I posted a few weeks ago about having to “make do” with a still camera to do underwater “video-“graphy – and then using photoshop and effects to make it look less like a slideshow. Well this time I made it work with actual video. Granted, there are a lot sexier underwater videos out there made by guys who have the gear to go down 10 meters, but what if you’re just a reg’lar person with a reg’lar camera? What can you do? Well here’s what I learned:
- The importance of using a tripod applies underwater. If you “chase” fish (as I did) the effect is the same as it would be above water.
- Lighting is as important underwater – if not more so. Film in shallow water (unless you have a fancy-schmancy underwater spotlight) and when it’s sunny. Keep the sun behind you if possible so it illuminates the fish
- Everything will have a blue tint, even though it looked normal underwater. Use a video editing program that allows you to take out some of the blue, and enhance some of the reds and browns – while still making it clear you’re underwater (i.e. leave some of the blue)
- Find some kind of music that captures that underwater “feeling”…I found this particularly difficult. See my earlier post on finding legal music.
Here’s what I came up with. Feedback? Ideas on doing it better?
