Galapagos HD Video

[MN Lakeman]

Just back from an unforgettable week aboard the Humboldt Explorer, shooting HD video scenes of Galapagos sea life. Mr Big eluded us, but boy did the Hammers give us a show. Vid Camera: HD Sony 550CX, Housing: Amphibico, Editting software: HD Pinnacle Studio. DM's even commented on unusually low vis on most days - bummer, but I made do. My only gripe on this new rig is that the Amphibico controls take brute force to engage - I literally had a bruise on the underside of my right wrist & sore tendons by the end of trip.:depressed:

YouTube - Galapagos Islands Diving 2011 HD

...and as always with YouTube, move the default 360p up to 720p for HD in the lower viewing pane.

 

[raskous]

Man! Those are amazing sights...
That shot with the shadows of hammerheads on top of you in silhouette... just eerie..
Awesome video, i like your editing, and how you try to frame your subjects as close as possible.
It's a shame your white balance got "unbalanced" for a while there (or is that a filter? on purpose?)

Anyway great stuff, that place looks amazing

 

[CanadianTravelAgent]

Nice close up shots of the eagle ray and stingray. Hammerheads always look amazing too!
The video looks like you weren't fighting much of a current....was that so? Maybe influenced the visibility?
Would love to get there one day!

 

[ronscuba]

Great video. My favorite part is the eagle ray heading right at you !

 

[ScubaSam]

Wow, simply wow!!!! Thanks for an amazing experience!

 

[mjh]

Very nice, makes me want to go back.

 

[MN Lakeman]

Yes, the viz was HORRIBLE & I fought w/ the auto focus sometimes, to get it on the subject, not the crap in the water column. I finally began using the manual focus button on the housing, which works pretty slick - once the auto-focus had correctly found the subject, I'd hit the button & it would stay. I just had to remember to hit it again & return to auto when I was ready to shoot something else. Quite a challenge contending with the currents & keeping all the camera operations in synch. I realize now looking back, that I should have manual white balanced more often, but in the end, with 550 files to weed through, I had no prob throwing out the duds.

 

[95lsteg]

Nice video!!

 

[Bogie]

Thanks for a fun video. Lots of sharks, rays and huge schools of fish.

Did you use a video light? Video is very clear.

 

[Scubaplongée.com]

Very nice images. I just bought that Sony XR550 and can't wait for Amphibico housing.
Good shots!