The Advanced Camera Skills training is a fourteen-day intensive, practical, hands-on course covering advanced aspects of underwater video production. The course is designed to take students from introductory phases in underwater videography through to developing confidence in producing their own underwater films. Students will also have the opportunity to assist the Blue Eye FX crew on a professional shoot.

This fourteen-day training trip is the perfect way to learn underwater wildlife filming techniques. Using equipment supplied for your individual use – Sony 3-chip DV cameras Amphibico housings – you will be taught one-to-one by professional filmmakers. Expect over twenty dives during this Camp plus filming excursions to the desert and the magnificent wildlife you will find in the Red Sea.

 

You will receive a DVD of all of the practical exercises you have taken part in plus a DVD of your own production.

The following is a sample syllabus – a template we use as a starting point in designing a personalised video training program.

Unlike film school, we customise each syllabus. For students who walk in with an existing script or project, we will tailor the program to the specifics of that project.

 

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UNIT ONE – THE INTRODUCTION
The Digital Video Revolution
Goes Underwater
A Brief History of UW Video
How Video Works
Video Standards
NTSC
PAL
Video Enters the Digital Age

UNIT TWO – SELECTING A CAMERA
Digital Formats
Mini-DV
DVCAM
HDV
HD
CCDs
Camera Feature Checklist
Batteries
Tapes
Hard Drives
Memory Sticks

UNIT THREE – SELECTING A HOUSING
Desirable Housing Features
Housing Form Factors
Cylindrical Plastic
Moulded Plastic and Cast Acrylic
Aluminium
Controls
Mechanical Versus Electronic
Primary Controls
Secondary Controls
Dome Port
Corrected Optics
Wet Alarms
Types of Warnings
Accessories
Filters
Supplementary Lenses
Lights
Tungsten Halogen
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Batteries For Lights

UNIT FOUR – EQUIPMENT CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Camera Preparation
Battery
Tape
Filter
Settings
Accessories
Housing Preparation
O-Rings
How to Clean and Lubricate O-Rings
Controls
Connections
First Test of a New Housing
Handling Before Dives
Handling Between Dives
Opening In Damp Environment
Avoiding Fogging
Handling After Dives
Air Travel Considerations
Emergency Toolkit For Travellers
Insurance

UNIT FIVE – EMERGENCY PROCEEDURES
Dry Problems
Camera Problems
Tape Transport
Tape Problems
Battery
Viewfinder
Housing Problems
Auxiliary Monitor
Wet Problems
What Causes Flooding
Prevention
If You Notice Water in the Housing While Diving
Camera inspection
Housing Inspection

UNIT FIVE – UNDERWATER CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT VIDEO
Loss of Light
Effects
Solutions
Loss of Colour
Subject Distance
Refraction
Effects
Solutions

UNIT SIX – USING YOUR CONTROLS
Rec/Stby Controls
Zoom
Focus
Filters
White Balance
Auto
Outdoor
Indoor
Manual
Getting Correct Colour
Special Controls
VTR Controls
Exposure Controls
Backlight
Shutter Speed
Gain
Iris/Aperture
Neutral Density (ND)
Still Photo Mode
Start-Up Routine

UNIT SEVEN – UNDEWATER VIDEO TECHNIQUES
Long Shot (LS)
Medium Shot (MS)
Close Up (CU)
Extreme Close Up (ECU)
Sequencing Shots
Cut Ins
Cut Aways
Motion
Direction Continuity
Camera Angles
Heads or Tails
Eye Level
Down Angle
Up Angle
Camera Movements
Pans
Trucking
Light Direction
Making You Scenes More Interesting
Planning Your Scenes
Composition
Transitions
Scene Length
Filming Marine Life
Filming Divers
Shooting Macro
Focussing Macro
Getting Maximum Image Size
Shooting Shy Subjects
Reef Etiquette
Tips For Better Underwater Video

UNIT EIGHT – USING LIGHTS AND ACCESSORIES
What Type of Lights?
Tungsten Halogen
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Positioning Your Lights
Matching Colour Temperature with White Balance
Night Video
Lighting Macro Video
Diffusers
Filters
Graduated Filters
CU Lenses
Special Effects Filters
UW Tripod

UNIT NINE – EDITING UNDERWATER VIDEO
General Considerations
Computers and Peripherals
Computer Systems
Firewire
Hard Drives
Archival Storage
Editing Software
Software Based NLE
Key Features of NLEs
Types of Edits
Slipping and Sliding
Rippling and Rolling
Effects
Transitions
Wipes and Pushes
Iris and Radial Transitions
Digital Video Effects
Filters
Motion Graphics and Compositing Software
Graphics Software
Audio
Music
Commercial Music
Music Libraries
Narration
Script Writing
Sound Effects
Formats
Audio Finishing Touches
Other Post Productions Considerations
Program Length
Output Format
The Anatomy of an Edit
Final Output
DVD
HD
Blu-Ray

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