Mike Middleton

Mike Middleton has been sailing since he was 5 years old. He sailed and raced Manly Juniors at Woollahra, in Sydney, Australia, then moved up to larger skiffs, and owned his own VJ, (Vaucluse Junior) at Vaucluse Yacht Club. He then moved up to sailing on 18 foot skiffs, and raced often, eventually winning a State title, NSW, on his 14 foot Hobie cat at around the age of 16. After which he moved up to larger vessels like Swanson Yachts, J24s and many different varieties of sailing vessels. Mike...See more

Mike Middleton has been sailing since he was 5 years old. He sailed and raced Manly Juniors at Woollahra, in Sydney, Australia, then moved up to larger skiffs, and owned his own VJ, (Vaucluse Junior) at Vaucluse Yacht Club. He then moved up to sailing on 18 foot skiffs, and raced often, eventually winning a State title, NSW, on his 14 foot Hobie cat at around the age of 16. After which he moved up to larger vessels like Swanson Yachts, J24s and many different varieties of sailing vessels. Mike's skill as crew and skipper has seen him on the water as often as time permits. He now sails a 50 foot yacht around the East Coast of Australia and enjoys slowing down with the cruising yachting community.Mike is a Volunteer at Coast Guard Mooloolaba, and one of the Media officers lending a hand.Interested in photography and film since school, Mike started his career in film and television in 1976 as a photographer. He later joined the ABC at Gore Hill in Sydney as a full time camera assistant. He quickly rose to the position of cinecameraman within a few years.Whilst at the ABC, he worked as the cameraman on many well known TV programs, including the news, current affairs, documentaries and drama.During his career at the ABC, Mike was one of the first videotape operators and became the first betacam cameraman on news and the 7.30 report. He also was recognised as a prominent lighting cameraman.Mike then embarked on a freelance career and purchased the first SP BETACAM in Sydney. He quickly gained a reputation for being fast and competent, and was rewarded with constant work with all the Sydney television networks and various, corporate clients.Mike soon travelled the world and worked for an impressive list of local and international networks, including ABC-TV, TCN-9, TEN, ATN-7, NHK Japan, ASAHI-TV, TV-AM, ITN-London, TV-NZ, numerous US networks as well as several in South Africa, Hong Kong, France and Spain.Mike is one of the few cinematographers in Australia to achieve the prestigious Australian Cinematographers Society Specialised Aerial Cinematography Award for his creative aerial work. He also has awards for filming wildlife and music videos. See less