First video of where I've been training.

[CuzzA]

Some of you know I've been training at my friends aquaculture site. Here's my first video production of this site. This was in December. Unfortunately I haven't been out since as the Gulf has been pretty violent lately. I'm looking forward to getting back in the water as soon as things calm down.

As far as the video, go easy on me. This was my first time. I realize I have a lot of work to do. I need better video lights, a bigger table and probably another 10 pounds of lead to keep the camera steady. I'm all for constructive criticism though, so fire away.

For some reason, the video didn't upload in HD. I gotta figure out why, unless anyone knows the answer.

 

[CuzzA]

I've been thinking about how to capture better video since doing this video for my friend. Setting light aside and steadying my hands for slower panning and better close ups, I think the table is where I need to focus on for right now.

I'm thinking the entire table, camera and light rig need to be neutrally buoyant or close to it to have better control. Is this a good assumption and if so, does anyone have any tips how to achieve this aside from a bunch of trial and error? I enjoy DIY and I would build another table to do this. Can anyone recommend some materials to use that would counteract the weight of the rig? Something that wouldn't compress a lot at depth.

 

[Steve_C]

Not an expert but neutral means that it is easily moved by any current, or eddy, or nudge.

 

[CuzzA]

True. Honestly, I don't know what the best setup is in terms of buoyancy. Obviously you don't want to carry around a brick. I feel like if the rig was closer to neutral and I was slightly overweighted I would have more control over the camera.

On this particular dive I felt like my weight and buoyancy was perfect. The best I've ever been able to dial it in thus far. I really felt perfectly weightless, which would have been great for a typical dive, not so great for keeping the camera steady in a moderate current.

Perhaps a mod can move this to the underwater videography forum for more advice from people who do this all the time.

 

[fjpatrum]

Honestly, I don't think the video is too bad at all, other than the spot light in the middle. Even if you just put a diffuser on that light, it will be better, if you can't buy "better" lights right now. Buoyancy-wise it was a little shaky but not bad at all. I suspect most of that can be remedied with experience rather than spending extra money. Some of it could be remedied more quickly with cash but I don't think it will be necessary. @drbill might have some pointers since he does this for a living. Maybe PM him and ask for direct critiques?

Just as a nit to pick about the text at the beginning, this is not a "zero impact to the environment" project. Any addition or removal of material to the underwater environment has an impact. I'm not saying it's negative but it isn't "zero". Personally, I don't have a beef with it, the way they seem to be doing it, but if they are marketing it as "zero impact", someone will.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Great first effort.

 

[JohnnyC]

Good first effort, but I gotta be honest, I started feeling like I was getting motion sickness after a while (it's a long video for an advertisement). Concentrate on being smooth. Are you using a tray? Get something you can use with two hands, your physical mass connected to the camera will help.

And buy a cheap video light or two. Put them on some arms and kick them out a bit. A diffuser that will spread that beam enough to give it a proper beam angle for video is going to cut your output so much you might as well not have it.

 

[CuzzA]

Thanks. The video was pretty long and I agree there's too much motion. My camera rig needs improvement/replacement. I think I'm going to go a different route after seeing one of DD's videos. Lighting definitely needs improvement.

I've since put diffusers on my lights and picked up the Backscatter 3.1 flip filter so I'll have to practice with that. Honestly I wish I would have had more opportunity to practice and play around with everything over the course of a few dives, but after that day the Gulf went south. Viz is crap. And these fronts keep coming.

There's a very popular thread on a different board that has been raving about the new rock, so I had a little pressure to get it done and posted on the board. Not bad for the first video I've ever put together. But I'm definitely taking notes from here. The GoPro is an amazing little camera and I hope to be able to turn out fantastic professional quality video eventually.

 

[CuzzA]

Just for the record... here's what my DIY rig currently looks like with the added diffusers. Clearly using just the single AR15 grip is going to make the rig unbalanced and the video wobbly. I should have known better.

 

[JohnnyC]

Ah, it's got that goofy AR-15 grip on it. That explains the movement.

Best bet is to get a couple handles. Plenty of solutions to attach the arms to the tops of the handles so that you can have a more stable platform and still have your lights.