Kirisu Farm milk product photography shoot

With Simon back in the UK, I’ve been looking after his business for the past few months until he can get back. Through him, I was contacted about a product photography shoot for Kirisu Farm, a Cambodian milk producer that has launched a new product line in Cambodia.

As ever, Simon oversaw the project, training me on the technicalities of preparing the products and lighting and shooting them in a studio. It was a steep learning curve with multiple challenges (milk curdles quickly if left out in the Cambodian heat for too long but you can’t prep the bottle if it’s straight out the fridge as too much condensation forms on it), but the results are good.

Videographer for Magawa the Hero Rat

Part of the assignment as a videographer and photographer on the story of Magawa the hero rat for Apopo was to produce a video to be shown at the PDSA annual awards ceremony.  

The PDSA Animal Awards Programme recognises the role of animals in society that have shown extraordinary bravery and exceptional devotion to duty. The medal is the animal equivalent of the George Medal and it is predominantly awarded to animals who have served in conflict zones, post-conflict zones, post-disaster areas and with the police. 

Previously the medal has previously been awarded to dogs. Magawa was the first rat to win the award.

Magawa was going to travel to London to receive the award, but due to Covid, the ceremony was held virtually and the videography work I did formed part of the ceremony, with Magawa being handed the medal, one of his handlers talking about the incredible work he’s done and beneficiaries talking about how mine clearing operations undertaken by Magawa have changed their lives.

Some of the footage from the shoot was given to international news agencies and publications. It was great to see how the different agencies used my footage to tell Magawa’s story in so many different way. Videos including my footage were published by CNN, Ruptly and many others.

Photographer to cover Magawa the Hero Rat being given his medal

I worked as a photographer and videographer for PDSA, to cover the story of Magawa the Hero rat being awarded the PDSA Gold Medal for his work saving lives by clearing mines in Cambodia.

I was contacted by Apopo, a mine-clearing NGO, who realised that they could train rats to smell TNT, which is used in landmines. The rats are trained at Apopo’s training facility in Tanzania before coming to Cambodia to work clearing the mines. The rats are too light to set off the mines, are more reliable than the landmine detecting dogs and are much quicker a detecting the mines than using the traditional method using a metal detector.


It was great to work alongside Michael from Apopo, who over the course of the shoot shared his encyclopaedic knowledge of mine clearing and working with rats to clear the mines.

Photos and videos from the shoot were widely shared with local and international publications including The Phnom Penh Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, The BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera.

Working as a director and camera operator on a video for UNICEF

I directed, filmed and edited this 5-minute training video for UNICEF Cambodia to train Cash Transfer Programme Focal Points on how to use the app and lead beneficiaries through the process of registering and collecting payment as part of the Social Protection in Cambodia programme.

The video looks good, but it would’ve been good to ADR the sound. This was always the plan, but due to the tight turnaround and constant changes in the script, unfortunately we ran out of time.

It was great to be involved on a project that helps support the people most in need during these difficult times.