About Christian Parkinson
caparkinson is me, Christian Anthony Parkinson. I’m a Film-maker, Journalist and Writer working in International News. I love to travel, to take pictures and write about the places I go and the people that I meet. This site is my Scrapbook, an evolving archive of the stories that I cover, the films that I make and the lessons that I learn.
Taking a break in the desert close to Lake Fagubine in Mali
I’m from Leicester in England but am currently living in South Africa where I work in International Newsgathering. Working as a Journalist is a great job and I’ve been lucky enough to see and experience so much in a short space of time. I started my career as a Runner with Channel Five News in the UK with the goal of becoming an On-screen Reporter. Fairly quickly I realized that my future lay behind the Camera and I began to spend my days off going out on shoots and asking every stupid question I could think of. After a stint as a Studio Cameraman at ITN and then as a Multi-skilled Operator at BBC Northwest I finally joined BBC National News in 2004. In the years since then I’ve travelled the world and covered stories ranging from the Beijing Olympics to the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s been a fantastic journey and it is still far from over. I hope that www.caparkinson.com will give you a taste of my life, an insight into who I am and what I do.
I also run a sister site aimed purely at TV News and Documentary Film-makers called www.imagejunkies.com – that is where you will find all of my technical notes and training advice for Cameramen, Editors and Producers.
Part of the first BBC team allowed into Zimbabwe, July 2009
Please note that this website is in no way affiliated, connected, endorsed or otherwise supported by the BBC. Any views expressed in this website are my own and not those of the BBC.
Congrats on your engagement, Chris. Would love to share you wedding (when it happens) on Wedding Nouveau, the new style guide for intercultural brides and multi ethnic weddings.
Hi there, I had a look at your site, it looks good. Drop me an email with the sort of stuff you would be interested in. Cheers, Chris@caparkinson.com
Hi Chris,
Been a long long time. hope you’re good. heard your got married from Nana Ama. Nice site you’ve got here. I am good
Keep it real. Regards to anyone and everyone.
Cheers
Hi Josh, wow it has really been a long time! Drop me an email so that we can keep in touch. chris@caparkinson.com
Hi Chris,
My name is Ciaran O’Connor and I am a first year in tv/film production student in St. John’s College in Cork City Ireland. I am very interested in becoming a camera man and I really like and admire some of the stuff that you have been involved with. I was wondering if i sent you a list of questions would you be able to answer them for me? QUESTIONS
Q1 How did you get into camera work?
Q2 What kind of education do you need to become a camera person?
Q3 What did you do to get into camera work?
Q4 What are the job oppurtunities for someone looking to work in the camera industry?
Q4 What health and safety practices is needed?
Q5 Do you need to be fit to be a camera man?
Q6 What is the minimum wage involved with being a camera person?
Q7 What skills are needed to become a camera person?
Q8 Can you give me some tips on what I could do to make myself a better camera person?
Q9 What are the pro’s and con’s of being a camera person?
Hi mate, thanks for your message – Ill send you an email with the answers. . . Cheers, Chris.
Hey Chris, Thanks so much for answering my qyestions. Much appreciated. And you will get full credit on my end of year paper. Thanks again. I’ll keep in touch to see how things are going with ya, and who knows maybe one day I might meet you in the field;-) Cheers Ciaran
[...] By Christian Parkinson [...]
Hi chris i am a journalist from malta. i am preparing a feature on misurata. I would like to ask you some questions regarding your excellent video and misurata ingeneral. Is it possible? i would like to send me your email?
regards
mary
Hi Chris, bravo on your good work. I learnt about your excellent work via linked in.I am a Kenyan freelance journalist, currently corresponding for various online media. I am well traveled, Africa and Europe. I would like to start a blog on my travels but most importantly i want to embark on photography.Do you offer any trainings on photo journalism? Kindly advice.Joyce
Hi Christian,
Did you go to Pangbourne College Junior School?
If so…. this is Marcus… remember me?
Cheers