His spectacular videos showcasing the southern coastline of Western Australia and the wildlife that call it home have been devoured on social media.
Images of dolphins frolicking in pristine waves near Esperance and a stand up paddle boarder getting up close and personal with a majestic whale are among the most well known of the images captured by Jaimen Hudson.
Around 250 million views of his videos is an impressive tally.
He uses drones to make his films, and now, 10 years since a motorbike accident that made him a quadriplegic, Jaimen is going to get back out on the water he loves to make a film with Sea Dog TV International that has already generated interest from the National Geographic and Discovery Channels, not to mention NHK in Japan and France Television.
“When I had my motorbike accident in 2008, I acquired quadriplegia which meant limited use of my hands,” he said.
“I looked around for a hobby I could access from my wheelchair and drone filming was it. I haven’t looked back since.”
Prior to his accident at age 17, Jaimen, who is based in Esperance, had loved the ocean. His earliest memories were of days out on the water with his parents. He first dived at the age of 10.
It has now been a long time since he has been able to go out on a boat, let alone dive, but that is exactly what he is planning for the new project called Jaimen Hudson From Sky to Sea.
The film will tell the story of his journey from adventure junkie to wheelchair bound filmmaker and follow him as he heads out on a new adventure on the ocean.
“I remember sitting at home on sunny days sad that I could no longer do the things that I wanted to, and that’s where droning has given me that freedom again,” Jaimen said.
“I want to explore the underwater world again using new technology that’s emerging.
"Being able to explore from the sky is amazing, but I’m no longer content with just droning, I want to be back in the water, back on the water, experiencing the wildlife up close and personal.”
Sea Dog TV International executive producer Leighton De Barros said the new film would explore how Jaimen overcomes his obstacles to help break down barriers and inspire others.
Diversity funding from Screenwest had been integral in helping his organisation develop Jaimen’s skills to further his filmmaking career and get the project off the ground.
They aimed to be filming by July next year.
There were logistics to work out, but the expedition planned would see Jaimen dive with great white sharks off the coast of South Australia.
Jaimen said getting back in the water, with the sharks at Port Lincoln, would add a sense of adventure to the documentary.
"We will have to do some practice work in a pool," he said.
"I have very little lung capacity because my diaphragm no longer works. So if I were to get a lungful of water I can't cough it up. I don't have anything to push water out.
"There's a little bit of danger involved in it, I guess, but hopefully it'll be fine."
The film will document all kinds of wildlife at Fitzgerald National Park on the south coast of Western Australia during the day and night, using drones and hand-held cameras.
"It's amazing," Jaimen said.
"Ten years ago my life just changed forever. When I was 17 years old. I feel like looking back I was just a kid really. Now fast-forward to having success in filmmaking and a story is going to be told about me is certainly nothing I ever saw on my horizons and something I'm very excited about and grateful for."
Screenwest has partnered with Disability in the Arts Disadvantages in the Arts and offers Diversity Funding for filmmakers.
Screenwest chief executive Seph McKenna said Jaimen’s work was an absolute joy to watch.
“Most great things start with passion and a vision and Jaimen’s work displays both in spades,” he said.
