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Backdrop from a project of Paul Atkins
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Paul Atkins

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From Antarctica to the tropical Pacific, Paul Atkins, ASC has filmed the world's wildlife and cultures for National Geographic, Disney, the BBC including such acclaimed series as Planet Earth, for IMAX screens and feature films. His cinematography and directing have earned numerous awards including Emmys, British Academy Awards and a prestigious Telluride Film Festival Tribute. Paul's passion for the ocean brought him to Hawaii in 1974, where he pursued a Ph.D in marine biology at University of Hawaii and began working in the film business as an underwater and wildlife cinematographer. With his wife and producing partner, Grace Atkins, Paul filmed and directed groundbreaking documentaries that challenged our myths and inspired protection of the natural world, including the Emmy-winning Hawaii: Strangers in Paradise (Nat Geo/BBC), Great White Shark (BBC/Nat Geo) and Dolphins: The Wild Side (Nat Geo). Paul was director of photography on Jean-Michel Cousteau's Voyage to Kure, the film that persuaded President George W. Bush to declare the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a National Monument in 2006. More recently, his work includes Disneynature's Dolphin Reed and Nat Geo's America's National Parks. Paul's narrative filmmaking spans numerous commercials, television series and feature films and he has worked with some of the world's most renown directors including Peter Weir on Master and Commander, Alejandro Inarritu on The Revenant, and Terrence Malick on The Tree of Life and other features. On a 40-day epic voyage around Cape Horn, he filmed for Master and Commander, which won the 2004 Academy Award for cinematography for Russell Boyd, ASC. His 2nd Unit shooting on The Tree of Life contributed to an Oscar nomination for cinematography, and Paul has continued to work with Malick on To the Wonder, Knight of Cups and as director of photography on his IMAX documentary about the evolution of the universe, The Voyage of Time.

Known For

The Revenant

75%

Second Unit Cinematographer

2015

The Tree of Life

67%

Second Unit Director

2011

Point Break

60%

Camera Operator

2015

May December

66%

"A" Camera Operator

2023

Knight of Cups

57%

Second Unit Director of Photography

2015

Bride Hard

55%

"C" Camera Operator

2025

Voyage of Time: Life's Journey

63%

Director of Photography

2017

Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience

69%

Director of Photography

2016

A Paradise Lost

Director of Photography

2025

Bride Hard

55%

"C" Camera Operator

2025

May December

66%

"A" Camera Operator

2023

The Big Bend

Director of Photography

2021

Sharks of Hawaii

Producer

2021

Sharks vs. Dolphins: Blood Battle

75%

Director

2020

Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy

70%

Self

2020

Voyage of Time: Life's Journey

63%

Director of Photography

2017

Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience

69%

Director of Photography

2016

The Revenant

75%

Second Unit Cinematographer

2015

The Revenant

75%

Second Unit Director of Photography

2015

Point Break

60%

Camera Operator

2015

Knight of Cups

57%

Second Unit Director of Photography

2015
Poster for Wild Hawaii

Wild Hawaii

77%

Director of Photography

2014

The Tree of Life

67%

Second Unit Director

2011

Heatstroke

30%

Director of Photography

2008

Tyrannosaurus Azteca

47%

Director of Photography

2007

Tides of War

44%

Director of Photography

2005

Tsunami - Killer Wave

80%

Director of Photography

2005

The Land Has Eyes

58%

Director of Photography

2004
Poster for The Life of Mammals

The Life of Mammals

84%

Director of Photography

2002

Secret Killers of Monterey Bay

Director

2002

Secret Killers of Monterey Bay

Producer

2002

Secret Killers of Monterey Bay

Cinematography

2002

Secret Killers of Monterey Bay

Writer

2002

National Geographic: The Filmmakers

Director of Photography

1999

Dolphins: The Wild Side

70%

Director

1999

Night Orchid

53%

Director of Photography

1997

Filters

Department
Media Status

Release Date

Genres