OT - Underwater video

dibbkd wrote on 7/11/2009, 12:31 PM
So I'm at Key West for a few days, getting some good snorkeling done. I have an underwater housing for my Sony HDR-CX12.

My biggest problem is my footage is very shakey.

When I'm videoing on dry land, it's easy to have a tripod, or just hold the camera pretty still.

I'm finding that while underwater, the waves, even though they're not very big, cause me to move out so much that 99% of the footage is unusable, unless I was trying to film something for "Blair Witch Project".

And even though I'm snorkeling, I'll dive down about 10 feet or so to get some better shots, but even then it's pretty shakey.

So, any suggestions to keeping a still shot underwater??

Thanks!

Comments

Tech Diver wrote on 7/11/2009, 1:19 PM
First off, it is much easier to take steady video as diver because you reach an equilibrium between your weight and buoyancy, the result of which is a motionless hover. You also have the advantage of using both hands since in diving you only control yourself with your fins and never with your hands/arms (a common mistake among inexperienced divers).

Are you using both hands to hold the camera? If not, you should try it. As in diving, use your fins to control yourself. Also, having twin lights on the camera rig helps to steady it since it increases the moment of interia (the resistance to rotation). You might also want to wear a very slightly weighted belt to help keep you down more easily, but not so much weight that you can't float on the surface. Another suggestion is to practice you breath holding ability so you have time to relax and not rush while below the surface.
Cliff Etzel wrote on 7/11/2009, 1:31 PM
As a freediver (Breath Hold Diver) for a number of years (Instructor certification as well), I can attest that shooting video while underwater holding ones breath requires alot of presence - ie; concentration on holding the camera steady - no matter if at the surface or underwater. If you're fighting any part of descending, insufficient propulsion from your fins, unable to equalize easily - all these factors will contribute to the success or failure of your footage quality.

MY training includes dry land apnea training, pool training and Ashtanga Yoga 6 days a week to maintain rib cage flexibility, conscious breathing and flexibility overall.

When at the surface - you need to have an enormous amount of experience with being in the water first and foremost. Your comfort level with going with how the waves move you will make or break your just under the surface footage.

Freediver's like Dr Terry Maas have been doing this kind of shooting for years - and it shows. Footage is rock steady, underwater, their movements are slow and methodical. Relaxed freediving shows in the footage being shot. I've done a fair amount of shooting while freediving. It takes alot of practice. That's about all I can say.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

Cliff Etzel
Videographer : Producer : Web Designer
bluprojekt
ritsmer wrote on 7/11/2009, 1:36 PM
... and if holding your breath etc does not help - then the good old Deshaker might turn the 99% waste to below 50% waste.

Regularly I do some recordings while skiing - and there you can't even hold your breath :-) - so making plenty of redundant footage plus Deshaker is the only way to make acceptable results.
dibbkd wrote on 7/11/2009, 1:48 PM
Thanks for the tips, I'm about to go back out in about 20 minutes. I have been holding the camera with both hands, but I'll try it a little better this evening.

I don't have light mounts for my camera, but that's something I might get at some point, the video comes out darker than what I'd like too, and my cam doesn't do great in low light.

Part of the problem with buoyancy mentioned also comes from the fact that my underwater housing is very "floaty", so even when I do dive down, it's a fight to stay down, so maybe the weighted belt would be a big help you mentioned.

Any other suggestions please let me know, and I'll post what I can salvage of the video later in the week.
srode wrote on 7/11/2009, 2:36 PM
my suggestion is zoom way out - add a wide angle lens on top too if the housing has the room - I've never videoed snorkling but have lots of footage scuba diving and I've never really experienced shaking in the footage - the water and 2 hands added stability. That being said it was with a much larger camera and housing than what you are using and it had weights on the housing for balast.