2021 · Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
Outstanding Cinematography for a Non-Fiction Programme
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet — Silverback Films · Netflix
Honored by the Television Academy for his role in Additional Cinematography · won
About
An ethical, green, and compliant filmmaking company.
Highly Visual is deeply committed to responsible filmmaking and conservation. With a focus on natural history, every project adheres to strict environmental guidelines, minimising impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
The company prioritises compliance with local laws — permits, wildlife-protection regulations, KFCB and KCAA — while fostering strong relationships with local communities and conservation organisations to support ethical storytelling.
The story
Twenty-four years and counting.
The company started as a stills practice in Tanzania in 2002. We moved to Kenya in 2013, became the first company in the region to work professionally with drones, and have since evolved into a film-led practice across natural-history broadcast, fixing and commercial production.
2002
Founded in Tanzania
Highly Visual is established. Initial focus: stills photography across East African natural-history and conservation subjects.
2013
Moved to Kenya
The company moves to Nairobi. East African production, fixing and aerial work become the core practice.
2017
CAA-licensed drone operator
Barny becomes a CAA-approved drone pilot with a Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO UAS 9543) — issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Highly Visual becomes the first company in the region to work professionally with drones for broadcast.
2020 — 2024
Honored across six award cycles
Drone-operator and aerial cinematography contributions to productions honoured by the Television Academy (Primetime & Daytime Emmys), Critics Choice, Jackson Wild, and others. See the detailed list below.
Today
14+ countries, full broadcast tier
Active across the BBC NHU, Silverback Films, Plimsoll, Offspring, Nat Geo / Disney+ and Netflix slates. KFCB-registered local film agent. Operates with current Kenyan and UK licences, fully insured. Sister businesses at hirevisual.com (cinema-grade rental) and stock.highlyvisual.com (4K+ broadcast archive).
The operator
Barny Trevelyan-Johnson.
The most experienced drone operator in the region, with over ten years of professional drone work and a deeper photography and cinematography practice that began two decades earlier. Holds current Kenyan and UK licences and is fully insured.
Operates professionally across 14+ countries, including some of the planet's most extreme environments — Arctic, Antarctic, high-altitude, marine, dryland. Documentary photography consultant and BBC collaborating photographer.
Comfortable working as part of a large crew or independently; happy to arrange remote or reactionary filming where the production can't be on site.
Awards & recognition
Drone-operator and aerial contributions to productions honoured by the Television Academy, Critics Choice, Jackson Wild, the Royal Television Society and others between 2020 and 2024.
2022 · Critics Choice Documentary Awards
Best Cinematography (docuseries)
Our Great National Parks — Wild Space Productions · Higher Ground · Netflix
Recognised as part of the cinematography team · won
2023 · Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Travel, Adventure and Nature Program
Wild Babies — Netflix
Drone Operator (Kenya elephant sequence) · won
2023 · Jackson Wild Media Awards
Animal Behaviour — Long Form
Our Planet 2: World on the Move — Silverback Films · Netflix
Drone Operator · won
2024 · Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Cinematography for a Non-Fiction Programme (nominated)
Our Planet 2: World on the Move — Silverback Films · Netflix
Drone Operator · nominated
2024 · News and Documentary Emmys
News and Documentary Emmy Awards (four nominations)
Incredible Animal Journeys — Plimsoll Productions · National Geographic · Disney+
Drone Operator · nominated
How I work
Ethics first.
Ethical and conservation-aligned
Every project adheres to strict environmental guidelines, minimising impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
Compliant and locally connected
KFCB-registered local film agent. Compliance with local laws including permits and wildlife-protection regulations is the floor, not the goal.
Locally embedded
Strong relationships with local communities and conservation organisations support ethical storytelling on every shoot.
Kit
Cinema-tier across drone, ground and audio.
Owned kit is supplemented through the in-house rental house hirevisual.com, so production-day rigs scale to the brief.
Drones
- DJI Inspire 3 (RAW, full sensor)
- DJI Inspire 2 with X5S
- DJI Mavic 3 Cine
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Cinema cameras
- Sony FX6
- Sony FX3
- Sony PXW-FS7
- Sony A7R5
Lenses
- Sony 200-600mm
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 ART
- Sony 70-200mm f/4
- Sony G-Master prime set
Audio
- Sound Devices MixPre-3 mk2
- Rode NTG4+
- Rode Blimp · DJI Mic v1 · Shure MVL · Audio-Technica Pro70
Other
- DJI RS3 / RS2 Pro Gimbal
- Atomos Ninja V+ · Shinobi 5"
- Vortex 10×42 binoculars
- CineEye 2 Pro image-transmission
Where I work
14 countries. East African base.
Operating from Nairobi as the home base, with extensive ongoing fieldwork across the East African parks and conservancies and recurring international assignments.
Countries
Kenya · Tanzania · United Kingdom · Uganda · Rwanda · Botswana · South Africa · Madagascar · Namibia · Ethiopia · Mozambique · Zambia · Democratic Republic of Congo · India
East African parks & conservancies
Maasai Mara · Mara Triangle · Tsavo East · Tsavo West · Amboseli · Samburu · Shaba · Lake Bogoria · Lake Naivasha · Lake Magadi · Nairobi National Park · Mount Kenya · Reteti Elephant Sanctuary · Namunyak Conservancy · Rukinga (Tsavo) · Watamu Coast
What clients say
We worked with Barny for 'Incredible Animal Journeys' for Nat Geo/Disney+ (Emmy nominated). Barny captured some amazing material for us in Kenya and Tanzania of elephants, flamingo and zebra for the episode 'Chasing The African Rains'. I found his experience of working in with these animals invaluable. He was highly skilled at following the animals, flying close at times - but also taking care not to stress the animals or affect their behaviour. He worked with us both as part of a team and remotely and his drone work played an important part in helping to tell our stories in a visually exciting and immersive way.
Along with having a great name, Barny is a great drone operator. He gets it and delivers. Sounds easy but not always the case. And along with that he knows the lay of the land and can be invaluable in securing permits and permissions. He's a great person to have on your team.