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BBC footage of lightning over erupting volcano was stirring, dramatic – and fake BBC footage of lightning over erupting volcano was stirring, dramatic – and fake
(about 2 hours later)
The BBC has admitted that footage of a volcanic eruption screened as part of its natural history blockbuster series Patagonia: Earth’s Secret Paradise was faked. The scene, purporting to depict a single volcano in eruption, was actually created by splicing together eruptions from two separate volcanoes. One eruption took place in 2011, the other in 2015. The BBC has admitted that footage of a volcanic eruption screened as part of its natural history blockbuster series, Patagonia: Earth’s Secret Paradise, was faked. The scene, purporting to depict a single volcano in eruption, was actually created by splicing together eruptions from two separate volcanoes. One eruption took place in 2011, the other in 2015.
The admission is likely to trigger a new row over the use of digital techniques to make documentaries more dramatic and popular, and will embroil the corporation in further controversy at a time when its finances and remit are under parliamentary scrutiny.The admission is likely to trigger a new row over the use of digital techniques to make documentaries more dramatic and popular, and will embroil the corporation in further controversy at a time when its finances and remit are under parliamentary scrutiny.
Staff at the BBC’s Natural History Unit – which made the series – were also said to be angry about the inclusion of the doctored scene, which they fear could erode trust in their output. “If we falsify one scene, who is going to believe anything else in that programme or, for that matter, any other film that we produce,” one staff member told the Observer. Staff at the BBC’s natural history unit – which made the series – were also said to be angry about the inclusion of the doctored scene, which they fear could erode trust in their output. “If we falsify one scene, who is going to believe anything else in that programme or, for that matter, any other film that we produce,” one staff member told the Observer.
The new row comes after a bitter battle in 2011 over the BBC’s natural history series Frozen Planet, which contained footage that was said to show polar bears being born in the wild when, in fact, it was filmed at a man-made den in a German animal park. Some naturalists defended the BBC on the grounds that the transgression was mild. As David Attenborough remarked at the time: “Filming a polar bear birth in the wild is virtually impossible.” For its part, the corporation denied acting improperly. The new row comes after a bitter battle in 2011 over the BBC’s natural history series Frozen Planet, which contained footage that was said to show polar bears being born in the wild when, in fact, it was filmed at a manmade den in a German animal park.
But the latest controversy is likely to be more damaging. Several senior BBC executives will have viewed the programme before its transmission, and staff told the Observer that it was inconceivable that no one would have questioned how such a powerful, dramatic scene had been filmed. That in turn implies that executives either thought the deception was unimportant or hoped they would get away with it, even if it was of doubtful provenance. Some naturalists defended the BBC on the grounds that the transgression was mild. As David Attenborough remarked at the time: “Filming a polar bear birth in the wild is virtually impossible.” For its part, the corporation denied acting improperly.
Shown nine days ago as part of the first episode of Patagonia: Earth’s Secret Paradise, the offending scene shows lightning flickering around the volcano Calbuco in southern Chile as it erupts. As it belches thick clouds of ash into the atmosphere, a tracery of vivid lightning flashes can be see around the cone of the volcano. The effect is highly dramatic and the sequence became a YouTube sensation, watched by hundreds of thousands of people and registering 300,000 likes and 500,000 shares on Facebook. Many commented on the beauty of lightning strikes set against dark clouds of ash emanating from Calbuco. For its part, BBC Earth issued a tweet exulting in the popularity of the volcano scene. But the latest controversy is likely to be more damaging. Several senior BBC executives will have viewed the programme before its transmission, and staff told the Observer that it was inconceivable that no one would have questioned how such a powerful, dramatic scene had been filmed.
That in turn implies that executives either thought the deception was unimportant or hoped they would get away with it, even if it was of doubtful provenance.
Shown on 25 September as part of the first episode of Patagonia: Earth’s Secret Paradise, the offending scene shows lightning flickering around the volcano Calbuco in southern Chile as it erupts. As it belches thick clouds of ash into the atmosphere, a tracery of vivid lightning flashes can be see around the cone of the volcano.
