Underwater Shooting Basics
Underwater cinematography offers an incredibly unique and creative element to your story. It is, however, something that many productions shy away from out of sheer fear. Despite it’s risky stigma, underwater cinematography is not nearly as gnarly as it seems, especially with proper gear and practice. Here, we’ve compiled a few of our most helpful tips and tricks to teach you how to get the perfect shot in the water!
Gear:
One of the most important aspects of underwater videography is the gear. First, you need to choose the right water housing and camera. When choosing a setup, consider what camera functions will be most useful for the type of content you are seeking to create in the water. Most water housings don’t allow access to all your camera’s buttons and menus, so make sure you know which features are necessary. For us, we use the Canon R5 paired with a NiMAR Surf Pro water housing. The R5’s incredible versatility makes it the perfect camera for the unpredictable and fast-paced energy that comes with underwater videography. The NiMAR housing is one of the most durable on the market. It also sports a depth rating 30% deeper than its competitors, meaning that it can be used for light scuba diving as well. In order to properly maintain any water housing, be sure to soak it in fresh water for several minutes after each session. Let it dry out of direct sunlight before putting it away. Check your O-rings after each dive, and make sure to wipe off any sand or hair that is contaminating them. This will ensure a watertight seal for future uses. Don’t have money for a professional underwater rig? No worries! You can capture gorgeous shots with a GoPro, or even an iPhone with an underwater case. AquaTech’s axisGO series offers affordable and reliable underwater housings for any iPhone
Shooting:
Even with proper gear and beautiful conditions, underwater shooting often yeilds underwhelming results These simple pointers can reduce this frustration, and take your shots to a whole new level. First, get as close to your subject as possible. Sand and debris in the water will drastically reduce the clarity of your image and produces annoying “backscatter” when using a flash. Due to the close proximity of the camera to your subject, it’s often best to shoot on a wide lens. When capturing wildlife, it’s generally best to shoot at eye level, or slightly upwards towards the animal. This creates a deeper sense of immersion for the audience. Don’t fight the current or surge, but rather work with the direction it’s taking your shot. It’s better to have slightly different camera movement than expected then to have a shaky or jerky shot. Rather than chase after an animal, stay calm, and wait for them to approach you. If you’re working with an athlete, communicate clearly with them, and make sure they know how far they should be from the lens. Finally, it’s crucial that you are comfortable with your rig and your environment. This is by far the most important factor of good underwater cinematography. The water can be an unforgiving environment, and facing it with thousands of dollars worth of camera gear and client investment raises the stakes to another level. Practice often, and don’t under any circumstances wait until your shoot day to use your equipment for the first time. Not only will this reduce the chances of disaster, but this comfortability will free up your mind to focus exclusively on capturing the perfect shot.
Education:
Education is another important part of upping your underwater cinematography game. The team over at Bluewater Photo have put together some of the best online material out there on underwater photography and videography, and frequently update their blog with relevant tips and gear news. It’s all free too, which is a huge plus. Another option is to sign up for the Underwater Videographer SCUBA elective course from PADI. If you can’t access a location to take the class in person, they offer an online eLearning option. While both of these are solid options, they’re no replacement for talking to underwater video professionals. Most underwater cinematographers are open to giving tips, and love ushering in the next generation of underwater filmmakers. For more tips and tricks, follow us on Instagram, or reach out to us at info@terraformcreative.media.