Chris Lotz (Director and Cinematographer)

A director is the rudder, steering a production in the direction that’s been conceptualised for it. Along with the producers, they manage the shoot roll-out on a daily basis. They make stuff happen. A cinematographer is the person who sees the footage before it’s been shot, who’s pictured it in their minds’ eye, and who ensures that it’s captured beautifully, and that it come salive on screen. Chris Lotz is both. He’s won numerous awards in his field, he wields a 14kg camera around for 14 hours a day, he is always thinking and seeing in dimensions we didn’t even know were there, and for Food Safari, he was ours. And we couldn’t have been happier. What a privilege to work with someone who has the unique ability to work ridiculously hard, remain unflustered, be endlessly creative and committed to finding the very best shots, and to continuously draw the very best out of those around them.

I’d never realised it until we shot without him for a few episodes (and brought in Riaan Badenhorst to fill his shoes, a total star who I’ll get to later), but Chris and I talk all day. Often without saying a word. It’s his camera that I seek out in the crowd as I look up from my work, or work my way through often lengthy and fairly agonising voice-over takes, his subtle nods that guide me (or sometimes less subtle and I’ll get a ‘hmmm, yes, thanks Sarah, there was a moment there’ usually after having started patting myself on the back for a sequence I thought particularly well done, only to be diplomatically taken in a different direction). It’s his approval I seek through each take, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m sure I’m not the only one of the Food Safari team who offers you sincerest thanks you for being so flipping rock solid.

About my experience on ‘Food Safari’:
“Take a custom made cooking station, gather an amazing filming crew, hop into an overland truck, hit the road in Africa…of course it is going to be the most amazing adventure of your life!!”

Chris Lotz has 19 years experience in the television industry as a Cinemtographer and Director. The scope of his experience includes numerous local documentaries, television series’ and various other forms of production. He has also gained much experience as an international documentary cameraman. This includes work for Animal Planet, National Geographic, BBC, German, Irish and French TV channels. Chris is on the BBC’s list of preferred international cameramen.

I love this picture – the ele’s are arriving for our sunset feast at Antelope Park (Episode 1), and Chris is a man on a mission to capture what he can before the light fades on us.

Just near Imire Wildlife Sanctuary in Zimbabwe.

The Thinking Face.
Antelope Park, Zimbabwe

The Thinking Face.


Rob, hanging on to Chris’ belt loops, and Chris leaning over the Victoria Falls to get just the shot he’s after.

The Thinking Face.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Zimbabwe

Photo’s from ‘Sarah Graham’s Food Safari’ by Ricardo de Leça.