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ABOUT NWF

I'm Leo Richards, and Natural World Facts is my life's work and passion project; it's a vessel for my wildlife film-making, science communication, writing, and beyond, and I'm keen for it to be as collaborative as possible!

Please get in touch if you would like to work with me on any nature-related film or project. Click below to learn more about my work, skillset, and to contact me.

Leo Richards, wildlife presenter at Natural World Facts
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Wildlife Films

I create wildlife documentaries and short films on YouTube, including a mix of solo projects and collaborations with passionate individuals, wildlife media groups, and world-leading exploration organisations.

Midwater deep-sea organisms

Footage by Schmidt Ocean Institute, from  our collaborative film Robots in the Deep.

Video Series

Featured Video

CHEMOSYNTHETIC OASES

A feature-length movie exploring the peculiar life that thrives at sites of chemosynthesis in the deep sea, from the towering chimneys of hydrothermal vents to the surreal landscapes of cold seeps, and the sites of partial chemosynthesis that form at whale-falls and sunken wood.

The deep ocean is a place of wonder, and challenges for life. With minimal resources, no sunlight, and only a slow trickle of nutrients making its way down here as 'marine snow', life must find unique ways to exist in the depths. Food is scarce, and with very little energy, survival in the depths is a challenge for any creature. There are some locations in the deep that life has clung to for millions of years, and where food and energy is ever abundant.

Coming Soon

UNDERWATER PARADISE

Watch the trailer for the upcoming four-part feature-length documentary series about the wonders of the Coral Triangle, featuring stunning 4K visuals and filmed across 30 years by underwater videographer Edi Frommenwiler. 

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2. Night on the Reef

Episode 2 turns everything on its head to explore the peculiar alien-like world of suspension feeders that emerge after dark to feed on the vertically migrating plankton.

4. A Troubled Paradise

Featuring interviews with cameraman Edi, who has spent 30 years diving in the region, we will discuss the anthropogenic impacts affecting the Coral Triangle.

1. The Coral Triangle

Episode 1 will serve as an overview of the reef ecosystem, and its incredible colourful inhabitants.

3. The Sandy Bottom

We will explore the seemingly desolate sandy ecosystem that exists adjacent to the reef, hosting unique assemblages of life.

Watch Episode 1 Now

WORLDS OF THE DEEP

Watch the trailer for the upcoming five-part feature-length series about the Worlds of the Deep Sea, created in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute and featuring stunning 4K visuals from their ROV SuBastian.

2. The Midnight Zone

Below a depth of 1,000 metres, the light of the sun is altogether absent, and a host of dramatic animals take to the stage.

4. Seamounts and Canyons

Breaking up the uniformity of the abyssal plain, the seamounts and canyons provide solid ground where colourful corals and gardens of sponge create complex reefs.

1. The Twilight Zone

Just below 100 metres, the ocean midwater becomes a world of gloom, where dazzling bioluminescent drifters and fish of bright silver shimmer in the twilight expanse.

3. The Abyssal Plain

Beneath the crushing pressure of kilometres of water lies a great sea of silt and clay, where curious mud-dwellers abound.

5. Hydrothermal Vents

Where tectonic plates move apart, towering cities can be found in the depths; vents of superheated water, hosting incredible life.

Worlds Episodes
Ocean Watch | A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration
40:13

