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Rachel Sarah

Filmmaker and Photographer

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MonthApril 2019

bouldering woman 6a kentmere Read More
By : Rachel Sarah April 29, 2019June 18, 2019

Don’t let one thing define you

Experimenting through so many things helped lead me to this point, knowing a little more about who I am by not defining myself as one thing.

Read More
By : Rachel Sarah April 25, 2019April 25, 2019

Blindly enjoying the natural world

Blindly enjoying the natural world just isn’t an option for me anymore; sustainable life choices and travel have become intrinsically linked and I’m wondering how I can do more. There’s more to ethical living than veganism.

drone Castle Rock of Triermain Read More
By : Rachel Sarah April 22, 2019April 25, 2019

Trad at the Castle Rock of Triermain

We thought that golden hour was falling a little flat. How wrong we were. I sent the Mavic up and it captured what my own, high viewpoint eyes couldn’t quite get: an even higher sweep of the two valleys, the misty hidden mountains in the background, and the stillness of the air.

bouldering badger rock climbing Read More
By : Rachel Sarah April 12, 2019June 15, 2023

Bouldering has taught me that stubborness pays off

The sun dipped lower and lower. I fell, again and again.

And then, I just… got it.

woman solo travel wales Read More
By : Rachel Sarah April 5, 2019April 8, 2019

Why you should travel solo

I am putting more value into being alone. Not just accidentally, but to actually go out and seek aloneness.

  • All Stories45
  • Adventure33
  • Business2
  • Climbing3
  • Ethics1
  • Freelance10
  • Photography27
  • Self5
  • Travel17
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rachelsarahm

Environmental and outdoor filmmaker - specialising in adventure and our relationships to the natural world 🎥 🏔️ 🌊

Rachel Sarah 🌱
Still thawing out from my latest shoot over in Nor Still thawing out from my latest shoot over in Norway and feeling so incredibly grateful for my brilliant camera team of @samwalker.uk and @scotica.film. Over the last few years I’ve been slowly building up a team of creatives that I can trust for bigger shoots; it truly feels like a world away from when I felt like I had to do everything alone. Collaboration has been the main thing that’s kept me going in this career and I feel really lucky to have this amazing network around me. 

- A few moments from shooting in the snowy mountains in Rjukan for a film project with @tcolondon, very psyched to have been brought on as DOP. Thanks team - especially for those moments picking me up and dusting the snow off the lens from when I stacked it mid-shot, and the hot-hands and hugs after a bloody freezing time hanging off an icy wall. Excited for this one. 

📸 by @samwalker.uk and @hslydproduksjon 

#adventurefilmmaking #iceclimbingfilm #iceclimbing #winterclimbing #adventurefilmmaker #dop #adventurefilm #femalefilmmakers #ukfilmmakers
After a very slow morning, packing last bits and g After a very slow morning, packing last bits and giving myself a bit of headspace after quite a hectic month, I’m ready for the social chaos and beauty that is @kendalmountainfestival - I’m feeling extra overwhelmed by it this year, with several films I’ve created, and had a hand in, screening. All made possible by collaboration with talented folks both behind and in-front of the camera. 

Today I’ll be seeing Entangled on the big screen - a film borne from slightly odd circumstances, that challenged my ego and my editing creativity. But here it is, after premiering at the @sidetrackedmag creator tour, it’s been officially selected as part of KMF. So, so so so thrilled. Thank you to all of those mentioned below - you made this film happen. Hopefully it gives some people winter climbing psyche.

- Entangled is a short film exploring the bond between climbers and their connection to the Scottish winter landscape. 

Directed and Edited by @rachelsarahm
Cinematography by @ryan_balharry, @kat_bennett_, Michael Fleming, @jimmyhyland_ and @rachelsarahm
Safety by Connor Holdworth and @micheal.Murphy, @atlasmountaineering
Drone Cinematography by @jimmyhyland_
Featuring @mornabaillie and @kirstypallas
Creative collaborator @emily_nicholl_ 
Supported by @mpbcom 

#winterclimbing #winterclimb #scottishwinterclimbing #adventurefilmmaking #adventurefilm #scotlandfilmming #climbingfilm
A tiny snippet of my work from this weekend. It A tiny snippet of my work from this weekend. 

It has been bit of a learning curve for me, solo shooting and editing commercial work for @asics with a turnaround of just a few hours, but I’ve quite enjoyed the process of doing things in a fast paced way, although I’m sure my doc work will always take weeks and months of time and love. 

I’ve felt incredibly welcomed into the family that is the UK @asicsfrontrunner crew - it’s shoots like this that make me fall in love with the job over again. 

#ukrunning #filmmaking #commercialfilmmaker
Three films - all completely different stories exp Three films - all completely different stories exploring swim culture in the UK.

This Sunday is the premiere of Under the Surface, a film by @rachelsarahm exploring masculinity and mental health. We will also be screening a short film about swim group SOuP by @samwalker.uk, exploring the appeal of the group’s community, as well as access issues. We’ll also dive into the world of Julia Mansi through the lens of @tedmakesfilms as she learns how to swim, reclaiming the outdoors for herself and highlighting the uneven access to the water. 

We’ll also have a raffle as part of the day, and q+a hosted by @becca.harvs with speakers @swimjim58 @simonhagger @stephengould77 and the wonderful local group @bluemindmen

This isn’t just a screening, it’s a community event for local swimmers all around the Lake District, and beyond. 

This event is supported by @alpkit 🌞 we really hope to see you there.

