Underwater Video Basics for the True Beginner!

[TheBigPhillyFish]

I ordered and watched The Underwater Video Basics on DVD by Steve Miller, and found it educational, especially for the complete video beginner. The video sheds light on equipment selection, housing operations, shots and moves, dive skills, communication, storytelling techniques and interaction on marine life. The video runs 47 minutes, and as I mentioned is perfect for True Beginner!

I still would like to get Annie Crawley's Your Guide To Creating Underwater Video When I get that one, and review, I will let you all know.

 

[robint]

I ordered and watched The Underwater Video Basics on DVD by Steve Miller, and found it educational, especially for the complete video beginner. The video sheds light on equipment selection, housing operations, shots and moves, dive skills, communication, storytelling techniques and interaction on marine life. The video runs 47 minutes, and as I mentioned is perfect for True Beginner!

I still would like to get Annie Crawley's Your Guide To Creating Underwater Video When I get that one, and review, I will let you all know.

I got the Steve Miller video about 5yrs ago, when I first started thinking about moving from still to video (probably an older version as he spoke mostly about the older systems as digital was just beginning and HD wasn't heard of yet). It is a good video for beginners and I learned alot from it. I actually took it out again last year and watched it again to see if I could pick up any other pointers.

One thing not mentioned by him, but I learned from another underwater videographer, is that when shooting be sure to leave at least 3 seconds after a shot to use for edit fades, etc. I was told to count to 10 on any shot, that way I could have at least 5 seconds in the middle of good stuff. I found it really helped as I noticed that when I was turning on and off the camcorder I was moving the housing just enough to be an issue. That extra few seconds helps get rid of it.

robin

 

[bottomfeeder22]

I got the Steve Miller video about 5yrs ago, when I first started thinking about moving from still to video (probably an older version as he spoke mostly about the older systems as digital was just beginning and HD wasn't heard of yet). It is a good video for beginners and I learned alot from it. I actually took it out again last year and watched it again to see if I could pick up any other pointers.

One thing not mentioned by him, but I learned from another underwater videographer, is that when shooting be sure to leave at least 3 seconds after a shot to use for edit fades, etc. I was told to count to 10 on any shot, that way I could have at least 5 seconds in the middle of good stuff. I found it really helped as I noticed that when I was turning on and off the camcorder I was moving the housing just enough to be an issue. That extra few seconds helps get rid of it.

robin

Amen to that, Robin! I just got back from my first dives with my new HD video rig, and now that i'm editing, I wish I had let my scenes roll for a few more seconds! Ah well, all part of learning, right? Just gives me an excuse to go do more diving!