Ocean Watch | A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration

Ocean Watch: A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration, created in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute. Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/naturalworldfacts Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is my passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! This film is unusual in that it is my first piece of contract work, commissioned by Schmidt Ocean Institute, who have kindly given me permission to post it here on YouTube - so the style might seem a little different to usual, but I had a blast making it. The film premiered at the Royal Institution in London. See the film's outro for full credits. Thank you to everyone at SOI who recorded the footage, gave interviews, piloted the ROV, kept the ship running, and managed a boat-load (literally) of media and footage to make this film possible! Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) is a non-profit oceanographic research foundation that has been pioneering deep-sea research and discovery since 2009, on board their old vessel RV Falkor and their new RV Falkor (too). Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian is equipped with a suite of sensors and a 4K camera that has illuminated the depths and live-streamed dives around the world. Most footage shown is filmed and provided by SOI. Check out their website: https://schmidtocean.org/ 00:00 - Introduction to the Deep Ocean 05:39 - 1 - In Search of Hydrothermal Lost Cities 06:58 - 1 - Hydrothermal Vents of the Puy de Folles Seamount 08:46 - 1 - Hydrothermal Vent Formation and Processes 10:37 - 2 - The Underworld of Hydrothermal Vents 11:52 - 2 - The Tica Vent Field 12:43 - 2 - The Giant Tube Worm, Riftia pachyptila 13:43 - 2 - The Dispersal of Life at Hydrothermal Vents 14:35 - 2 - A New Deep Sea Ecosystem 15:17 - 3 - Octopus Odyssey: The Octopus Gardens 16:47 - 3 - New Findings at the Octopus Gardens 17:55 - 3 - Muusoctopus: Reproduction and Hatching 19:15 - 4 - Health Diagnostics of Deep Sea Corals 20:34 - 4 - Mesophotic Corals of Puerto Rico 22:19 - 4 - DISCO & SOLARIS: Reactive Oxygen Species Sensors 24:31 - 5 - Vertical Reefs of the Galapagos 25:29 - 5 - Corals of the Vertical Reefs 26:17 - 5 - Mapping the Vertical Reefs 27:05 - 5 - Wonders of the Deep Galapagos 27:57 - 6 - Ultra Fine-Scale Seafloor Mapping 30:01 - 6 - Innovations in Deep Sea Exploration 31:26 - 6 - Mapping the Deep Sea Floor 32:51 - 7 - The Challenges of Exploring the Deep 33:45 - 7 - Hydrothermal Vents of the Galapagos 34:31 - 7 - The Great Squat Lobster Trail 35:20 - 7 - A Newly Discovered Hydrothermal Vent Field 35:56 - The True Extent of the Deep Sea 38:17 - The Achievements of Falkor (too) 39:14 - Outro and Credits CHECK OUT MY DEEP SEA WEBSITE: https://naturalworldfacts.com/deep-sea-hub/ Music Used: All tracks sourced from Artlist. #deepsea #wildlife #nature #documentary #ocean #marinebiology #science #biology
Ocean Watch (Official Trailer) | A Story of Deep Sea Exploration
01:26

Ocean Watch (Official Trailer) | A Story of Deep Sea Exploration

Announcing an exciting new film project with Schmidt Ocean Institute! Join us in-person at the Royal Institution in London on the 27th January (7pm) for the world premier of Ocean Watch, a 40-minute documentary film featuring new deep-sea discoveries and showcasing mesmerising never-before-seen deep sea footage from Schmidt Ocean Institute and their new global-glass research vessel, R/V Falkor (too)! Book your tickets to the premier at the Royal Institution in London here (disclaimer - I don't make any money from ticketing): https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/world-premiere-ocean-watch There will be an in-person Q&A following the film with writer/director/narrator Leo Richards (me :D), facilitated by Dr. Carlie Wiener, Head of Communications at Schmidt Ocean Institute. -- Film bio: Our planet’s oceans, a realm shrouded in mystery, cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, yet a staggering 95% remains unexplored and unknown. These waters hold secrets more fascinating than our wildest imaginings, landscapes more alien than any distant planet, and biodiversity that rivals the densest rainforests’ richness. Join us aboard the state-of-the-art research vessel, R/V Falkor (too), a beacon of modern oceanographic exploration. Equipped with leading-edge technology and an advanced underwater robot capable of plunging to depths of 4,500 meters, R/V Falkor (too) is your gateway to witnessing the uncharted wonders of the deep sea. Experience the thrill of discovery as our expert team unveils groundbreaking findings from their latest scientific missions. Immerse yourself in the mesmerising beauty of underwater ecosystems, never before seen by human eyes—marvel at unveiling new species, each a puzzle piece in understanding our planet’s most enigmatic environment. Witness the groundbreaking research and innovative technologies shining a light into the ocean’s darkest depths. Schmidt Ocean Institute, Natural World Facts and the Ri invite you, ocean enthusiasts, budding marine biologists, and curious minds of all ages, to embark on this unparalleled adventure. Also hear from Schmidt Ocean Institute's executive director, Jyotika Virmani, who will speak at the Ri on Monday 22 January 2024 about charting the unknown depths! Book tickets to that separate event here: https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/oceanic-enigma-charting-unknown-95 #ocean #oceanlife #deepsea #wildlifedocumentary
Mysteries of the Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep
36:46

