Just got back from Iceland, my first time taking the Hydroflex out in open water. Was interesting bringing a feature style of shooting (ie tethered to a boat with monitoring, a focus puller, power etc running to the camera) to an open water/documentary type situation but it worked well. The camera was an Alexa XT with Hawk anamorphic lenses. The location was the stunning Silfra Fissure where the tectonic plates of America and Europe meet. Despite the cold water conditions (2C / 35F) both camera and housing performed flawlessly. Have attached some pics and will post the full piece when it's published.
Cheers
That's impressive, and quite an undertaking. Were you using wireless comms (I don't see hardwired tether lines)?
Hi, we used an Oceans Technology Through-Water Communications System (comprising STX-101 Surface Unit and 4 x listen only units that clipped onto mask straps for myself, the person being filmed and 2 x safety divers)
Ahhh, thanks. That sounds like a good system to keep the shoot organized.
Since we dive tethered anyway (black water), we use the OTS hardwired systems, but they limit mobility and would probably not work well for your situation.
Interested to hear more about the Hawks.. I did a shoot recently using the Kowa anamorphics and they were great, what diopter etc did you need to use etc and what focal lengths did you go for?
Pretty impressive getting that rig out there and shooting well done mate!
Wasn't too bad actually, Arri took care of the shipping, we just picked it up from a local rental company. The Hawks were on the whole great! The guys really loved the 100mm (they'd been using it a lot for their topside work) and were super keen to use it underwater - we used it with a flat port so no diopter for that one and 3 inch extenstion tube, it was so long! Made the front really bouyant so attached weights under the skids and around the port. The wider shots were I think on a 40mm lens with a diopter 1 as our subject was relatively close in foreground.
