WildFilmHistory Films
 Zoo Quest to Guiana (1955) | Photography |
| Faraway Look: The Land of the Magpie Goose (1957) | Photography |
Charles Lagus
The first cameraman engaged by the BBC to shoot natural history footage, Charles Lagus' filmmaking career began when he switched from studying medicine to photography in 1946 and joined Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) making medical and scientific research films.
Beginning a long and successful relationship with the BBC, Charles filmed the very first Zoo Quest (1954), joining David Attenborough in Sierra Leone. Charles' talent was quickly recognised and he went on to film all but one of the long-running series. One of the few BBC cameramen with expedition experience he spent the 1950s working with Armand and Michaela Denis and was selected to accompany Peter Scott on his tour of Australasia, shown in the 1957 series, Faraway Look.
In 1959 Charles directed and photographed Kariba, detailing the animal rescue efforts being implemented before the flooding of the dam, and also wrote an accompanying book, Operation Noah.
During a long and successful career Charles worked on a variety of productions filming on the BBC's Animal Magic, ITV's Nature Watch and even offered his services as underwater photographer on The Great Muppet Caper (1981).
Charles is now enjoying his retirement in Mauritius.