Mysteries of the Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep

The Deep Sea Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep episode 1, a collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute. Thank you to Masterworks for sponsoring Natural World Facts. Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/nwf - See important Masterworks disclosures: https://www.masterworks.com/cd In the deep ocean, life is concentrated at chemosynthetic oases where primary production is made possible via chemosynthesis at cold seeps and deep sea hydrothermal vents. The non-chemosynthetic regions of the deep are divided into two very different worlds. First is the midwater, where pelagic wanderers tread migratory routes that span entire oceans, and planktonic drifters and their predators take part in bioluminescent light shows. It is separated into zones based on depth, including the sunlight zone (epipelagic), twilight zone (mesopelagic), midnight zone (bathypelagic), abyssal and hadal zones. And below, lies the deep sea floor. A kingdom of mud and ooze, where sessile creatures cling to any solid outcrop and corals craft kingdoms on the seamount crusts. The worlds of the deep sea could not be more different, and yet their stories are fundamentally intertwined. In this episode, we delve into the Twilight Zone. Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/naturalworldfacts Episodes: 1 - The Twilight Zone 2 - The Midnight Zone - coming soon 3 - The Abyssal Plain - coming soon 4 - Seamounts and Canyons - coming soon 5 - Hydrothermal Vents - coming soon Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is a solo passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! I'm so excited to share this series with you at last. Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) is a non-profit oceanographic research foundation that has been pioneering deep-sea research and discovery since 2009, on board their old vessel RV Falkor and their new RV Falkor (too). Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian is equipped with a suite of sensors and a 4K camera that has illuminated the depths and live-streamed dives around the world. Most footage shown is filmed and provided by SOI. Huge thank you to them for contributing their footage, and working with me to create this series! Check out their website: https://schmidtocean.org/ 00:00 - Introduction to the Deep Ocean 04:04 - The Ocean Midwater 05:21 - Introducing Schmidt Ocean Institute 06:54 - The Sunlight Zone (Epipelagic) 08:51 - The Twilight Zone (Mesopelagic) 10:40 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Gossamer Worm 11:28 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Bloody-belly Comb Jelly 12:12 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Swimming Sea Snails 12:48 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Deep Sea Siphonophores 14:47 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Meroplankton and Larvae 15:35 - Twilight Zone Drifters - The Life Cycle of Jellyfish 16:31 - Twilight Zone Drifters - Deep Sea Jellyfish 17:38 - Introducing Nekton - Active Swimmers 18:38 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - The Glass Octopus 19:10 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - The Glass Squid 19:52 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - Inking as Defence 20:41 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - Mimicry of Swordtail Squid 21:43 - Deep Sea Cephalopods - Hunting Techniques 22:38 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Countershading and Counter-illumination 23:54 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Silvering in Cutlassfish 25:43 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Silvering in Hatchetfish 27:00 - Deep Sea Adaptations - Strawberry Squid 27:40 - Vertical Migration - Introduction 29:14 - Vertical Migration - the Largest Migration 30:50 - Vertical Migration - Deep Sea Lanternfish and Humboldt Squid 32:30 - Vertical Migration - the Deep Sea Food Web 33:55 - The Midnight Zone (Bathypelagic) 35:13 - Sponsored Segment - Masterworks X NWF CHECK OUT MY DEEP SEA WEBSITE: https://naturalworldfacts.com/deep-sea-hub/ Disclaimer from sponsor: This video and information about Masterworks are not targeted to residents of any particular country or jurisdiction. Investing involves risk and the value of investments can go up as well as down. Before investing you should review the offering circular for the particular offering you are considering, including the section entitled "Risk Factors". Masterworks and its agents are not registered to of er investment services in any non-U.S. jurisdiction and the offerings have not been registered, reviewed, or approved by any regulatory authority in any non-U.S. jurisdiction. Accordingly, non-U.S. residents must take reasonable steps to confirm that their participation in a Masterworks offering does not violate the laws of the jurisdiction in which they reside. Music Used: All tracks sourced from Artlist, aside from the closing track which was created by Tatiana A. Gordeva. #deepsea #wildlife #nature #documentary #ocean #marinebiology #science #biology
Into the Abyss: Worlds of the Deep (Official Trailer)
02:56

