The men and women cinematographers and directors who shot film in wilderness areas at the turn of the 19th century are some of the unsung heroes of documentary film-making. Apart from severe weather conditions, these artists struggled with heavy and cumbersome equipment in some of the most unforgiving locales on the planet. This exhaustive book examines wilderness filming from all angles. Topics covered include the beginnings of film itself, the first attempts at nature and expedition filming, technical developments of the period involving cameras and lenses, and the role film has played in wilderness preservation. The individual contributions of major figures are discussed throughout, and a registry includes detailed information about hundreds of nature films from the period.