Career in Underwater Video

[drbill]

Zept- the fact that you were making sales to divers of video taken of them underwater does not really mean you were a "videographer" any more than taking home movies means you were a "filmmaker." To shoot good video of broadcast quality takes skill in the use of the equipment, knowledge of composition, effective lighting techniques, etc. Someone who can shoot a good natural history documentary that gets broadcast on PBS is more my idea of a real videographer. That's my opinion anyway.

Dr. Bill

 

[ronrosa]

Zept- the fact that you were making sales to divers of video taken of them underwater does not really mean you were a "videographer" any more than taking home movies means you were a "filmmaker." To shoot good video of broadcast quality takes skill in the use of the equipment, knowledge of composition, effective lighting techniques, etc. Someone who can shoot a good natural history documentary that gets broadcast on PBS is more my idea of a real videographer. That's my opinion anyway.

Dr. Bill

What would you call him then ? Video Guy ? Isn't videographer derived from photographer ?

If some shoots photos and sells them I call him a photographer. If someone shoots videos and sells them I call him a videographer. Now if the photos or videos suck, I call him a crappy photograper/videographer.

 

[bdombrowski]

I find it interesting that SSI does not believe a single chip CCD can produce worthwhile video. I shoot with a Sony TRV-17, but have shot with TRV900's and TRV950's as well. I find the video quality comparable underwater (although not topside).

Many people have viewed my footage (mostly taken with the TRV-17) and thought it was outstanding. I've seen stuff shot with a VHX1000 that I thought was much poorer in quality. I think camera and lighting skills play a bigger part than single or 3-CCD design underwater.

Just my not-so-humble opinion!

Dr. Bill

With the right lighting conditions, you can definitely tell the difference between single and 3-chip footage underwater. The saturations and dynamic range of color is much better with the three chip. But, if light is low, you can probably get better resolution with a high-end single chip than the 3-chip. So there are a few trade-offs.

I think there is a stigma with single chip cameras among producers and stock agencies. Most producers and stock agencies I know want 3-chip as a minimum and prefer HD. They will consider single chip and even Hi8 only if you have a rare and unique shot.

Brian
SubsurfaceMedia.com

 

[drbill]

What would you call him then ? Video Guy ? Isn't videographer derived from photographer ?

If some shoots photos and sells them I call him a photographer. If someone shoots videos and sells them I call him a videographer. Now if the photos or videos suck, I call him a crappy photograper/videographer.

I compare it to someone with a camera who takes pictures and may even sell some. I would not really call them a photographer (since this thread was in reference to a career rather than just a casual hobby). Someone who takes video is not really a career videographer unless they produce product commensurate with income production.

I know lots of people who shoot underwater video in this region. I know few who I would consider real videographers. But that's just my opinion (and of course it is right!).

Dr. Bill

 

[drbill]

The right light conditions do not often apply here in the kelp forests. In the tropics there might be a significant difference (although it is in tropical waters that I've used both the single chip and three chip designs).

Dr. Bill

 

[Zept]

The fact that you were making sales to divers of video taken of them underwater does not really mean you were a "videographer" any more than taking home movies means you were a "filmmaker."

That's unkind. I never said I was Howard Hall. I wasn't making documentaries for PBS. However, I was making underwater videos five days out of eight, on a commercial basis. That's different from shooting home movies.

The original poster asked about "getting a fin in the door" and other people mentioned souvenir videos. My experience is that it's not difficult to become a person who makes and sells underwater videos, but it's not easy to make a living from it, let alone a career... although some people do it for years. Maybe it's something foamer86 is interested in, maybe it isn't.

To shoot good video of broadcast quality takes skill in the use of the equipment, knowledge of composition, effective lighting techniques, etc.

To learn all those things takes practise. You can practise at your own expense, or you can find another way to gain experience. I certainly don't know everything there is to know about underwater video, but I know a lot more than I did a year ago.

A journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single fin kick.


Z

 

[drbill]

Didn't really mean to be unkind, Zept. I just think the terms "photographer," "videographer" and even "diver" are tossed around too casually especially with respect to career choices.

For example, there are many people who consider themselves "divers" who may dive less than once a year. Yes, they are certified to dive (for life... a bit mistake IMHO), but are they really "divers?" I see many of them at the Casino Dive Park who have a hard time exiting on the stairs even under calm conditions. This is probably the easiest shore dive in California (maybe the world). I hardly consider them real "divers."

There are many dive "professionals" who barely eak out a living. Of course this is not their fault... many are very good divers and love the sport, but as a career choice it is not one that could sustain many people over the long-term. Many I know leave the business for another career with better pay and benefits. Very few survive in it long-term.

Again, I don't "mean" to be "mean" with this. My reference is with respect to actually being a career videographer as the first post indicated. I do know one diver who began her carrer as a videographer with a dive op and graduated to the BBC. Am sure there are others.

Dr. Bill

 

[Groundhog246]

it makes sense for them to record it on the best quality they can. They need the high quality because once it goes through the editing a dubbing process the lower end material will break down.

As long as your editing the raw footage in digital, there should be no breakdown. Aty least until you start applying corrections. That's the beauty of digital, a copy is the same as the original, otherwise when you copied your software it wouldn't run. As soon as you have a change (a 0 becomes a 1 or vice versa) it's junk.
However, starting with the highest quality you can always makes sense.

 

[drbill]

Again, just to clarify... I'm using the term "videographer" with reference to the title of this thread "CAREER in underwater video." To be a career videographer means that you are earning enough to support yourself over time, not just for a few months. At least that is my interpretation.

Although people seem to love my footage, I still don't really qualify since I continue to dig into savings despite having footage shown on major networks and apparently on Guy Harvey's upcoming show on the great whites of Guadalupe.

If I don't make it a real "career" soon, I'll be forced to find a real job. Not a very pleasant thought! But then I could always sell my California/Catalina home and retire somewhere in the Third World.

Dr. Bill

 

[ronrosa]

Again, just to clarify... I'm using the term "videographer" with reference to the title of this thread "CAREER in underwater video." To be a career videographer means that you are earning enough to support yourself over time, not just for a few months. At least that is my interpretation.

Although people seem to love my footage, I still don't really qualify since I continue to dig into savings despite having footage shown on major networks and apparently on Guy Harvey's upcoming show on the great whites of Guadalupe.

If I don't make it a real "career" soon, I'll be forced to find a real job. Not a very pleasant thought! But then I could always sell my California/Catalina home and retire somewhere in the Third World.

Dr. Bill

Do you have any footage available for public viewing ?