For more than a decade, viewers of the television series Mountain Men have watched naturalist Eustace Conway live and work on Turtle Island Preserve in North Carolina. His life in the woods, his commitment to self-reliance, and his dedication to teaching traditional skills have made him one of the show’s most recognizable personalities. While audiences see carefully edited segments of Conway’s day-to-day life, far less is known about what filming in such remote conditions is actually like. Recently, a longtime cameraman who worked closely with Conway shared his experiences, offering an inside look at the challenges of documenting a lifestyle built around nature, unpredictability, and physical endurance.
The cameraman, who worked on the production crew for several seasons, explained that filming in the rugged Appalachian landscape required a high level of preparation, physical stamina, and adaptability. Turtle Island Preserve is more than 1,000 acres of forested land, rugged trails, creeks, and hand-built structures. Unlike many film sets, there are no paved walkways, artificial lighting rigs, or controlled environments. Every day presented new challenges that pushed both the crew and equipment to their limits.
One of the biggest adjustments for any crew member, the cameraman said, was adapting to Conway’s pace. Viewers often see Conway speaking calmly and deliberately, but in real life, he moves quickly and efficiently across the terrain, covering large distances with ease. For a camera operator carrying dozens of pounds of equipment, keeping up with him required constant effort.
Filming days often began before dawn. Conway prefers the early morning hours, when the forest is quiet and the day’s work has not yet begun. For the crew, this meant arriving on location in low light, navigating the terrain with limited visibility, and setting up equipment quickly. Early mornings on Turtle Island can be foggy, cold, or damp, and the cameraman recalled how nature dictated the rhythm of each shoot.
Equipment maintenance was another ongoing challenge. Batteries drained faster in cold temperatures. Lenses fogged when humidity rose. Audio equipment had to be protected from running water, wind, and sudden rain. “Filming outdoors looks peaceful on TV,” the cameraman explained, “but keeping everything working in the field is a constant job in itself.”
Working deep in the woods sometimes meant dealing with environmental hazards—unstable ground, slippery creek beds, or fallen branches after storms. The cameraman noted that safety discussions were a regular part of production meetings. Before each filming session, the crew evaluated the trail conditions, weather forecasts, and the physical demands of the planned segments.
One incident he described involved a footbridge that had partially weakened after heavy rain. While filming, the cameraman slipped, but Conway managed to help him regain his footing. The production later reviewed safety protocols and avoided filming on damaged structures until repairs were made. Incidents like this were rarely shown on television, not because they were dramatic, but because they were part of the routine logistics of filming in remote areas.
The crew also experienced sudden storms that forced them to stop filming. Heavy winds sometimes made certain areas unsafe, and Conway, who has spent decades studying the land, often advised the crew when environmental conditions were shifting. His knowledge of weather patterns, wildlife behavior, and forest conditions often informed production decisions.
One of the major themes the cameraman emphasized was Conway’s deep respect for Turtle Island. As Conway has often stated on the show, the Preserve is both a home and a teaching space, designed to help people understand traditional skills and the importance of sustainability.
Throughout filming, Conway set certain boundaries about where crews should and should not go. Some areas of the property were dedicated to educational programs, others were being restored, and some had ecological sensitivity that required limited human traffic. Conway frequently guided the crew on the best routes and asked them to avoid sections where filming could disrupt wildlife or damage the environment.
The cameraman appreciated this approach, explaining that filming in natural environments requires flexibility and respect. Conway’s requests were not about secrecy but stewardship. “He knows every inch of that land,” the cameraman said. “If he says an area needs to be left alone, there’s usually a good reason.”
Filming Mountain Men is not the same as producing a scripted drama or studio show. Conway’s daily activities—gathering wood, repairing structures, tending to animals, or teaching—must be captured as they happen. This means the crew works quickly and avoids interfering with the tasks being filmed.
The cameraman explained that certain sequences required multiple takes simply because natural conditions changed. A sudden gust of wind could ruin an audio recording. A passing cloud could create inconsistent lighting. Wild animals occasionally wandered through shots, forcing the crew to pause.
There were also times when Conway requested that certain moments not be filmed. These were typically personal conversations with visitors, private matters involving his team, or activities unrelated to the show’s educational purpose. Production respected these boundaries, understanding that his life extended far beyond what appeared on screen.
One topic viewers often ask about is why Mountain Men rarely films at night. The cameraman explained that nighttime shoots in remote wilderness environments present numerous logistical challenges. Visibility is limited, terrain becomes more difficult to navigate, and wildlife is more active. While artificial lighting can help, it risks disrupting animals and altering the natural feel of the show.
Although the crew attempted occasional evening shoots early in the series, they quickly determined that the risks outweighed the benefits. Production guidelines were later updated to limit nighttime filming to controlled, well-lit areas close to established structures.
Like any documentary-style series, Mountain Men presents a curated view of real life. The cameraman emphasized that while the show aims to depict Conway’s lifestyle accurately, it must also fit into a television format. Episodes follow themes, highlight specific tasks, and show compelling moments, but they cannot capture every hour of Conway’s work or the full complexity of running Turtle Island.
“People forget that we’re not filming every second of his life,” he said. “Eustace works from sunrise to sunset most days. We only capture a small portion of that, and we try to show the parts that best illustrate his philosophy and skills.”
The crew also works to ensure that the final product respects both the subject and the land. Discussions between producers, editors, and Conway help shape each episode in a way that preserves authenticity while keeping the narrative accessible for viewers.
Looking back, the cameraman described his experience with gratitude and respect. Filming at Turtle Island required endurance, technical skill, and a willingness to adapt. It also offered rare insight into a lifestyle deeply rooted in nature and traditional knowledge.
He praised Conway’s commitment to teaching and conservation, noting that many of the lessons filmed for the show—about resourcefulness, respect for the environment, and community—have inspired viewers worldwide.
“Working with Eustace wasn’t always easy,” he admitted. “But I learned more in those years than I ever expected—about land, about people, and about patience. He lives what he teaches, and not many people can say that.”
Today, he believes the value of Mountain Men lies not in dramatization, but in its reminder that sustainable living and self-reliance remain meaningful pursuits.
Sources
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Eustace Conway and Turtle Island Preserve Overview – Smithsonian Magazine
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Documentary Filmmaking in Wilderness Environments – National Geographic
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Outdoor Production Safety Guidelines – American Society of Cinematographers
