Matthew Goodman

I am an experienced cinematographer specializing in wildlife and nature, with extensive international credits spanning Africa, the Arctic, Asia, and Australasia. Skilled in operating high-end camera systems, drones, and gimbals, I have worked on major productions including long-term projects with the BBC, National Geographic, and Netflix, capturing aerial, remote, and on-the-ground sequences in challenging environments. Alongside filmmaking, I have contributed to conservation projects with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, combining field expertise with storytelling to document rare animal behaviours. I bring technical precision, adaptability, and a strong creative eye to every project.

Industry Experience

Industry Experience:
Bridgeway Foundation - Documentary - Aerial (Shotover Fixed Wing) - (Uganda - June 2025)
Grumeti Fund - Human/ Wildlife Documentary (Tanzania - Ongoing)
Netflix - 'Wild Water' (New Zealand 2023/2024) - Director of Photography and Animal Behavioural Specialist.
BBC – Mammals (Namibia, 2022): Lead camera, drone, and gimbal operator filming desert wildlife in extreme environments.
John Downer Productions (2016–2022): Six years as a core cinematographer across major global wildlife productions. Operated and maintained Shotover F1, M1, B1 & G1 systems on helicopters, 4x4 buggies, boats, and jet skis. Extensive fieldwork in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Svalbard, India, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand.

Notable credits include: Snow Bears (GTC Award for Excellence, 2018), Spy in the Wild (Cinematography Emmy nomination, 2018), New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands (Cinematography Emmy nomination, 2017), and Serengeti (Cinematography Emmy nomination, 2020), USA - National Parks (Cinematography Emmy Nomination 2025).

Department of Conservation (New Zealand, 2012–present): Ongoing conservation filming and contracting in remote wilderness areas, combining ecological fieldwork with wildlife documentation.

Extensive Drone, Shotover, Longlens, Motion Trigger and Handheld Gimbal experience.