We caught up with Terry earlier this week to ask him a few questions about both the Cairngorms video and another project he's working on which is attracting a lot of attention - Life of a Mountain:Scafell Pike. For the next 10 months, Terry will be covering Scafell Pike from all angles and in all weathers. Endeavouring to capture it's ever changing character along with its history he'll also be filming key characters in the life of a mountain along with cameos from a few outdoors celebs that help tell it's story. The video documentary has attracted sponsorship from Rab, Force Ten, Vango, The National Trust and Cumbria Tourism and filming is already underway with Terry releasing the first in a series of behind the scenes clips following a session on the mountain just a week before Christmas.

Terry talks about the Cairgorms and Scafell Pike videos:

Q: The deadline for funding your Cairngorms video with Chris Townsend is still a couple of days away and you’ve already passed your target. What will any extra money above the £5000 enable you to do?

A: In truth, it will enable me to spend more time and effort in achieving the vision I have for the film. People don't tend to be aware that I travel via public transport with all of my kit in a pack. And then head out walking in the hills for several days, camping out and so on to capture the scenes I have in my mind's eye. Me and Chris aren't making any profit on this film. We're doing it because of our love for the outdoors and particularly Chris' for the area. Any extra monies ensures we achieve a minimum standard. Needless to say, the weather can be a major factor for shoots and often my time can be perceived to be wasted as I sit out storms or days of poor weather.

Q:There’s been a lot of talk recently about crowd sourcing, with an outdoor specific one being proposed on LinkedIn, how easy have you found Kickstarter to use?

A: Setting up a project on Kickstarter is relatively easy but there are careful and considerate rules you need to abide by. Myself and Chris know only too well that in our fields raising funds for such creative projects can be very competitive or just non-existent in these hard times. Often it's quite hard to explain to any potential interested parties the vision and idea behind any creative project. Of course, some are successful and some aren't. Seeking grants and such like isn't easy at all. Some may say if the idea is good enough then it shouldn't be a problem. But that's just too dismissive when you consider various bodies who will provide grants have their own motives when releasing funds.

In effect, what sites like Kickstarter do is enable people to approach the general public for support on projects. If they find it compelling they'll get involved. After all, it's the public that will hopefully want to see the final product. In effect, they're pre-ordering it. And arguably that's much harder to achieve than approaching various grant bodies!

Thankfully for me and Chris, people wish to see the film happen. It's truly humbling and also makes us feel vindicated in our ideas too. So, it's all thanks to the people. Another aspect of how the internet age has revolutionised people power, really. 

Q: How will you choose the locations for the Cairngorms video?

A: I don't intend this and never intended this film to be some run of the mill walking video. As a fan of Chris' work and achievements I've always envisaged a film that's about the man as well as the area. Alas, we don't have a mega budget so I'll be focusing on 3 areas that anyone, whatever their ability will want to visit while Chris does his thing. So we will touch upon things like backpacking and kit. More importantly I want to show Chris the person. What makes him tick and why he adores the Cairngorms so much. And consequently I can then lead the beautiful landscapes into the visual and aural narrative.

So, for most of the time I'll be concentrating on capturing those 3 areas as best I can - as captivating as I can on film. Then in stages, will film Chris on location and at home. I think people will be genuinely surprised by what comes out of this. I suppose it will inevitably be a culmination of both our passions. And thankfully as I've got to know Chris extremely well in recent months (and vice versa) we've found we have much in common. Be it in personalities and interests to how we came to love the great outdoors. 

Q: You’re doing quite a few time lapse night sky shots in your videos now, will there be one in the Cairngorms video and was there a something specific that inspired you to do time lapse of the night sky?

A: I don't really know. It depends. It can be very time consuming and hard to achieve. A lot of luck is involved. Planning the scene is easy enough and setting up the camera et al too. But you live and fall by the prevailing conditions. Dew can form on the lens or frost even through the course of the shoot. Or the cold temperatures can slow down the performance of batteries just to name a few. We'll see. I want to of course. But I can't promise anything. I'm told I'm extremely tenacious and I suppose that will help. If I have a scene or shot in mind, I'm not afraid to keep going back and trying over and over again. I'm a bit stubborn like that.

Q: Getting the audio right high on the Cairngorms in winter is going to be unpredictable at best. Will you be doing much on site audio?

A: Of course. But audio is another ball park all together. Wind is wind. You don't need to record that per se if you have some recordings already. But sounds unique to the area are a must. Never mind any talking heads stuff with the likes of Chris. I'll be using microphones attached to the camera and wireless ones too. Audio is often the most overlooked aspect of filmmaking and is arguably of equal importance to any video. The same goes for the music. I'm very much old school in that a soundtrack can really lift and enhance a film. And thankfully I have a very talented composer called Freddiehangoler involved who hails from Israel! He's working with me on Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike. We've inadvertently discovered a real synergy between us and it's consequently lead us to partnering up again. Freddie's a master of grand and majestic music I've found but also the more serene, contemplative sounds too.