The effect is highly dramatic and the sequence became a YouTube sensation, watched by hundreds of thousands of people and registering 300,000 likes and 500,000 shares on Facebook. Many commented on the beauty of lightning strikes set against dark clouds of ash emanating from Calbuco. For its part, BBC Earth issued a tweet exulting in the popularity of the volcano scene.
However, it now emerges that the lightning strikes – which play a key role in embellishing the scene – had occurred four years earlier in the sky above a different volcano and were added to make the scene more dramatic. No mention of this manipulation was made at the time of the programme’s broadcast.However, it now emerges that the lightning strikes – which play a key role in embellishing the scene – had occurred four years earlier in the sky above a different volcano and were added to make the scene more dramatic. No mention of this manipulation was made at the time of the programme’s broadcast.
Last week the Observer asked the BBC to explain its actions and was told the programme’s producer, Tuppence Stone, would explain in a blogpost the techniques that had been employed.Last week the Observer asked the BBC to explain its actions and was told the programme’s producer, Tuppence Stone, would explain in a blogpost the techniques that had been employed.
In the blog, posted last Friday, she says that events known as “dirty thunderstorms” sometimes occur near erupting volcanoes, but these are very difficult to film. “We took time-lapse images from the Calbuco volcano filmed in early 2015 and the lightning shots were superimposed on to the erupting cloud. The lightning shots were taken by an award-winning Chilean photographer, of a nearby Patagonian volcano, Cordón Caulle, during its eruption four years earlier, using long exposure techniques. The Cordón Caulle volcano eruption was a very similar event to the Calbuco volcano this year.” In the blog, posted on 2 October, she says that events known as “dirty thunderstorms” sometimes occur near erupting volcanoes, but these are very difficult to film.
However, the BBC also issued a separate statement which included an admission that it should have made it clear that its Natural History Unit had manipulated a key scene in its latest flagship natural history series. “In order to show viewers the extraordinary spectacle of a dirty thunderstorm with lightning flashes that would be impossible to capture in a single camera, a composite image was put together from footage from two Patagonian volcanoes. However, we recognise that this should have been made clear and so have published a blogpost to explain the techniques used.” “We took time-lapse images from the Calbuco volcano filmed in early 2015 and the lightning shots were superimposed on to the erupting cloud. The lightning shots were taken by an award-winning Chilean photographer, of a nearby Patagonian volcano, Cordón Caulle, during its eruption four years earlier, using long exposure techniques. The Cordón Caulle volcano eruption was a very similar event to the Calbuco volcano this year.”
Staff at the Natural History Unit, based in Bristol, were so incensed by the inclusion of the deliberately doctored sequence that several complained to senior BBC executives, it has now emerged. The Observer has also learned that the issue has been raised with the corporation’s director general, Tony Hall. However, the BBC also issued a separate statement which included an admission that it should have made it clear that its natural history unit had manipulated a key scene.
The revelation of the deception is extremely embarrassing to the Natural History Unit. It operates a strict code of practice that lays down rules about deceptions. One insider told the Observer: “We have to go on truth courses to ensure we understand the importance of honesty, and yet this was allowed to happen. Did senior executives know about the deception? If not, why not? If they did, how can they explain their decision to screen a fabricated sequence?” “In order to show viewers the extraordinary spectacle of a dirty thunderstorm with lightning flashes that would be impossible to capture in a single camera, a composite image was put together from footage from two Patagonian volcanoes. However, we recognise that this should have been made clear and so have published a blogpost to explain the techniques used.”
Staff at the natural history unit, based in Bristol, were so incensed by the inclusion of the deliberately doctored sequence that several complained to senior BBC executives, it has now emerged. The Observer has also learned that the issue has been raised with the corporation’s director general, Tony Hall.
The revelation of the deception is extremely embarrassing to the natural history unit. It operates a strict code of practice that lays down rules about deceptions.
One insider told the Observer: “We have to go on truth courses to ensure we understand the importance of honesty, and yet this was allowed to happen.
“Did senior executives know about the deception? If not, why not? If they did, how can they explain their decision to screen a fabricated sequence?”