Chris Homer - Specialist cameraman
I use drones, robotics, cars, boats, helicopters, gimbals, wires, blimps, aerostats and rails in a variety of complex, high-pressure, and harsh environments around the world.
I’m often found bringing specialist cameras to a high-profile event, or creating exquisite cinematography on the snowy slopes of a mountain, with cold hands, an icy beard, sizzling steaks and a pot noodle.
Work Experience
I’ve worked with specialist cameras on thousands of occasions in over 30 countries. My work has taken me to Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and many more.
Before my career in the television industry, I embarked on a brief but impactful journey in the British Army. Initially serving as part of a reserve regiment of Challenger 2 main battle tank crewmen, I later underwent retraining for a dismounted combat infantry role. Eventually, I specialised as an ISTAR operator (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance). It was during this period that I earned the prestigious Brigadier's commendation for actions on operations in Iraq in 2008.
Blimp Crew Chief / Aerostat Flight Director
Responsible for the deployment of a huge 20m long, 250kg, £1m+ unmanned aerial system. A 17m aerostat with Cineflex V14 payload -
30+ International test cricket matches
40+ Horse racing events
Indian Premier League Cricket in 2010, Mumbai and Jaipur, India.
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler, Canada.
Asian Winter Games 2011, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011, Oslo, Norway.
London 2012 Olympics, England.
Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, Russia.
Rio 2016 Olympics, Brazil.
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017, Lahti, Finland.
PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, Korea.
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2019, Seefeld, Austria.
Formula 1, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, music festivals, international rugby, Ryder Cup golf and more.
Be it weeks in the 47c heat of the Rajasthan desert, or the -37c chill and snow of a remote mountain top working 48-hour shifts in brutal conditions, I’ve enjoyed taking unmanned aerials to new limits.
Drone Operator
UEFA EURO 2016, France. Hundreds of iconic locations around France, including from the roof of the Stade de France, around the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur.
UEFA EURO 2020, throughout Europe. Hundreds of iconic locations in London, Dublin, Glasgow, Denmark, Azerbaijan, Russia, Italy, Germany and Hungary.
TOKYO 2020, Japan. Live drones on the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dubai Desert Classic 2021 - Live drone.
Multiple UK-based dramas including Dame Barbara Windsor’s final ever scene for Eastenders.
Wimbledon Championships - 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022.
The Open Golf - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021 and 2022.
Hundreds of city centre drone shoots throughout the UK, capturing city GVs in complex busy environments.
Hundreds of “outdoors” adventure-style filming projects throughout the UK, capturing landscapes in sometimes harsh outdoor environments. Often including many miles of hiking, 1000s of feet of climbing and/or difficult weather conditions.
Industrial drone surveys. I’ve carried out around 100 energy-related surveys including lots of solar farms, a few wind turbines and a nuclear power station. I’ve flown close to 100 miles of potential oil and water pipeline routes, inspected a few miles of power lines, and 10-plus miles of railways, including a few HS2 sites. I’ve carried out everything from short regular surveys at construction sites, to complex 6 figure survey jobs at huge hospitals.
A few weddings, never again. Sorry.
Remote Heads
Over 250 Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and International football matches throughout the UK and Europe. Rigging, operating and providing technical support for specialist remote cameras for Sky Sports, BVS, BT, ITV and others.
Overhead swimming cameras at the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games in Indonesia.
Gymnastics and beauty cameras at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Above the octagon for UFC in Glasgow, Scotland.
Other Specialist Broadcast Cameras
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with so many great cameras that I can’t possibly name them all, but some of the highlights include -
High-speed rail cameras filming athletics, and at a slower speed filming the British Open.
Long and high-wire cameras over the Kremlin in Moscow for President Putin’s inauguration, and above the athletics in Qatar.
Mini-cams on the stalls at the Dubai Horse Racing World Cup.
Fixing mini-cams onto Iron Maidens drumkit at the Download Festival.
Flying around Wembley Stadium in a helicopter with a gimbal, or hanging out of the door over London, without a gimbal.
Driving a Freefly remote control car system around golf courses to film the British Masters, and beside Mo Farah during the London Marathon.
Sailing a Freefly system around lakes at the Ryder Cup in France.
Operating the chase boat up and down the River Thames on a boat during the Oxford Cambridge boat race.
Driving and operating a camera tracking vehicle on horse racing on hundreds of occasions up and down the UK.
Other Experience
Worked through the “Young Merchant” training course at builders merchant “Jewson”, an apprenticeship of sorts. Picking up valuable experience, knowledge and qualifications in life, business and the construction industry.
I attended practical courses on plumbing, electrics, decorating, groundworks, landscaping, roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, and most sides of the construction industry, with the thinking being that you had to know it to sell it.
I also cut timber, drove forklifts, carried blocks, stacked bricks and swept floors.
NVQ Level 2 & 3 in sales and customer service.
BTEC in Construction
CATG Licensed visual timber stress grader
First aid at work
Forklift and sawmill operator
I’ve also delivered newspapers.
