smooth shots from a boat of surfers in gigantic waves

I

indosmoke

Carbonite Member
so here it is, im in central america filming a video for and independent company and we rolled up to this big outer reef spot where i was filming from a boat. The boat was rocking a bit making it impossible to use a tripod, so i was forced to go handheld with a long lens. It was okay but not the professional perfection that i am after. Does anybody have more experience with this type of environment who might be able to offer some advice???

Tyler
 
sounds like an awsome trip! I have never filmed in such conditions, but I have heard of people who film in helicopters using bungee cords to suspend their camera from above via the top handle. Although in a helicopter, it's more for vibration than the rolling motion that a wave would enduce. You could try it though....
 
People who could afford it use gyro stabilized platforms. But even that might not work in big waves. Some suggestions are:

1. Use a bigger, more stable boat
2. Get the boat to drive forward, this usually neutralizes some of the rocking
3. Get closer to your subject and use a shorter lens
4. Film moving subjects to hide the camera motion
 
I do a "limo chase" where i film cars while i'm driving... it's actually quite easy with the dvx100a... is the ois on?
 
i assume you are shooting with stabilizer on.
other than steadicam, i dont see a real cheap solution to this. but also with that, at full zoom on a moving boat, it's not going to be easy.
maybe a local videoservice place can rent you a steadicam for this.
Maybe hook the steadicam to the boat in some way rather than your body.

Andrea
 
the best clips ive seen from surfing are the ones where the camera person is in the water with a water proof casing. You can get really close and the underwater shots after the wave goes over your head are incredible if the water is clear. Theres this one called "billabong odyssey " thats amazing.
 
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