Filming on the sea

S

sadude

Active member
Hi all, im in the running to do a job filming grey sharks for three days on a 44 foot catamarang in the deep blue sea.

What sort of precaustions should i take to insure i come back with a working ex1 camera. should i maybe just turn it down or can i protect my camera from that sea water?
 
#1 get rain gear
#2 make sure they have good insurance and that they are willing to pay the deductible for your camera loss claim if it gets messed up.

turn it down? yes. and give them my number!!! :Drogar-Happy(DBG):
 
Petrol makes good rain covers. Correction: The cover I have is made by Kata, although Petrol also makes good covers.

http://www.kata-bags.com/product.asp?p_Id=292&Version=Video

The one I have was made for the Panasonic HVX but that works just fine. There's a separate opening for the mic or a camera light to pop up through. I would recommend using a matte box or something to keep the cover from slipping forward and obscuring the lens.

Be aware that the clear vinyl cover acts as a greenhouse and it can get very hot inside if it's not vented. So keep it out of direct sun if you're not shooting.

I've gotten inundated by spray with that cover in place and it's protected the camera well for more than a year. And just about everything I do is on or near salt water.

Wipe down the camera at the end of the day with a damp cloth. Keep the mic covered with a furry windscreen.

Otherwise, keep your knees bent and always be aware of where your feet are. You're going to need both hands to operate the camera and won't be able to hang on as others would, so having a good sense of balance helps a lot. And if you're about to fall, don't try to reach out to grab something. Crouch immediately. If you're low, you're less likely to fall overboard or onto something.
 
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AC'd on a shoot a few weeks ago. 2 REDS on the back of a boat, one in a helicopter. We brought in a stabilizer for one of the boat cameras called the "Perfect Horizon" ... it sensed the rock of the boat and compensated to keep the rig level. Not sure the type of shooting you'll be doing, but a similar device may be good for you to use.

As far as the camera goes, get a good cover and keep your lens protected!
 
Sounds like a great trip/shoot...bring plenty of sunscreen, ocean blue water will be like being in a tanning bed.
 
thx for all the info. i did not get the job. oh well part of me is actually relieved cause i didnt really want to take my brand new ex1 out onto the water and part of me is a bit pi###d off cause they shouldnt even of phoned me if it was just to tell me im in the running and then my agent says sorry they went with more experince camera operator.

Hope he has good balance and that they have a very good insurance policy.
would of been so cool though.

my next topic will now be do i change my agent.
 
I dunno...It might have been a good thing! I have a similar project coming up in 6 weeks.... How do I protect my EX1 from the salt water environment... or worse. My tech maint guy reminded me... if the camera falls in, it's done... there is no fixing it after a salt water dunking. So that begs the question: 1. insurance, 2. Ewa Marine bag for $900, or 3. the $100 Petrol rain cover (but not water tight)? At the moment I'm lean towards the insurance (for the catastrophe) and the rain cover to keep the salt air at a minimum. Still... I make my living with this camera and there are still lots of ?????
 
FrankC said:
I dunno...It might have been a good thing! I have a similar project coming up in 6 weeks.... How do I protect my EX1 from the salt water environment... or worse. My tech maint guy reminded me... if the camera falls in, it's done... there is no fixing it after a salt water dunking. So that begs the question: 1. insurance, 2. Ewa Marine bag for $900, or 3. the $100 Petrol rain cover (but not water tight)? At the moment I'm lean towards the insurance (for the catastrophe) and the rain cover to keep the salt air at a minimum. Still... I make my living with this camera and there are still lots of ?????
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yes i agree with you frank thats a good point. i make my living with this camera as well ive poored all my money into it and i dont want to risk it, ive got insurance but it will take 2 months for a new cam to arrive and also if something happens my insurance will triple the monthly payments.

for this type of thing i believe the production company should provide the cameras and i am actually not that concerned that i didnt get the job.

sure id jump at the opportunity but i would not use my cam on the sea for 3 days with people i dont know. (whos got my back when it comes down to it)
 
thxdave said:
Dean, when you are shooting on the water, are you using the Steady Shot function?
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Yep. It works OK. I also use a shoulder mount to help minimize adverse pitch and yaw. Keeping the knees bent, and staying close to the centerline of the boat can help, too.

However, if the winds get higher than 15 knots, then it gets too risky to shoot without holding onto something.

There are some great stabilizer systems available but they're out of my budget for now. Also, the camera has to be very mobile for the type of coverage I shoot.
 
FrankC said:
My tech maint guy reminded me... if the camera falls in, it's done... there is no fixing it after a salt water dunking.... I make my living with this camera and there are still lots of ?????
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Of utmost importance: don't drop the camera.

The only way to avoid that is to be familar and comfortable working in a marine environment. On open water the deck is never stable and it can take a while before you're able to move around and work with your eye in the viewfinder without tripping or falling over.

Unfortunately some people get sick if they try to operate a camera with their eye at the viewfinder. The good news is that you get used to it eventually.

Some shooters get away with using an LCD but they can't get critical focus because the LCD is tough to see in bright sunlight. And judging exposure is impossible unless you're able to see the zebras and histogram.

Despite the difficulties and discomfort, sometimes being out there is an experience that's hard to beat. I can see why so many make it their way of life.
 
Thanks for your input Dean... all good advice. I probably won't see the waves you've experienced since I'll be in the Gulf of Mexico... unless there's a hurricane...but then, the shoot's off anyway!! LOL.
 
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