A local Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) cameraman's close encounter with the Porcupine caribou in Old Crow has landed him a national award.

Luke Smith is a MÈtis camera editor/operator for the station's Whitehorse bureau. He was recently awarded the Stan Clinton Award for News Essay and Cinematography for the Caribou Matter piece.

The award is a recognition by the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. This marks the first time it has gone to someone outside of the CBC, CTV or Global television networks.

Smith received his award last week in Toronto.

Caribou Matter looked at the relationship between the Porcupine caribou herd and the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

As he was shooting the four-minute news essay, it seemed as if the caribou didn't even notice him there, Smith said in an interview Tuesday.

'They were coming right towards me,' he said, noting the scenario enabled him to get shots that normally are extremely difficult to obtain.

In many cases, the only time it's possible to get a shot like that is when someone is herding the animals in a staged scene for a television show or movie.

'My heart (was) just pumpin',' Smith said of having the caribou get that close to him.

This also marked Smith's first time filming caribou after he began the full-time gig at APTN. Prior to starting work there, Smith was a freelancer.

As for what the Stan Clinton Award means for his career, Smith joked it's a good time with his co-workers for a couple of weeks.

He also noted the network recently purchased a new piece of editing equipment he can use in the field, something he'd been asking for quite a while. He later acknowledged though that the new gear came prior to his being nominated for the award.

Learning he was nominated was a surprise to Smith, who received the news as he was filming an archery event at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse.

Local APTN reporter Roxanne Livingstone phoned him about work and delivered the news of the nomination.

His bosses at APTN also praised Smith's work in a press release.

'To be nominated for this award and for the first time in this category at par with such esteemed industry leaders, is nothing short of outstanding,' said Jean LaRose, APTN's chief executive officer.

'The talent and creativity put forth by Luke and our Whitehorse bureau in producing this news essay lends proof to APTN's rising presence in the Canadian television scene and once again reinforces the network's ongoing commitment to broadcast excellence.'