Into the Abyss: Worlds of the Deep (Official Trailer)

Explore the wonders of the deep ocean as you've never seen them before! In this collaborative film series, I am working with Schmidt Ocean Institute and their extensive library of 4K footage from an array the deep sea's remarkable ecosystems to bring their discoveries to light through a series of immersive films. Below are the episodes in order (subject to change). 1 - The Twilight Zone 2 - The Midnight Zone 3 - The Abyssal Plain 4 - Seamounts and Canyons 5 - Hydrothermal Vents I will also release two compiled films combining the midwater episodes and the sea floor episodes: 1 - Into the Abyss: The Midwater World (Full Movie) 2 - Into the Abyss: The Deep Sea Floor (Full Movie) Schmidt Ocean Institute is a non-profit oceanographic research foundation that has been pioneering deep-sea research and discovery since 2009, on board their old vessel RV Falkor and their brand new RV Falkor (too), the most advanced marine research vessels in the world. Their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian is equipped with a suite of sensors and a 4K camera that has illuminated the depths and live-streamed dives around the world. All footage shown is filmed and provided by Schmidt Ocean Institute. Huge thank you to them for allowing me to access their footage, and work alongside them to create this series! Check out their website: https://schmidtocean.org/ Written, narrated and edited by me, Leo Richards. This channel (Natural World Facts) is a solo passion project dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world and telling stories that inspire! I'm so excited to share this series with you at last.

FILM COLLECTIONS:

Online Projects

Browse my collection of online interactive projects, and immerse yourself in the natural world from the comfort of your home. Take a tour of the deep sea over in the Deep Sea Hub, or join Leo on his adventures out in the wilds in the Nature Boy Journal.

British wildlife reel, New Forest

Footage by Leo Richards, filmed for the Nature Boy Journal series.

Online Projects
Browse Projects
Deep sea hub
Ocean Watch | A Tale of Deep Sea Exploration
Mysteries of the Twilight Zone | Worlds of the Deep
Deep Sea Gigantism | Why the Ocean Breeds Giants
Into the Abyss: Worlds of the Deep (Official Trailer)
Into the Abyss: Chemosynthetic Oases (Full Movie)
Deep-Sea Food Falls | A Tale of Wood and Bone
Robots in the Deep Sea (ft. Schmidt Ocean Institute)
The Peculiar Life of Cold Seeps
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Nature Boy Journal.

Welcome...

I’ve taken to journeying out solo into the wild places of Britain local to me, and realising that some of the most wonderful moments in life can come from simply seeking out the nature in your immediate surroundings.

I’ve lived in cities all my life. First London, and now Southampton to study. I think that’s why I’ve always felt so drawn to the natural world - for me, it’s an escape. A breath of sweeter winds, distant from the cacophonous bitter air that lingers in the city streets. I wake up, pack my little green backpack with only the essentials. A camera, water, and chocolate (of course). And then I set out on the train and watch the monotone urban veil give way to sprawling forests and verdant fields. High-rise towers, replaced by quaint towns and dry-stone walls and little rivers.

It’s the draw of the wilds that made me forsake that dour moniker ‘City Boy’. Damn my roots, damn London, damn the cities! I want to be Nature Boy. After countless adventures in woodlands and nature reserves, I've decided to bring you all along with me via this online journal in the hopes I can inspire you to head out into the natural world and fall in love with it as I did.

Observation Gallery →
Video Library →
Nature Boy Journal

Let's chat!

If you're a fan or potential collaborator, I would love to hear from you! I'm open to discussing anything, and will endeavour to reply to all messages. But here are my particular interests.

  1. Science Communication Projects

  2. Wildlife Film Production

  3. Deep-sea Content and Exploration

  4. Presenting and Narration

Thanks for contacting me!

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