How Small is the UW Video Community???

This may be more of a statement than a question...you can be the judge. I have been searching for quite some time for a UW video forum to learn more and share ideas. I have visited Wetpixel for years but never even noticed the video forum until recently. In this case it is buried under "gear lust" which hardly seems appropriate to all the topics discussed. The rest of the cyberworld seems desolate with a spattering of forums that are hardly ever if not never used. So far Wetpixel has yielded the most value.

So I ask: Where are all the underwater videographers? I always imagined myself belonging to a somewhat relevant size community. Upon digging deeper, it now seems much smaller than imagined. Are we really that small a group?...less than 10,000, less than 1000, a few hundred?

I would love to see a more expanded forum on Wetpixel for Video. Perhaps move it up a leval and add sub headings.

Video Forum

Gear Lust

Tips and techniques

Clip Gallery

Etc

In addition, with a little elbow grease and search optimization, perhaps we could establish Wetpixel as a oasis for all the other wayward and search UW videographers out there? For that matter, I am still confused on what to call oneself who does underwater video (UW videographer...what if you use film?).

What do people think? Eric C: can more be done in the Video forum area?

-shawn

The rest of the cyberworld seems desolate with a spattering of forums that are hardly ever if not never used. So far Wetpixel has yielded the most value.

I like Moving Pixels on Digital Diver and Videography on Scubaboard. I think both are more active than this one.

So I ask: Where are all the underwater videographers? I always imagined myself belonging to a somewhat relevant size community. Upon digging deeper, it now seems much smaller than imagined. Are we really that small a group?...less than 10,000, less than 1000, a few hundred?

I think it's larger than that, especially if you count all the videographers who work for dive operations worldwide.

In addition, with a little elbow grease and search optimization, perhaps we could establish Wetpixel as a oasis for all the other wayward and search UW videographers out there? For that matter, I am still confused on what to call oneself who does underwater video (UW videographer...what if you use film?)

What do people think?

Eric C: can more be done in the Video forum area?

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If you really want to start something, I own the uwvideo.info domain. I just haven't had time to do anything with it.

my .02

Steve

....I don't think this is the most widely read u/w video forum. In terms of sheer volume of posts, I think that would be Scubaboard. In terms of expertise of the participants, that would be Digital Diver.......

 

Steve

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Digital Diver is good, but IMHO I find this board and the Yahoo Groups uwvideo, to have the more advanced users and where I find the most answers to my questions. This board also is the best place to find users with hands on experience with the latest HD camcorders and housings.

Steve, that is my experience so far as well. People who seem to know there stuff and have taken the HD leap. Well, I hope this continues to grow and add momentum...tell your friends.

Shawn

We're trying to get more traction with video users here. Historically, video has been slow on Wetpixel.

I am hoping that the tremendous expertise here will help to attract people, but I know that since the vast majority of people are beginners, we'll need something more basic to drive traffic...

Shawn -

I would love to split up the video forum into more specified areas, but until recently, traffic hasn't been high enough.

Most of the pro video guys I know are on assignment much of the time, or don't have enough time (or energy?) to be online all the time.

Let's revisit this topic, soon. If you feel like there's enough activity to warrant more video forums, pipe up here.

I'm new to this forum, but have been videoing underwater for a good few years now. I agree with Shawn that there is not a lot of 'u/w videographer community' activity online at the more advanced level.

At a time in the market where HD is the next 'big thing' and the controversy around HDV and its suitability for editing and commercial work is very active, I'm spending more time on the editing forums (eg http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/list.php?f=1 and http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_h...age_index.html) which is where I'm finding stuff about formats being used and editing and commercial challenges with video material.

However, the guys on those forums are mainly dry land operatives, and they don't have the same small footprint and other challenges (eg lighting, battery life) we divers have. Steve Douglas would be the exception - see a typical article at http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/gates...er_housing.html

I for one would very much welcome an expansion of the video section on WePixel Eric - go for it!

Cheers, Nick

As vidpert, I just want a feature where anyone who wants to post a new question be forced to use the search feature first!

I know I promised that post it article by Mike V... but he still hasn't written it! I did a very basic one for lighting but that's had slow traffic. I think the recent activity is mostly for the Sony HVR-A1 which has hogged many a forums. The more I use it, the more mixed feelings I have about the camera. Dunno why they'd make a DVCAM "pro" version without more accessible manual controls.

PS Oh Nick... don't call Eric a WE-Pixel... he might be offended by that

Oops! typing too fast, at least I didn't imply he was a wee pixel - his stature is way to huge for that! (oops trying to recover and sucking up now - enough! )

Nick,

Welcome from Singapore! NOw, let's see what you have to offer from the equator!

shawn

I know I promised that post it article by Mike V... but he still hasn't written it!  

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Hmmm, once again...bite me!!

Uhhh this community is really big... I just ran into 2 guys who posted in this thread 8000 miles from where I live. And Nick was at a party I was at! Scary!

We are a unique minority. Perhaps it is the cost of video equipment that keeps our community small; perhaps it is the time and expertise required to edit video into a marketable format. There are some very knowledgeable and helpful individuals posting to this site providing lots of valuable information. However, it would be nice to have a site regarded as the defacto standard for U/W videographers with postings from seasoned professionals, equipment manufacturers as well as individuals who are trying to avoid the trial and error approach to learning this discipline. Wetpixel has nearly 5000 members. How many of these are actively posting to the video forum?

Scubadru, how funny! You ran into my buddy Justin at the Singapore Sea&Sea store while I was in meetings a few blocks away. In the meantime, you meet our buddy Nick at a party in Singapore...now that is a small world.

Justin and I just spent 2.5 days diving in Phi Phi. Gotta say....what a weekend. Great whale shark encounter, a 30 minute open blue encounter with a manta doing loops for my video, leopard sharks, black tips and the usual cast...not bad for a weekend!

Eric: I would love to see this forum grow for video. Though not a pro like some of the other fellows on the forum, I am an aspiring amatuer with a perfectionist underpinnings. I for one will do my part to activily participate and drive traffic to the forum. Would love to begin laying the foundation to accomodate a more full video forum now.

Oops: I was borrowing Justin's laptop and didn't realize it was his login I was on. That last post was from me:) Justin is a stills guy.

Thief!!!