📍 @keswick_alhambra_cinema
🗓️ Sunday 5th November
⏰ 2pm

🎥 Three swim films - SOuP, Turning the Tide, and Under the Surface
🎁 A free to enter raffle with lots of prizes from @alpkit
🌊 We will also be joining @bluemindmen at 9am, as well as @mhswims_derwentwater at 11:30am on Sunday morning. All welcome to both, or either. 
*Neither swims are an official part of the ticketed event. 
💧The event will also be donating to provide two swim coaching session places, to those new to the water in the Lake District. 
🍿 Not free on the Sunday? We also have an intimate screening on Monday 6th November, 8pm. 

Link to tickets in bio.

#enduranceswimming #lakedistrictswimming #bluemindmen #mentalheathswimming #keswick #lakedistrict #swimcommunity #coldwaterswimming #mensmentalhealth
In order for me to write poetry that’s not polit In order for me to write poetry that’s not political, I must listen to the birds, and in order to listen to the birds, the warplanes must be silent. 

- Marwan Makhoul, a Palestinian poet. 

Art and life is inherently political. Our ways of life are tied to the decisions of governments that are meant to protect, but rarely do. My heart absolutely breaks for the Palestinian people and the genocide that is happening right in front of our eyes, after decades of oppression. Our political leaders do nothing to stop it. As a single person we are pretty helpless to effect any kind of meaningful change, but as a sea of voices - using art, activism, online, in the streets - there is difference to be made.
It seems like an absolute age ago, shooting my ver It seems like an absolute age ago, shooting my very first winter climbing film on the North Face of Ben Nevis. A lot went right but alsooooooo… the entire plan for the film went out of the window, thank you to Scottish winter being predictably fickle. Having one day to shoot a climbing film in Scottish winter is a BOLD STRATEGY. 

It challenged my own ego about my expectations of what I wanted my first winter climb film to look like but of course it was worth it. For our new film ‘Entangled’ - and its partner behind the scenes film that is really honest about showing the process. 

Both films will be showing at the @sidetrackedmag Creator’s Tour this coming Tuesday evening in Glasgow, and I’ll be chatting a bit about the whole experience behind it. Excited and SO nervous just about covers it. 

And perhaps Entangled will also be coming to a festival soon… 🙃

- Some behind the scenes shots from @kat_bennett__ @ryan_balharry and myself. 

Directed and Edited by @rachelsarahm 
Cinematography by @ryan_balharry, @kat_bennett__, @michael.fleming, @jimmyhyland_ and @rachelsarahm 
Safety by @atlasmountaineering and @micheal.murphy 
Drone Cinematography by @jimmyhyland_ 
Featuring @mornabaillie and @kirstypallas 
Creative collaborator @emily_nicholl_ 
Supported by @mpbcom 

#scottishwinter #scottishwinterclimbing #winterclimbing #winterclimbingfilm #climbingfilm #adventurefilmmaking #adventurefilm #bennevis
I washed my hair in the sink yesterday with a big I washed my hair in the sink yesterday with a big spoon that’s usually to scoop up protein powder, and a little Tupperware of warm water. It was weirdly therapeutic. I’ve been spending my days stealing other people’s dogs, going for some swims, and madly juggling work every moment in between. I thought I’d be getting a bit of cabin fever being in the van, especially spending a lot of hours cooped up editing from my bed but it’s been quite simple and peaceful.

This is the kind of limbo I’m enjoying, but I’m still very excited for when I have four new solid walls, a floppy eared pup of my own and @michael.fleming close by. And maybe some chickens.

#vanlife #freelancefilmmaker #scotland #filmmaker #adventurefilmmaker #scotlandswimming #openwaterswimming #colddip
Join us for the premiere screening of Under the Su Join us for the premiere screening of Under the Surface, a film that explores acceptance after injury, masculinity and mental health, and the importance of our support systems, in swimming and in life. 

We go back to the time before Jim Read found swimming, where he broke his back, going through Jim’s experiences through the reality of recovering, and not recovering, from injury. All in the lead up to his biggest swim to date. 

This screening will not only be the premiere of Under the Surface, but a community event with more short films, a swim raffle and q+a hosted by @becca.harvs with speakers @swimjim58 @simonhagger @stephengould77 and the wonderful local group @bluemindmen 

This screening is supported by @alpkit 🌞 we really hope to see you there.

📍 @keswick_alhambra_cinema 
🗓️ Sunday 5th November 
⏰ 2pm 

🎥 Three swim films - SOuP, Turning the Tide, and Under the Surface 
🎁 A free to enter raffle with lots of prizes from @alpkit 🌊 We will also be joining @bluemindmen on their morning swim before the screening in the afternoon, all welcome. 
Link to tickets in bio. 

A film by @rachelsarahm
Assistant editor: @jonathandoylemedia
Additional camera: @michael.fleming and @samwalker.uk
Featuring @swimjim58

#enduranceswimming #lakedistrictswimming #bluemindmen #mentalheathswimming #keswick #lakedistrict #swimcommunity #coldwaterswimming #mensmentalhealth
So much change happening in these next months. I’m acclimatising to new solo life in the van, which may go on for quite a while whilst we properly begin the search for our new home in Scotland and I start new work up here. It’s scary and exciting, and I couldn’t be more ready. Though I’m not quite sure if I’m ready for a -10 winter season in the van once again. 

#vanlife #scotland #outdoorswimming #coldwaterswimming #lochlomond #lochdip
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