Jim Brandenburg captures on high-definition film a cloud of smoke spiraling into the sky.By Lori EhdeNature photographer Jim Brandenburg returned to his hometown, Luverne, this week to film the first burning of Touch the Sky Prairie.Brandenburg has signed a contract with Japan's public television station to produce a two-hour television movie on the Prairies of North America, which will be broadcast worldwide.The movie is about Brandenburg rediscovering his prairie roots in Rock County, and the beauty and majesty of the prairie landscape of North America.Brandenburg filmed the burning of about 40 acres Monday, a process in prairie restoration that kills off non-native species and encourages regrowth of naturally-existing prairie grasses and flowers.A crew from Japan joined Brandenburg Tuesday when another 30 to 40 acres were burned. They filmed Brandenburg working on the prairie, filming the fire.This week’s shoot is the first in what may be a two-year process. From here, film crews went on to a bison ranch in South Dakota where "Dances With Wolves," was filmed.Brandenburg will be the producer and cinematographer on the main body of the prairie film. He’s working on the piece as both a prairie expert and a visual expert.There will be a major focus on prairie restoration at Touch the Sky Prairie northwest of Luverne.The 800-acre stretch of land is one mile from where Brandenburg was born. It’s two miles from where his great-grandparents, Henry and Theresa Brandenburg, homesteaded and broke the virgin prairie sod at the turn of the century.The Japanese working title for the film is "My Dear Prairie," but this may change with the North American broadcast.Brandenburg points out that the film will be digital quality and the camera used for the production is designed for Hollywood movie theater entertainment.NHK of Japan plans to air the special worldwide in the fall of 2004.Brandenburg has been documenting the North American prairies for 30 years for National Geographic and he just completed a companion book with its release to coincide with the television show. Touch the Sky Prairie and Blue Mound State Park, both are featured in this book.This isn’t Brandenburg's first venture in television work. He was the cinematographer and co-producer of a television show for the award winning National Geographic Special called "White Wolf." He has also been featured and filmed in numerous other television films including one that is soon to be released based on his book, "Chased by the Light."Touch the Sky Prairie is the beginning of an effort that began three years ago when the Brandenburgs and four Luverne natives formed the Brandenburg Prairie Foundation. The project has received financial help from Blandin Foundation, Southwest Minnesota Foundation, Wallace Dayton Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife.Future restoration work includes creating a prairie educational area, a shelter and informational signage.A longer-term goal is to re-establish prairie chickens and burrowing owls.
