What's your video shooting process?

[raskous]

Hey all
I was looking at the 550d (t2i) i'm planning to buy, and apparently it's not the best performance for autofocus (not continuous). So that means that the best way to go would be to manually adjust the focus for each shot.
Which got me wondering how people actually use their cameras for video underwater, and what their process is.

So far underwater i've only shot with gopro, so it's a straightforward process, turn it on at the surface, and leave it on until the end of the dive, then hope for a few decent shots.

So how does it work for DSLR UW video shooting?

• Do you shoot one big video (like i do for gopro) or do you shoot each shot individually, and if so how do you deal with that, it sounds pretty tedious to set every manual settings for each different shot, when your subject is getting away in a few seconds.
• What about white balance, i'm sure you use manual, but how often do you set it up? Each shot? or do you use depth? orientation with the sun?
• I guess I would have the same question with exposure
• Also how do you deal with manual exposure underwater, i'm thinking a shot with a manta ray going above you, first on dark background, then you start tilting up and seeing sky in the shot and it gets super bright
• Actually in general I was wondering if you had any tips on how to get subject bright when they are on a bright background (like water surface) without lights.

Allright that's enough questions for now...

Thanks a lot
Chris

 

[danvolker]

Hey all
I was looking at the 550d (t2i) i'm planning to buy, and apparently it's not the best performance for autofocus (not continuous). So that means that the best way to go would be to manually adjust the focus for each shot.
Which got me wondering how people actually use their cameras for video underwater, and what their process is.

So far underwater i've only shot with gopro, so it's a straightforward process, turn it on at the surface, and leave it on until the end of the dive, then hope for a few decent shots.

So how does it work for DSLR UW video shooting?

• Do you shoot one big video (like i do for gopro) or do you shoot each shot individually, and if so how do you deal with that, it sounds pretty tedious to set every manual settings for each different shot, when your subject is getting away in a few seconds.
• What about white balance, i'm sure you use manual, but how often do you set it up? Each shot? or do you use depth? orientation with the sun?
• I guess I would have the same question with exposure
• Also how do you deal with manual exposure underwater, i'm thinking a shot with a manta ray going above you, first on dark background, then you start tilting up and seeing sky in the shot and it gets super bright
• Actually in general I was wondering if you had any tips on how to get subject bright when they are on a bright background (like water surface) without lights.

Allright that's enough questions for now...

Thanks a lot
Chris

You shoot clips...much easier for editing also, and less wasted junk you don't need in your video.
You can manual focus about 3 to 4 feet out ( or 2 to 3 feet) , and then use that distance for ALL shooting the rest of the dive, meaning you won't re-focus unless you have a reason you have to come in much closer, or go much further out....most video "needs" to be shot close, and close to the bottom so your lights can show the colors of the bottom--otherwise the bottom will look an ugly shade of green.
Auto white balance and then white balance in the video editing program ( easy).
Shooting up at the sunlight is not the easiest thing you can do with video--it can be a great effect, but with 99% of your video shooitng, you really want the sun "at your back, behind you".

 

[raskous]

Wouldn't you get some subjects slightly out of focus with that method though? Or at least loose a bit of sharpness...

I found post production white balance/exposure to be pretty efficient on some shots with basic cameras (like gopro), but at the expense of some quality loss, especially in low light shots, were as soon as you play with curves or levels, you start seeing a lot of noise. Not sure if it's that bad with DSLRs though.
It still sounds like getting a manual WB underwater every now and then would be more efficient

 

[danvolker]

Wouldn't you get some subjects slightly out of focus with that method though? Or at least loose a bit of sharpness...

I found post production white balance/exposure to be pretty efficient on some shots with basic cameras (like gopro), but at the expense of some quality loss, especially in low light shots, were as soon as you play with curves or levels, you start seeing a lot of noise. Not sure if it's that bad with DSLRs though.
It still sounds like getting a manual WB underwater every now and then would be more efficient

I think that once you adjust for the color temperature of your lights, there is rarely much do do in the way of additional white balancing....and I get this by shooting my 5 D on the Kelvin setting at the number that matches optimalwhite balance 99% of the time ( I don't change this). One key here is to normally shoot at about the same distance away from your primary subjects....If you are not close, you try not to shoot. Maintaining a standard 3 to 4 feet away from subjects is actually pretty easy....and when focusing that far out, a 16-35 mm lens like mine stays in good focus for up to maybe 9 feet.....If a cool subject will hold still for me, and I "need" to be closer or farther for the ideal shot, then I will stop and do another special manual focus...using the times 10 magnification to guarantee crisp focus at this new distance...This does take time, and you don't always have time.
See some examples of what I get with this technique:
6 minute Tour version of "Why Divers prefer Palm Beach" video - YouTube