PADI Underwater Media Slides

PADI Underwater Media

Welcome to the course

• This course is intended to introduce divers to the media diving industry. It is not intended to take the place of commercial diving training that is required for people to work as divers within the media industry, but to provide an insight to the opportunities, techniques, legal requirements and skills that are involved within that particular field

Documents you will need

• HSE Diving at Work Regulations 1997

• Approved Code of Practice for Media Diving Operations

• Student Guidebook

Presentation 1 – Introductions, Goals and Course Outline

• Introductions

Course Outline

• A look at the size and scope of the Media Diving Industry.

• A look at the legislation

• Planning and organization of media dives

• A detailed look at underwater cameras, housings and accessories

• Filming and Photography theory

• Principles of filming and photography underwater

• Confined and Open water training

• Produce a short film or photographic portfolio

Course Schedule

• First weekend – theory, practical sessions and confined water

• Second weekend – diving in open water with the equipment

• Between the two weekends – storyline production, blog production, surface filming as necessary

Presentation 2 – Overview of the Underwater Media Industry

• Learning Objectives

– Identify key areas of the underwater media industry

– Link those areas to possible opportunities for yourselves

How big is the underwater media industry?

• Increase in scuba diving – 65 million divers!

• Terrestrial channels, You Tube, Internet

• Numerous areas for work and employment

• Where do you see yourself fitting in?

Presentation 3 – Health and Safety, Legislation and Media diving

• Learning Objectives

– Explain what Health and Safety factors need to be taken into consideration when conducting media diving operations

– Explain how to conduct a diving Risk assessment and what is the difference between generic and site specific assessment

– Explain a diving project plan and what are the key elements within it

Key Elements

• Definitions

– Contractor

– Dive Team

– ‘Talent’

• Equipment

• Training

• First Aid and Medicals

Contractor

• Who is the contractor?

• Who is ultimately responsible?

• Difficulties?

Dive Team

Equipment Considerations

Training Competences

• Governed by the Law and ACOPs

• Refer to Media ACOP

Training, First Aid and Medicals

Managing Risk

Risk Assessment

To prevent death, injury and ill health.

Recognises that risk cannot be totally eliminated but uses common sense

Reduces likelihood of accident through sensible control measures

The risk assessment process is used to identify the risk and response to particular hazards where the hazards are high – DIVING!

Definitions

• Hazard: Anything that can cause harm

• Risk: The chance that someone will be harmed by the hazard

Hazard = anything that can cause harm • Water = a hazard

• People diving = a hazardous situation

• Running out of gas = a hazardous event

Risk Severity

• Risk Level = likelihood of harm x consequences

– Broadly acceptable: so low that we accept it eg the chance of being electrocuted at home

– Tolerable: we live with it because of the benefits eg driving a car or motorbike

Estimating Risk

High

Likelihood

Low High

Consequence

Papercut while filing

Running out of gas underwater

Nuclear Installation explosion

Diving Hazard and Risk

• Diving is high hazard

• The environment is unforgiving

• Undertaken safely it can be low risk

• How do we do it safely:

– Conduct a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

– Implement measure

– Comply with standards and DWR 1997

Simple Risk Assessment

Hazard Risk Of Severity Likelihood Control Measures

Cold Water Frostbite to fingers

Wear gloves, minimise time in water

Free flowing equipment

Running out of gas during the dive

Brief on cold water procedures. Ensure there is sufficient gas working on worst case scenarios. Ensure divers are trained to know what to do in case of free flow.

This sort of system is the bare minimum requirement.

Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Management

Go here for more details

Diving Project Plan

Contains information that is produced prior to, during and after diving operations.

The requirements are outlined in the regulations (DWR 97) and the ACOPs

Lets look at a couple of Diving Project Plans

Presentation 5 - Equipment and Accessories Learning Objectives

• List the basic features to consider when selecting equipment

• Explain the basic imitations of a variety of systems

• Explain the various lighting options available

Consumer Equipment

Prosumer Equipment

Professional Equipment

Selection Criteria

• Size

• Housing Availability

• Battery life

• Lens selection

• Low light

• Buoyancy

• Control type

• Dome and port availability

Lights and Strobes

• Why use them?

– Post editing

– Filters

– Digital in-camera adjustment

– Strobes vs video lights

– HID, LED, Halogen

Monitors

Care and Maintenance

• Learning Obectives

– Underwater camera system assembly

– Understand the problems of condensation

– Demonstrate O-ring care and replacement

– Understand pre-dive and post dive checks

Presentation 6 - Camera Settings Underwater (1)

• Learning Objective

– Understand camera settings underwater including aperture, ISO and shutter speed

Exposure?

