About Me

I’m Lewis Whyld, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, drone cinematographer and photographer based in London, working worldwide. After a decade at CNN and more than two decades covering major stories around the world, I now work freelance across documentary, branded content, cinematic drone filming, FPV and photography.

My background is in high-pressure, high-stakes visual storytelling. I’ve worked in conflict zones including Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza and Ukraine, and covered major disasters including the Asian tsunami, the Nepal earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan. Alongside that, I’ve filmed feature stories on glaciers in Greenland, flown the Cornish coast to capture the beauty of the everyday from above, and shot music videos for A-list artists.

At CNN, I helped drive innovation in visual journalism, pioneering the use of drone technology in news coverage and becoming the first to film a major breaking story with a drone in 2013 after Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban. Since then, I’ve expanded into immersive media, 360 video, VR and FPV drones - using new tools to bring audiences closer to the story. That includes FPV work on Anderson Cooper’s 2022 New Year’s Eve concert broadcast, flying directly through live performances.

Based in London, I’ve also covered some of the UK’s biggest stories, from Royal Weddings to the Queen’s funeral. In 2020, I received a Foreign Press Award for my coverage of the Covid pandemic.

My work has been exhibited at Proud Galleries, the Imperial War Museum and elsewhere, and my photograph of Concorde’s final flight was described by CNN as “possibly the greatest aviation photograph of all time.”

Today, I work across documentary, branded content, cinematic drone filming, FPV, photography and immersive storytelling - bringing together editorial instinct, technical experience and a strong visual point of view. If you’re looking for bold, emotionally driven visuals with depth, energy and purpose, get in touch.