I've no doubt he'll be the third man in the making of this film.

Q: With the Cairngorms video and your Scafell Pike video it looks like a busy few months ahead. Have you any major plans for the latter part of 2013?

A: Recently my focus has just been clearing projects I've begun for clients in the past year - most of which won't be public until later in 2013. And from last September I began planning the concepts and actioning the two documentaries. The Scafell Pike film is a particular brainchild of mine I've dreamt of producing for over 2 years. I'm chuffed to bits I've got it off the ground. It's an ambitious project. A film showcasing the Scafells through the seasons featuring all those who live, work, care and play around this iconic fell.

I've a particular vision in mind for this one. I want to bring out the humanity of the area. The people who work on it, care for it, play on it. But also I want to bring some of that Victorian romance and grandeur to the area. Bring out the emotions of these hills that inspired the great poets. Yes, it sounds cheesy and it might well be for some. But make no doubt. I guarantee you won't have seen any film like this of the Lake District - or much of the UK for that matter.

I've not thought too much about late 2013 to be honest because of what I'm focused on right now. I'll have to of course. I need to earn some crust! But there are some ideas I have banding about and there's some interest from various parties. After all the effort and learning I've done in the past 18 months, it's really rather nice that I'm the one being approached and sought for work now - and not me chasing for work! The photography side of things has took me by surprise in recent months, I have to admit. I've never had me down as a photographer. But I keep getting more and more demands for prints and commissions. It's all rather bizarre. We'll see what happens. I take nothing for granted.

Q: You had a bit of a scare during your recent trip filming on Scafell Pike, how important is it for people to learn ice axe and crampon techniques before going on the hills in winter.

A: Given my previous answer, it may not come as a surprise I've been pushing myself and my kit to the limits already this winter. And it's easy for me to become tired, stupid and distracted. A recent fall on Scafell Pike made me realise I had to be more thoughtful on the weights I can carry in given conditions up on the hills. It almost proved fatal. And it also reminded me that even though I was careful, and had the right kit with me. Accidents WILL happen. Obviously I try to minimise the risks involved the best I can.

If I hadn't had crampons and an axe with me, I can tell you I wouldn't be talking to you right now. Yes, it was a bit of a scare but I've forgotten all about it now. But learnt from the experience of course. It's made me re-adjust plans I made for the Cairngorms, that's for sure.

December dawn from Bowfell to the Scafells ©Terrybnd

Q: The Scafell Pike and Cairngorms videos have got much higher budgets than you’ve previously had. How are these higher budgets helping you get the results you want?

A: Well, bar a few bits and bobs I'm still using the same old kit! All the budgets have done is give me more time to achieve what I wish to capture on film in truth. I can be more methodical in my planning with locations and the weather. I don't have to cut so many corners. There's some kit I've purchased recently that I've not got round to using yet and so I'm quite excited in using more dynamic and visually compelling shots in the coming works. They'll be used liberally. Or I should really say to optimum effect. But that's filmmaking for you.

I have to say that the sponsors currently involved have been absolutely superb in their support. I still find it all a bit bewildering and extremely humbling. There's no airs and graces about me. I'm very much the ordinary bloke in the street. But the fact they've been so helpful on so many levels means a great deal. It drives me on to ensure I achieve the goals I have in mind. So there is a bit of pressure. I'm aware of the expectations. But I'm not given to worry. I'm sticking to my plans and I aint budging. Hopefully in the coming weeks and months ahead, they and the public will begin to see the formation of what I originally had in mind. And hopefully they like it! 

Q:  Do you see the Scafell Pike video being a one-off or are you hoping to eventually cover, say, each of the UK’s highest peaks or the most popular peaks?

A: Indeed I do envisage a series of videos! But it all depends if folk want me to produce more and I can raise the budgets required. I really do believe in "actions speak louder than words" and I guess once the Scafell film is complete (perhaps even not long before) I'll have a good idea of where the future lies in the concept. It's one I'd love to see, never mind do! But it all depends on the public. Without the people, I wouldn't be where I am today. Cliche I know. I used to take the mick out of folk who said that. But it's so bloody true. I'm nothing without them.

Q:  Do you ever go out without a camera just to feel totally free of work as some top photographers do?

A: I wish I had the time to do so, yes. I can count on one hand the number of trips I've done in the  past year alone where I could backpack with normal gear and just relax. I dream of it. I yearn for it a lot of the time. I see a spectacular scene and wish to take it all in with a drink in hand. Alas, 99% of the time my mind is elsewhere on the cameras I'm using. I am thankful for being able to be outdoors and spend so much time exploring and re-visiting places. But equally, I will wish to be at home too with my family, home comforts and so on. It's a double-edged sword let me tell you.

Would I change it? Hell no. I'll happily do what I do until my body can take no more. Life's too short to waste on such thoughts. I want to grab the opportunities that have been presented to me and with both hands and keep rocking and rolling with it.

Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.