David Attenborough, who turned 100 this Friday, is the calm and trusted voice of the natural world.
However, his 70-year career reveals a communicator who repeatedly took risks, betting on new technologies and venturing into remote and often dangerous places.
From the launch of color television to a record-breaking dive in the Great Barrier Reef at age 89, he has sought new ways to showcase the planet and its inhabitants.
Through rarely seen photos, we review the television milestones of his career that contributed to transforming our understanding of life on Earth.
photo caption, Today he is the most famous naturalist in the world.
photo caption, But their curiosity has been shaping new types of storytelling for decades.
Image source, Hulton Archive/Getty Images
photo caption, A young David Attenborough was bored with his job editing children’s science books and decided to apply for a job in BBC radio. He was rejected, but weeks later he received a letter asking if he would be interested in working for the BBC’s new television service.
photo caption, He soon conceived the innovative idea of Zoo Questthe first TV show to combine live studio presentation with natural history sequences filmed on location.
photo caption, Attenborough himself joined expeditions to find rare animals in their natural habitat and bring them to London Zoo, something he acknowledged would no longer be done today.
photo caption, He later directed one of the BBC channels and led the transition to color television in his country with the broadcast of the Wimbledon tournament in 1967.
photo caption, After a few years, he left the directing position and returned to where he wanted to be: making documentaries. So he recorded for four years and the result was “Life on Earth.”
photo caption, Filmed in more than 100 locations, the series explored how evolution shaped the wonders of the natural world.
photo caption, Each episode drew on various ecosystems to show how animals have adapted to their environment. After debuting in 1979, the series’ success paved the way for a generation of iconic nature shows.
Image source, BBC Studios
photo caption, It also gave us one of the most unforgettable moments on television, when the presenter piqued the curiosity of a group of mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
Image source, Wikimedia | Nobu Tamura
photo caption, More than 50 species – ranging from frogs and beetles to a carnivorous plant and a tropical butterfly – now bear his name in their official scientific classification.
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