underwater videographer course | underwater video technique | classic shots

Classic Shots

Classic shots for underwater video

Action Approaching

David Lean opened his 1955 movie with a minute clip of Lawrence of Arabia approaching over the horizon. It wouldn't have had quite the same impact if he had been riding away from the camera

fisharse very easy to get

get in front of people and turn back

Wide, medium, close (use official abbreviations)

Shot showing scene around fish

Shot showing the fish fairly full screen

Shot showing fish eye

Cutaways

Cutaway to divers

Flyover shot - use correct term (dolly?)

Tracking shot - near stuff moves fast past lens, far stuff stays central on the screen

Diver silhouette shot

Locked down macro shot

Panning shot

When to follow action, when to allow action to leave screen

Providing cuts for smooth transitions (e.g. Allowing action to leave screen)

Light behind unless deliberate silhouette shot

Silhouette with illuminated foreground

Need a lot of light

Can be done at dusk

Translate dolly shot, tilt shot, trucking, tracking etc. into underwater equivalents

< back to vignetting | classic shots | forward to steadiness >