Meet the Falmouth graduate working on ‘the most ambitious portrait of life on earth ever attempted'

Within a year of graduating from Falmouth University’s Marine & Natural History Photography BA, Hedvika Michnova had secured a coveted role as a researcher on HOME, an epic wildlife series from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit and National Geographic. We caught up with Hedvika to discuss working on location in Africa, why she chose Falmouth and how an award-winning student film launched her dream career.  

Tell us about HOME… 

It has been described as a cinematic spectacle of natural history across the planet, filmed over a decade and journeying through five oceans and seven continents. I’m working on the first series, which is all about Africa. I feel incredibly fortunate that this job has opened doors for me to explore extraordinary locations and spend weeks documenting the local wildlife.  

What’s your role in this epic project? 

I joined the HOME team at the BBC in 2022. As a researcher, my day-to-day work is incredibly diverse. At the beginning of the production I spent a lot of time searching for new animal behaviour stories, which entailed reading scientific papers, Zoom calls with researchers and watching past natural history programmes for inspiration. As the production advanced, my focus shifted towards organising shoots – with the most enjoyable aspect being the opportunity to travel with a film crew, collaborating to create captivating sequences.  

I work closely with producers, crafting pitches for National Geographic and developing story beats and shot lists. My team is exceptionally inclusive and collaborative, giving me ample room for creative input. I cherish the (albeit slightly stressful) moments in the final weeks leading up to a shoot. It’s a whirlwind of activity – juggling equipment, finalising logistics, dealing with permits – but you also feel the undeniable rush and excitement for the upcoming adventure. My role is not in camera work but I’ve had the opportunity to develop my skills and learn a lot about various camera technologies, taking stills for promotion of the programme and filming behind-the-scenes content. 

I chose the Marine & Natural History Photography BA at Falmouth because there’s simply nothing else like it. I couldn’t believe that I could actually study something like this...

What part did Falmouth play in your career development? 

I chose the Marine & Natural History Photography BA at Falmouth because there’s simply nothing else like it. I couldn’t believe that I could actually study something like this – it ticked every box. When I was a teenager, I was really into landscape photography and always joked that one day I’d work for National Geographic. The Falmouth degree opened the doors for me and I fulfilled that dream less than six months after finishing the course, when I started as a researcher on the award-winning TV series Super/Natural. 

How did the course prepare you for life in natural history TV? 

It was really helpful to have gone through the experience of making a film in my third year, as I developed an understanding of storytelling, shooting, editing and all the other filmmaking elements. Even though I decided to pursue the editorial route in TV, the basic knowledge I gained in filming and editing has enhanced my skill set and helps me do my job better. Falmouth gave me an amazing starting point and enough to get my foot in the door, but I'm still learning in my job every day.  

The Falmouth degree opened the doors for me and I fulfilled that dream less than six months after finishing the course, when I started as a researcher on the award-winning TV series Super/Natural.