Biography
Early Life & Influences
Shelton’s career in both filmmaking and yacht crew spans nearly two decades, during which he has documented some of the world’s most pristine and remote environments—ranging from the Northwest Passage to the Galápagos, Svalbard, and enigmatic deep-sea volcanoes in the northeast Pacific.
In 2024–2025, he was hired exclusively by the BBC as the in-house camera operator for the landmark ocean series Blue Planet III, filming across all six episodes and capturing everything from the ocean’s smallest creatures to some of the largest animals ever to have lived. Prior to that, he spent a year filming Disney’s Sea Lions of the Galápagos with Silverback Productions.
Shelton’s early professional experience was shaped by documenting private expeditions, ocean-based conservation efforts, and deep-sea science missions—work that laid the foundation for his distinctive storytelling approach at the intersection of science, exploration, and natural history.
Personal Approach
What drives Shelton is not only documenting wildlife and expeditions, but also conveying a sense of place and the emotions those moments inspire. Whether aboard a research vessel miles from land, filming in the Arctic ice, or quietly observing marine life in the Galápagos, he seeks to capture both the grand and the intimate stories of the wild—illuminating the hidden life that unfolds beneath the waves.
Shelton grew up between Canada and South Africa, spending much of his childhood on the beach, learning to free dive and surf before the age of ten. A life connected to the ocean was never really a choice—it was a given.
At nineteen he went to sea, beginning a decade aboard private yachts. Those years fostered a deep respect for the ocean and its fragile ecosystems. His favourite early footage and adventures pointed him toward a career in visual storytelling that brings together nature, science, and the human presence at sea.
Qualifications
Within his filmmaking, Shelton has 1000’s of dives, over 350 hours on rebreather, a UK commercial diver certification, and is licensed to operate drones commercially in Canada, USA, the UK and all of the EU.
In addition, Shelton holds a 3000-GT Master (Captain’s) License, earned through years of professional sea service.
His lifelong love for boats and the ocean continues to guide and shape his work.