A Leap of Faith: A Documentary Videographer Captures Youth Outdoor Resilience with DerwentWISE
As a documentary videographer, I had the opportunity to create A Leap of Faith—a short film capturing a youth residential programme delivered by DerwentWISE in the Derbyshire countryside.
This powerful video documents young people experiencing the outdoors through abseiling, rock climbing, and shared challenges, supported by youth workers and outdoor education professionals.
DerwentWISE (Derwent Valley Woodlands, Information, Skills and Environment) was a Heritage Lottery-funded Landscape Partnership Scheme designed to protect, enhance, and celebrate the rich natural and cultural heritage of the Lower Derwent Valley—a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Running from 2014 to 2019, one of its core missions was to help local people, especially young people, engage meaningfully with their landscapes. A Leap of Faithwas created to support and highlight that mission.
Being a documentary videographer in the outdoors
Filming young people outdoors requires a sensitive and responsive approach. As a documentary videographer, I worked to blend into the background—allowing young people to act naturally while capturing genuine moments of self-discovery, excitement, and challenge.
From quiet reflections to bold jumps over rocky edges, the film is filled with images that show growth in motion. Participants work through nerves, support each other, and emerge with new skills and newfound confidence. Much of the narration comes from the young people themselves, alongside commentary from those delivering the programme.
One youth worker reflects:
“They have to be a little bit ingenious when they come to a space like this… it’s very empowering for them.”
Another participant adds:
“I’d rather be here than playing on my iPad… I learned about being safe, having self-belief, and trying my best.”
These candid moments remind us of the power of placing young people in new, physically and emotionally engaging settings—something the camera is uniquely positioned to record and share.
A title that speaks for itself
The film’s title, A Leap of Faith, wasn’t taken from a direct quote—but it expresses the emotional and physical journey these young people undertook. Whether it was lowering themselves down a cliff face, staying away from home overnight, or simply engaging in unfamiliar group activities, each step required courage.
The title also reflects the trust built during the residential—between instructors and participants, between peers, and within each individual. It’s a phrase that encapsulates the essence of youth development in the outdoors: growth through challenge, guided by care.
As one professional puts it:
“It gives them experiences that perhaps they wouldn’t otherwise have… and gives them the opportunities to do things they didn’t think they could do.”
Filming young people outdoors with purpose
The Derbyshire landscape isn’t just a location—it’s a character in the film. As a documentary videographer, I aimed to frame the woodland, crags, and open skies as spaces of transformation. There’s a special energy when young people engage directly with nature. Their physicality changes, their confidence grows, and their language shifts from fear to excitement.
In one of the film’s closing moments, a youth worker captures the legacy of the experience:
“I hope they take away with this the fact that they’ve done things like abseiling which they wouldn’t normally get a chance to do… just a memory. A memory of a happy time being outside, being with people, and making new friends.”
That kind of memory, once captured on film, becomes a story worth telling—and retelling.
Why I love being a documentary videographer on projects like this
Working on A Leap of Faith with DerwentWISE brought together many of the things I value in filmmaking: collaboration, care, and connection to place. Being a documentary videographer allows me to help communities share their stories in ways that feel grounded, respectful, and human. When the stories involve young people finding confidence through challenge, it feels especially worthwhile.
This short film is more than a record of a trip. It’s a window into what happens when support, nature, and storytelling come together—and a reminder of the value in helping young people take a leap, even if they don’t yet know they can land.
If you’d like to explore more of my work capturing the power of natural spaces and outdoor experiences, you can watch my nature films here: https://alanfentiman.co.uk/vimeo-videos/nature-films/