You’ve seen them on YouTube, Vimeo, and other sites – quick films of underwater action, taken by divers just like you. Whether you aspire to become a professional videographer like the experts at National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, or if you simply want to share your experiences with friends, family members, or the world at large, you’ll enjoy these quick, simple tips for getting started with underwater videography.
Important Diving Skills
Shooting underwater involves challenges that aren’t found topside. The equipment used is different and methods for capturing images vary from those used above the surface – and that’s just the beginning.
Before getting started with camera work, be sure your diving skills are up to snuff. Not only are good skills essential to your safety while you film, they also serve to improve the quality of your videos. Are you confident underwater? Are you able to maintain neutral buoyancy with very little effort? If you’re less than confident, try taking some additional classes, and spend a little more time on the bottom before you take your camera down with you. If buoyancy control is an issue for you, your shots will be shaky and unusable – worse, they’ll induce feelings of nausea in viewers!
The final skill to work on before getting started with underwater videography is the ability to drift either past, over, or under a subject in the water, regardless of your depth in relation to it. Once you’ve got the hang of it, you’re definitely ready to get started with camera work.
Get Started On the Right Foot with Training
While training certainly is not a requirement for videography, taking a course in underwater videography will set you on the fast track to success. The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) and the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) are the two most popular scuba diving certification associations on the planet; they both offer specialty courses in underwater videography, and there are other institutes that offer classes as well.
Basic Equipment for Underwater Videography
Besides a video camera, there are a few other accessories which are necessary for underwater videography. When choosing your camera, think about how much video you actually want to shoot. If you’d like to work on underwater photography skills as well as underwater videography skills, consider using a digital single lens reflex camera for both activities; before you buy, ensure a compatible housing is available. The same goes for video cameras – be sure that a compatible underwater housing is available for the model you plan to purchase.
The housing has two main functions. First, it protects valuable camera equipment from moisture and pressure. Second, it makes using your camera underwater easy. While there are universal housings available, they are inferior to housings specifically designed for the camera you are using, as specially designed housings allow you to use more camera functions and get superior results.
There are two basic types of video camera housings: mechanical and electronic. Mechanical housings are durable, rugged, and reliable; however electronic housings are often preferred as they are attractive and user-friendly. Choose a housing with a glass video port rather than a plastic port that could scratch.
In addition, look for a housing that is equipped with either an internal or external UR filter which you can activate at depths below 30 feet. As you get into deeper, darker water, colors dissipate and having this filter will improve your ability to capture bright colors.
Finally, you will need lights which are compatible with your camera and housing. Many manufacturers offer kits containing basic setups. Besides offering good value, these kits make it easy to get a basic setup that works well right out of the box. Consider choosing HID lights; though they cost more, they last much longer than other types of underwater videography lights. If you plan to do a lot of nighttime shooting, look for halogen lights as well; HID lights are best when used in daylight.
As you may have guessed, underwater videography equipment is not terribly cheap, but prices for beginner-friendly cameras, housings, and lights have dropped significantly over the past few decades. Plan to pay at least $1,500 to get started; prices go all the way up to $20,000 or so for professional quality equipment.
Potential Challenges
There are a few challenges you’ll face as you get started with underwater videography. The first involves keeping your camera dry at all times and ensuring that your lens and housing remains fog-free. Learn to use your housing topside before you even consider taking it underwater. Get your camera into the housing while you are still indoors, and add a packet of desiccant if possible as this will help to prevent fog from forming.
The second challenge involves lighting. Learn how to use your strobes and any additional lights before you take your camera underwater. Though tutorials are available online, the best way to learn to use lights underwater is to take a class!
Shooting Tips
Once you’re ready to take your camera underwater, use these tips to get started.
-
Practice holding the camera steady. If it is shaking, your clip will be blurry and unusable.
-
Avoid zooming while underwater. Zooming increases camera shake and makes composition more challenging.
-
To get the best images, shoot from below your subject, and shoot it from the front. If you’re capturing video of a fish for example, this method will allow you to capture its face perfectly – eyes, teeth, gills, and all.
-
Don’t chase animals while filming; instead, position yourself so they come toward you or past you. Try to blend into the background if possible.
-
Stay as close to your subject as you possible can as this will provide you with clear, sharp, images and brighter colors. Of course, this does not apply to dangerous species, and if your buoyancy control is iffy, stay back a little further until you are able to improve it.
-
Learn to use the white balance and auto focus features on your camera. If it has full automatic mode, try shooting in this mode before going to manual adjustments. The newest cameras are basically foolproof and deliver excellent results.
Finally, work to shoot from different perspectives. Watch videos others have taken and notice what works and what doesn’t work. Learn about the marine life you’ll be capturing on video – if you know what behaviors to expect at certain times and in certain situations, the likelihood you’ll be able to capture that activity increases.