As the year winds down and the storms roll in natural history productions often slow down for the season, but there are still some fantastic shooting opportunities available here in British Columbia.
This past week I was hired as underwater cinematographer for an interesting shoot on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I've been exploring Van Isle's west coast for years now, it's always fun to shoot there - but it's not without a set of unique challenges.
The "Wild West coast" is exactly how it sounds - wild. The winds batter the coastline, the swells can be huge, the waves intimidating, and the biting cold winds can take their toll... unless you're an experienced diver comfortable in this geographical area.
The waters on the west coast offer something different than other parts of BC - different geology, different species of marine life, a different "west coast" light, and a much more unpredictable and adventurous feel. Perfect for a shoot involving a dedicated freediver that doesn't shy away from adventure!
My RED Komodo proves to be the perfect tool for this job. Tucked away in its Nauticam underwater housing the RED Komodo shoots exquisite 6K, with a hint of slow motion and a ton of beautiful light captured in the Netflix approved RED raw format. The Komodo's top facing LCD screen has proven to be an incredibly useful tool underwater. By utilizing the top screen and rear mounted monitor (as opposed to the top mounted monitor I use on some shoots), the Komodo becomes an incredibly sleek filming set up, perfect for high current conditions, or weaving through kelp.
As usual I can't give away any specifics of my shoot. What I can say is that BC's Wild West coast has once again offered stunning underwater visuals, it may not be the easiest place to shoot, but it sure can be one of the prettiest.
Below, free diver John Kelsey and me post shoot. Top image, the RED Komodo doing a grand job of capturing the moment.
