At Close Range with National Geographic (2007 TV Movie) User Reviews

I think the guy is kind of crazy, but it's a very compelling film...

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 2 October 2011]

Joel Sartore is a professional photographer for National Geographic. In this capacity, he's traveled the world and spent much of his life trying to get 'the perfect shot'. He described himself as being a bit obsessive-compulsive, and I would agree--as he goes to amazing lengths to get these pictures. Freezing cold, illness, hanging around vicious predators and the like--all for the assignment.

There were two aspects of the film I found very interesting. First, I never realized so many rolls of film were shot for an article. 300-500 rolls--thousands and thousands of pictures were taken--all for, perhaps, 6-20 total used in the magazine! Second, while Joel seems like a really nice and down to earth guy, it's hard to imagine that he has a wife and three kids--considering that he's gone for such extended periods. At the end of the film, he's off to Alaska for a 10-week assignment! I just don't know how they can live like that and it's emotionally compelling seeing this.

Overall, a nice behind the scenes look at the tough life of a magazine photographer. So, when you're looking at a magazine article and you glance at the photos, stop and think about the effort it took to bring this to you. Quite compelling and interesting...and a bit sad as well.

Highly interesting snapshot of the life of a National Geographic photographer.

[TxMike · 6 December 2011]

I watched this on Netflix streaming video. At just under an hour it is a very manageable viewing.

I am a photographer, not professional, but I have spent my share of days climbing or laying on the ground or watching active hummingbirds to try to get a few special photos, ones that are both unique and also tell a story. So this film is a subject dear to my heart.

National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore is the subject here. From a selfish point of view I was hoping for more on the "technical" side, what equipment he uses and how he approaches his assignments. But there is very little of that.

It is mostly a portrait of the man, a family man with a loving wife and three neat kids. His assignments take him away for a week or six weeks, sometimes to far-away and potentially dangerous locations, and we see how they all prepare for these departures. He is frank, most people would not like this job, it is dirty, uncomfortable, overall unpleasant, but his type-A personality makes him go, and keep the desire to capture memorable photos and help show, through the magazine, the wild world that still exists in some parts of the globe.

There is also a decent amount of attention given to the editing and photo-selection process at headquarters in Washington D.C. which I found very interesting.

My only wish was that they had spent a bit less time at the rodeo. Even though that is an integral part of his life it seemed overbalanced compared to more interesting material. But that is a minor criticism.