Pool video setup

OK; so I am hoping to create a choreographed video clip in the pool with a model.

I am thinking of renting gear and getting some videographer help. I want the video quality to be of commercial quality.

I would like suggestions on how to set this up with regard to videocam equipment and of course lighting.

Do folks think that setting up a similar setup to what I use for stills will work? So I am thinking continuous studio lighting on the outside of the pool and camera attached underwater video lighting.

I would like some ideas on what folks would consider the ideal setup, taking into account that I will probably rent everything I need.

In a pool you will certainly have more light reflections off the pool sides from both your lights as well as the sun's position which you will have to be very aware of. Before you ever get your model in the pool, have someone else in there so that you can test your shooting situation and note the time of day and the suns position. You might also want to use other divers in the pool in various places with their lights for fill and back lighting purposes. A heavy drape that is weighted down could also be used as a backdrop of sorts and what the model is wearing, or not, is important as well. I have seen some beautiful underwater models wearing all kinds of diaphanous materials that just made the shots for me. The model should have waterproof makeup on so that her eyeliner doesn't make her look too gothic, unless that is what you want.

Some one once posted here a link to some underwater pool shots that were just beautiful so maybe they will post it again.

Steve

Thanks Steve,

Probably plan to minimize the daylight component, shooting in the afternoon / evening to take advantage primarily of the artificial lighting as I do with my still stuff in the pool. I have a very large black vinyl backdrop that I use (also have white and green)

Here is an ad by Howard Schatz for Brizo faucets. I have something similar in mind from a technical aspect but different in other respects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIdQyGD2_QQ

I wonder how they keyed her out as they had no backdrop. Several other uw shoots that were listed did have backdrops which could be kept or keyed. Would love to work on a similar shoot. I would think satin would be too heavy a material but maybe silk would work. Don't know much about this type of stuff.

Steve

Would love to work on a similar shoot.

Steve

How do you know they did not have a backdrop?

Come visit Florida.

Visually Zena Holloway's Swan Song is a good place to start. As is the scene from 300 (I can't remember the guy who shot the underwater scene to save my life right now!) with Kelly Craig.

I would not put the lights on the camera unless it is stationary on a tripod. The typical scene is usually main lighting from the top and highlights from the side. The reason I say no lights on the camera if you are free holding is the movement of shadows as you move... unless you want that look.

Visually Zena Holloway's Swan Song is a good place to start. As is the scene from 300 (I can't remember the guy who shot the underwater scene to save my life right now!) with Kelly Craig.

I would not put the lights on the camera unless it is stationary on a tripod. The typical scene is usually main lighting from the top and highlights from the side. The reason I say no lights on the camera if you are free holding is the movement of shadows as you move... unless you want that look.

I plan to fix the camera in place ( I use a monopod type clamp secured above), probably a single fill underwater video light and two outside lights. Any particular outside lights I should try to rent, what's best to use with modifiers like soft boxes, snoots etc?

Update: Just rented two 'new' HMI lights from my local rental guy. Not sure of brand etc. Both take light modifiers etc. Getting excited, now just need to find a video helper, so I don't screw it up.

Hi Loftus

One pointer that may help from past pool shoots is to make sure that the water is clean as many pools are very, very dirty! This can be especially apparent using lights in low light or at night and it really will look awful so make sure the pool has been cleaned just prior to the shoot. Is this an indoor pool or are you using lights in daylight? Even powerful lights in daylight will have very little effect in a shallow pool. I've been involved in green screening on a pool shoot with varying success, but if you are going that route then your lighting needs to be spot on and your camera really needs to be recording at a very high bitrate to pull it off successfully. AVCHD/HDV wouldn't really cut it and I doubt HDSLR codecs would fare much better.

Hope this helps!

Cheers, Simon

Hi Loftus

 

One pointer that may help from past pool shoots is to make sure that the water is clean as many pools are very, very dirty! This can be especially apparent using lights in low light or at night and it really will look awful so make sure the pool has been cleaned just prior to the shoot. Is this an indoor pool or are you using lights in daylight? Even powerful lights in daylight will have very little effect in a shallow pool. I've been involved in green screening on a pool shoot with varying success, but if you are going that route then your lighting needs to be spot on and your camera really needs to be recording at a very high bitrate to pull it off successfully. AVCHD/HDV wouldn't really cut it and I doubt HDSLR codecs would fare much better.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Cheers, Simon

Thanks Simon.

Yeah, as they say cleanliness is job 1. I have an outdoor pool so I have to be quite intense about cleaning prior to a shoot. I run my filters for 48 hours before a shoot. I also have a second above ground filter that I use before shoots. I've become quite a pool boy since starting this stuff.

I plan to shoot late afternoon, early evening with video after I am done with the still stuff. I guess I can't turn up my shutter speed to darken the background using continuous lighting.

I plan to shoot with the D7000 DSLR, so any particular settings advice is also welcome. (unless someone with a high end camera wants to show up.

I also am not planning to do very wide angle stuff so I can keep my water distance as short as possible to minimize dirt etc and amount of background. Probably shoot Tokina at the 17 end or 16-35.

Unfortunately no spotting like with stills I know.

So . . . how did it go?

Looking forward to seeing your video!

So . . . how did it go?

 

Looking forward to seeing your video!

Not till later in the month; thanks for asking, I will update you when I'm done. I'm a little scared of what I may be able to produce with video, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

You're right, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Just getting everything set-up is half the battle. AND you will learn for next time no matter what!

Looking forward to seeing the results!

I have taken a bit of a hiatus from underwater photography for a couple months now to plan our wedding and get hitched! But excited to get back in the water in a week and a half for another kids u/w shoot

~abi