No dead ends for the deadly and daring

From an emotionally scarred chef-in-training with a dangerously treacherous hobby to a famous world-travelling videographer: how Nathan Bates took his humble beginnings and turned them into a profit.

Photo courtesy of Nathan Bates

As the sound of dangerous sizzles fills the air and columns of steak scented smoke rise up to the dull beige ceilings, fond travelling memories are exchanged through raised voices.

“I was in Varanasi [India] last week. It was surreal. Witnessing the open cremations on the riverbank of the Ganges was quite the event to watch. This is the most religious place globally for Hindus to be cremated. To be submerged into the river, then cremated on an open fire ensures they go straight to heaven.”

For 22-year-old popular influencer and full-time videographer Nathan Bates, travelling is more than just a hobby. It’s a way for him to tell stories that would otherwise go unheard. “Storytelling gives me purpose... It took me a while to find where I belong, but now I feel like I can confidently say that it’s wherever needs to be heard the most.”

Photos courtesy of Nathan Bates

Despite what may seem like to many a rather extravagant lifestyle, Bates comes from humble beginnings. Born and raised in East London, Nathan graduated from sixth form and started working as a chef. “I knew from the beginning that university wasn’t right for me. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that is wasn’t school.”

Earning just enough to pay the bills, Nathan was living off of bread crumbs and 40 pence ASDA soup until he found a hobby that would, in the long-run, earn him thousands.

“I had a lot of friends in sixth form who were photographers. One of which was my best friend, Gabriel Busch. He’d gotten really into rooftop photography and was looking for some people to help him with it and become a model.

"In the process, I learned how to do it myself. As I became more fearless, more companies started to hire me. I started working with brands like Nike, CrepLDN and Secret London and that really got my feet off the ground.”

“A lot of people would ask me if I got scared so high up, or standing so close to one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make. It’s not easy to explain to people who don’t understand what it is like. This immense feeling of and perspective of time kicks in when it’s only you holding yourself against such elements. Sharing such experiences was a privilege and… I will always look back fondly.”

With his popularity growing and his images plastered on bulletin boards and ads across the UK, Nathan received a lot of backlash for what some people would see as reckless actions.

Behind every beautiful image was a potentially dangerous situation waiting to happen on top of some of London’s highest rooftops. Not to mention, the sometimes illegal means of reaching those heights.

Photos courtesy of Nathan Bates

“A lot of people would ask me if I got scared so high up, or standing so close to one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make. It’s not easy to explain to people who don’t understand what it is like.

"This immense feeling of and perspective of time kicks in when it’s only you holding yourself against such elements. Sharing such experiences was a privilege and those were days I will always look back fondly upon.”

During his daring journey climbing London’s highest peaks and taking pictures, Nathan Bates was approached by Channel 4 to help aid them on a documentary series they were doing about Urban Explorers.

Photos courtesy of Nathan Bates

“Very few people were willing to risk following our Urban Explorers in order to get the shots they needed. That’s where I came in. They didn’t know if I could do it, but they took a shot on me, and I ended up finding a new passion.”

With new experience under his belt, Bates set out to transition from photography to videography. “There is just something that a video can tell you that a photo cannot. Movement adds so much more to a story.”

“Getting to go to all of these places was amazing, but it was just the cherry on top. I got to share all of the stories that I want to get out into the world, and I’m still finding new stories to tell… stories just come to me, I’ve always been a story-teller.”

Nevertheless, freelancing without a degree can be difficult, especially in a world where freelance work is hard enough to find as is. Thus, Bates decided to take a leap of faith.

“I had saved a lot of money up, so I spent it all on a new camera and a plane ticket. I wasn’t finding what I needed where I was. I needed new subjects, new stories, and a new adventure.

“I went to New Zealand first. And after just a week received a freelancing opportunity from Abouttime Watches. What was meant to be a month in New Zealand turned into a three-month-long work trip.”

Photo courtesy of Nathan Bates

New Zealand quickly led to Bali. Which was then followed by Iceland. Saudi Arabia and India were soon added to the list.

With every new destination came new job opportunities and eventually, Bates’ freelancing career really took off.

“Getting to go to all of these places was amazing, but it was just the cherry on top. I got to share all of the stories that I wanted to get out into the world, and I’m still finding new stories to tell.”

With all of the stories Bates has told, his own story often gets left out of the picture. “Going home is a rarity for me. And even when I am, I tend to only stay with my family for a few days… I was adopted by my family when I was 16.”

Photo courtesy of Nathan Bates

Despite being aware of his parent’s good intentions, Nathan never felt a sense of belonging. “I always felt like I was ever so slightly out of place. Imposter syndrome hit me extremely hard.”

In 2009, Nathan was removed from his biological mother’s custody over safety concerns. “My mom would pick me up from school drunk, drop me off at school drunk. I would miss my mom when she wasn’t drunk… my dad was never in the picture.”

Striped from his mother and put into foster care, Nathan was placed household to household until the age of 12. “I would cry every night, like full-out burst into tears. I left every house with my stuffed animal giraffe, a small bag of clothes, and more tears.”

Photo courtesy of Nathan Bates

With every house came a different experience, some more pleasant than others. “Most families were nice, but I do recall one that was incredibly verbally abusive. They would yell at me every day and call me a piece of shit for not wanting to open up. I left there as quickly as I could… for many I was just a charity case or an extra hand around the house.”

At the age of 12, Bates was put up for adoption. “It all moved very quickly. I guess you could say I was a lucky one. I was never expecting to be adopted because I was older, but I was in a new house within a month. My parents knew that they’d wanted to adopt me without even meeting me. I was terrified when I arrived.”

“I’m happy that I ended up in a safe home. And I can not thank my parents enough for all they’ve done for me- the conselling and love they provided me with can never be repaid. But I needed, and still need, to find my place. They are respectful of decisions and very supportive and proud of her far I’ve come. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

Despite his rocky path, Nathan still claims that he and his parents are close. “I’m happy that I ended up in a safe home. And I can not thank my parents enough for all they’ve done for me.

"The counselling and love they provided me with can never be repaid. But I needed, and still need, to find my place. They are respectful of my decisions and very supportive and proud of how far I’ve come. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”