific darkness required for their nocturnal hunting, and the intangible atmospherics that hinted at their presence. These clues, when combined, allowed me to successfully document these magnificent creatures in their natural urban habitat.

During a span of 30 nights, finding oneself in a confined area without access to podcasts might seem like a nightmare to many, but for Buchanan, this “hide” serves as his “happy place”. Solitary and vigilant in such circumstances, he describes it as an “escape”, where he is not merely observing the animals, but also learning about himself. In essence, he’s concealing himself from both the wildlife and his own identity.

Instead of trying to evade himself, he found solace in this lifestyle due to the desire to escape the burdensome aspects of his childhood and adulthood. It seems we’re all inclined to conceal certain things: the chaos of modern life and the unnatural environment humans have created for themselves. However, for him personally, in his 40s he came to terms with being a depressive, possibly having been depressed throughout his entire life. He is someone who tends to be anxious and can become overwhelmed by seemingly minor issues like a full inbox or a lengthy task list. If he’s not feeling well, this stress can escalate into a major depressive episode.

52-year-old mentions that nature has served as a refuge for him, given his challenging past. His early life, marked by an absent father at age 4, a violent stepfather, and a harsh school experience, became less daunting due to the family’s relocation to Isle of Mull. He further explains, “In my mind, nature and ‘the hide’ are essentially the same thing.

2025-02-25 04:15

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