Paul Atkins

Paul Atkins, ASC is a renowned cinematographer and director whose career has spanned the globe, capturing the essence of wildlife and diverse cultures for prestigious organizations like National Geographic, Disney, and the BBC. His remarkable work includes contributions to celebrated series such as *Planet Earth* and significant IMAX projects. Over the years, Atkins has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy Awards, British Academy Awards, and a distinguished tribute at the Telluride Film Festival.

His journey began in 1974 when he moved to Hawaii to pursue a Ph.D. in marine biology at the University of Hawaii. It was here that he merged his love for the ocean with filmmaking, establishing himself as an underwater and wildlife cinematographer. Together with his wife and producing partner, Grace Atkins, he created impactful documentaries like the Emmy-winning *Hawaii: Strangers in Paradise*, *Great White Shark*, and *Dolphins: The Wild Side*, all of which aimed to raise awareness about environmental conservation.

Among his noteworthy achievements, Atkins served as director of photography for Jean-Michel Cousteau's *Voyage to Kure*, a pivotal project that influenced President George W. Bush's decision to designate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a National Monument in 2006. In recent years, he has worked on projects like Disneynature's *Dolphin Reef* and Nat Geo's *America's National Parks*. His cinematic expertise has also led him to collaborate with esteemed directors such as Peter Weir on *Master and Commander*, Alejandro Iñárritu on *The Revenant*, and Terrence Malick on multiple films, including *The Tree of Life*, which garnered an Oscar nomination for cinematography.