• Light and Dark

• What is good?

• What is right?

• An art or a science?

• The camera has limits

• You are the judge

Camera vs Imagination

Exposure Control

Aperture

Depth of Field – F11

Depth of Field – F5.6

Depth of Field – F16

Depth of Field F22

Fixed or Variable Aperture

Shutter Speed

Picture Sharpness

Another Example

And one more …..

Focus Blur

Blue Backgrounds

Black Backgrounds

Shutter Speed and Video

ISO

F5 1/50 ISO 3200 ISO 1600 ISO 6400

High ISO loses sharpness and increases noise

Extreme Noise

Auto Settings Underwater

Presentation 7 - Camera Settings Underwater (2)

• Learning Objectives

– Explain the impact of the underwater environment on light and colour

– Understand white balance and be able to adjust it

Colour and the Underwater Environment

Correcting Colour

• Filters

• Post Edit

Filters and Lights?

Artificial Light

Background not illuminated

Foreground illuminated

White Balance

Presentation 8 – Underwater Techniques • Learning Objectives • Have an understanding the main principles ('rules') of composition • Have an understanding of sequencing and shots • Understand basic camera moves • Be able to explain and produce a story line • Be aware of some basic editing software available for film or

photographs. • Be aware of some basic techniques that will make the life of a

media diver much simpler, and hopefully more successful Note: There are a number of excellent photo and video websites that cover these subjects in far more detail than is possible during this course

Composition

• Framing • Lead Room • Diagonal Lines • Angle? • Lines and Patterns • Background/Perspective • Action • Avoid the Middle? • Creative with Colours • Interaction • Break the Rules

Framing

Composition Cropping The Beauty of Large Sensors

Lead Room

Lines

Lines

Lines

Angle of Shot

Angle of Shot

Upwards Angle

General Rule: Underwater, ‘UP’ is Good!

Use Lines and Patterns

Add Depth

Background and foreground can add depth. Here I used the angle to enable me to include the surface of the Blue Hole which adds depth, and also a sense of scale

Look for Action

In this shot the turtle underwater on its own would have been ok, but dull. By getting a half and half shot I brought in proximity to the shore, a sense of movement and a closeness to people. In a way the shot has generated action that was not really there.

Avoid the Middle?

Avoid the Middle?

As a general rule, yes. But in this image, for example, the lines of the bubble coral steer you into the shrimp in the centre of the picture. Again, it is all about interpretation

Remember the Background

• Three shots that illustrate the importance of this. Shot 1.

Remember the Background

• Shot 2

Remember the Background

• Shot 3

Be Creative with Colours

Look for Interaction

Break the Rules Why not?

In this shot, which was a submission for a Music CD cover for a classical piece called ‘Oceans’, I wanted to change the serenity. I changed the colours of the sea, the coral and the sky to far more blended and mellow shades, which matched the music that I had listened to. But that was my interpretation!

Shots and Sequencing

• Good videos and portfolios come from a sequence of shots that tell a good story.

Long Shots (Wide)

Medium Shots

Close Shots (Tight)

Sequencing

Camera Moves

• Pan

• Tilt

• Dolly

• Truck

• Follow

• Lead

• Rack Focus

• Zooming

Story Line

• What is the story?

• Take it underwater with you

• Plan sequences into the dive

• Be flexible

• Take any opportunities

• Remember air, depth & safety

An opening sequence from the BBC series ‘LIFE’

Top Tips

• Get closer • Try to shoot upwards • Don’t forget the background • Don’t‘ centre unless being a creative genius • Keep the camera steady • Keep rolling • Variety is the spice of life • Know when to use lights – just touch the subject • Understand white balance • Ultimately you must protect the environment you are

in

Presentation 9 – The Underwater Environment

• Learning Objectives

– Have an understanding of working in the underwater environment and its impact

– Be able to incorporate environmental and situational factors into a risk assessment and develop a project plan for a dive

Learn to Dive!

Use the Right Equipment

Assess Your Environment

Remember your Dive Plan

Breathing

Move Slowly

Protect the Environment

Visibility

Think about your Entry and Exits

Think about Streamlining

Know When Enough is Enough

Any Questions? If not, it’s time to go diving

Follow me …

This way

Why do I always get

stuck at the back?

Editing your Shots and Sequences