I am looking to pursue a career as an underwater cinematographer (am trained to rescue level). I can find many videography courses (which seem to be focused on producing promotional CD's for divers doing their open water courses) but I am more interested in shooting documentaries/films/commercials/stock footage etc. Is there actually a difference between videographers and cinematographers? If anyone can recommend any courses I would really appreciate it, the more thorough the better! Aaron.
Cinematography/videography courses
- Thread starter gekoski
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
nautilusvideo
Registered
The difference in terms comes from cinematographers shooting film and videographers shooting tape. A distinction that is pretty much out of date in the digital age. What term you use depends upon your choice and arena of expertise.
On Being an Underwater Cinematographer/Videographer
Here are some things to keep in mind about a career in u/w cinematography.
1. You are talking about a very small slice of a very specialized pie. Take a look around and ask yourself how many shows or documentaries that are on TV are about the u/w world? Not Many. And with the fragmentation of the media into broadcast, online, cable, etc. the budgets get smaller while the quality demands grow.
2. On these u/w shows or docs how much of the show is actually underwater? At best less than 50%. The rest of the story is shot above the water.
3. Because most u/w shows aren't actually underwater you need camera, lighting, audio, producing, writing and editing skills. You need to have a proficiency in at least a couple of the above skills and an understanding of all of them.
4. You must be an awesome/experienced diver and shooter. The u/w world is unforgiving and if you don't know how to stay alive at depth AND make great pictures then you won't do either well. These skills are earned with time not bought in a class.
5. You also need to know something about business because in the end bean counters make the decision about whether to fund you and your project. Great ideas are a dime a dozen selling them is the real skill. In my best years only about 20% of my income has come from u/w work. The rest of my work involves shooting footage for terrestrial clients.
6. Finally, build yourself a solid skill base. There are lots of ways to get to your goal. Most of them are probably ok but there aren't any shortcuts. Find your niche and own it.
Hope this helps and good luck!
On Being an Underwater Cinematographer/Videographer
Here are some things to keep in mind about a career in u/w cinematography.
1. You are talking about a very small slice of a very specialized pie. Take a look around and ask yourself how many shows or documentaries that are on TV are about the u/w world? Not Many. And with the fragmentation of the media into broadcast, online, cable, etc. the budgets get smaller while the quality demands grow.
2. On these u/w shows or docs how much of the show is actually underwater? At best less than 50%. The rest of the story is shot above the water.
3. Because most u/w shows aren't actually underwater you need camera, lighting, audio, producing, writing and editing skills. You need to have a proficiency in at least a couple of the above skills and an understanding of all of them.
4. You must be an awesome/experienced diver and shooter. The u/w world is unforgiving and if you don't know how to stay alive at depth AND make great pictures then you won't do either well. These skills are earned with time not bought in a class.
5. You also need to know something about business because in the end bean counters make the decision about whether to fund you and your project. Great ideas are a dime a dozen selling them is the real skill. In my best years only about 20% of my income has come from u/w work. The rest of my work involves shooting footage for terrestrial clients.
6. Finally, build yourself a solid skill base. There are lots of ways to get to your goal. Most of them are probably ok but there aren't any shortcuts. Find your niche and own it.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Last edited:
TheBigPhillyFish
Guest
I can not speak for all underwater video guys, but most get there work based on there work and experience. Taking courses and learning will never hurt. But get yourself out there, get your video done, edit it and get it out on the web, especially places like Vimeo. I know a few people who have gotten work and jobs just from what they had on Vimeo. As the previous post said, U/W is an even smaller world within a small world. You have a better chance of doing a career in video or film, and just having underwater knowledge just makes you that more appetizing for a hire.
For example, Underwater Video has gotten me into top side video. I just enrolled in a cinematography course in Philadelphia, and already have plans to attend more. Now I am getting ready to order a DOF adapter, and getting into some more serious editing software. You just have to understand, it takes a very long time to get the experience and understanding of video or film.
But don't let that stop you, if its something you really like then by all means go for it.
Wish you the best!
For example, Underwater Video has gotten me into top side video. I just enrolled in a cinematography course in Philadelphia, and already have plans to attend more. Now I am getting ready to order a DOF adapter, and getting into some more serious editing software. You just have to understand, it takes a very long time to get the experience and understanding of video or film.
But don't let that stop you, if its something you really like then by all means go for it.
Wish you the best!
bkotheimer
Contributor
Same conversation is going on in another thread. Thought that I, like nautilusvideo, would post the same reply:
I've been working professionally in TV and video production for 20 years (diving for about 4). I went to grad school for broadcasting, and I believe it has served me well. First of all, you get access to gear that you may not be even get to touch on the job for a long time. You get an organized and structured introduction to both concepts and specific techniques that you can then perfect and practice when you actually land a job in the industry. And as far as getting that first internship to get a foot in the door, that is also easier to land if you're actually enrolled somewhere. It's required, in fact, in some instances that you be in school.
I worked in the industry before I went back to school for it, and I definitely would say that the job market opened up more for me after I got out.
I'm not saying that there aren't other ways to pick up the necessary skills for video production. I certainly wouldn't go so far as to draw a parallel with the importance of professional scuba instruction, due to the obvious safety issues with the latter. You're not going to kill yourself learning editing on your own.
What I'd be interested in is who does better overall in the UW video world... a seasoned diver who then decides to pick up video production later down the road, or a seasoned TV producer (like me) who then decides to start diving.
Let me add that I think the distinction nowadays between "Videographer" and "Cinematographer" is based on shooting reality/documentary material versus narrative (i.e., fictional) material where the latter is more likely to be referred to as Cinematography.
I've been working professionally in TV and video production for 20 years (diving for about 4). I went to grad school for broadcasting, and I believe it has served me well. First of all, you get access to gear that you may not be even get to touch on the job for a long time. You get an organized and structured introduction to both concepts and specific techniques that you can then perfect and practice when you actually land a job in the industry. And as far as getting that first internship to get a foot in the door, that is also easier to land if you're actually enrolled somewhere. It's required, in fact, in some instances that you be in school.
I worked in the industry before I went back to school for it, and I definitely would say that the job market opened up more for me after I got out.
I'm not saying that there aren't other ways to pick up the necessary skills for video production. I certainly wouldn't go so far as to draw a parallel with the importance of professional scuba instruction, due to the obvious safety issues with the latter. You're not going to kill yourself learning editing on your own.
What I'd be interested in is who does better overall in the UW video world... a seasoned diver who then decides to pick up video production later down the road, or a seasoned TV producer (like me) who then decides to start diving.
Let me add that I think the distinction nowadays between "Videographer" and "Cinematographer" is based on shooting reality/documentary material versus narrative (i.e., fictional) material where the latter is more likely to be referred to as Cinematography.
Similar threads
