How to get smooth shots when filming underwater

[@dkdude]

as a free diver, I approve! Quick tip for your quick tip video: - soft long fins are agile, it's easier to turn - medium fins are a bit of both worlds: average agility and speed - hard fins are for speed, with low agility (frequently used for competitive free diving, and much easier to get to 40-50-60 meters down under and much easier to fight negative buoyancy; you'd still have plenty of oxygen left at 50-60m to hang out and explore, then safely get back) I use medium fins as I "triathlon" to my dive location, thus consuming less energy on the way and having somewhat adequate agility in the water at site, although I have to pay attention to currents because it's not as easy to turn with them rapidly. A few times I was bashed against the rocks and corals while filming in rougher and less predictable waters. Whereas, I'd guess soft fins would be much easier and versatile when diving with lots of equipment and tanks. If you're worried about getting too tired with long ones, you could always pay a top dollar for carbon fiber fins, they're great, but a good pair could easily be 300-500+ USD, so build up calves it's much cheaper! Aaaaand, If you have a bulky build - hard fins would be better for you. Rent them before purchasing if you can, long fins are a lot of fun! With regard to open heel in a foot pocket with long blades, try JBL, Cressi, Imerrison, or just buy a foot pocket with removable blades chassis, then you can always swap to whatever you want. Awesome tips by the way, thanks!

[@noeticflow]

We freedivers generally don't use open heeled fins because you lose the efficient transfer of power from your foot to the fin with an open heel. So you risk losing the smooth kick that you are going for if you do find open heel, long bladed fins. Great videos btw, I love your work!

[@kotro88]

This makes sense! I'm an amateur GoPro shooter. One thing I learned to get smooth shots is to of course move slowly/smoothly, shoot with my GoPro mounted to a tray with stabilization on, and shoot at a frame rate of at least 60fps (I shoot at 120fps) so you can slow the footage down in post production and keep it sharp. Slow motion makes the shots look really nice and smoother!

[@briancolwell9481]

Well I've got to say "welcome to the party!!!". I've been using Cressi freediving fins since 1987 much to the disgust and snide comments of many a dive operator. I found these were perfect for my underwater photography and just diving in general. The obvious draw back is travelling with such long fins but I seem to manage ok. The ones I have are open heel which are quite hard to find a replacement for as most are designed with a closed heel. I would not go back to traditional fins. You have definitely got it right.

[@treycowher5635]

I feel that I've got to bring this up; finning techniques. As well as perfect buoyancy and trim, proper sculling, helicopter turning, and back-finning can greatly increase your abilities. On top of this, modified flutter and frog kicks (kicking from the knees instead of the hips) means more kick cycles and smoother more consistent motion. Say what you want about tech wankers but the idea of being a more technically sound diver is automatically going to improve certain aspects of diving across the board.

[@Looknobook]

Thanks! Great advice!

[@johnsexton3841]

I use free diving fins in warmer waters but where I live, I need either thick booties or my dry suit. So I will be following your question about dry suit free diving fins closely. That said, I tend to frog kick for 90% of my kicks which tends to smooth my camera shots...

[@ReefPatrol]

yeah :) it's just an option to try out. For me it works fantastic with longer swim bys. :)

[@shizenshrestha]

That is interesting. I have only used freediving fin for scuba since thats all I have. I love it and I think it also improves my air consumption. Definitely fast when I have to kick fast.

[@pepgirona8539]

I'm definetely agreed 100%. Thank you for your videos btw!! They are so inspirational!!

[@roneyyoneda556]

Thanks 🙏🏼 Vanessa. CAN YOU DO SOME EPISODES WITH GOPRO ?

[@TIMEnayda]

Mindblowing!! Thank you so much for sharing this golden tip

[@BehindtheMask]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LordeLIFE]

Loved it. THANK YOU.

[@pampigwo]

Thank you. I must try this cause I've been trying to improve my footages for a long time now !

[@ReefPatrol]

Hope i helps

[@ericellenberger5653]

I remember about these Imersion ones (E:Black open heel, I think), they are rather short for freediving fins, and I don't know if the footpocket fits over Booties. In general no freediver would use open heel fins because they aren't as energy efficient as closed ones.

[@ReefPatrol]

cool thx

[@swissheartydogs]

Many thanks: Will try long soft fins with my dji osmo3, but it is key not to bend legs when swimming (only hips) & keep arm-s steady when filming

[@tdphoto81]

Vielen Dank für die tollen spannenden und absolut lehrreichen Tips, hab bis jetzt aus jedem der Videos einiges für mich raus genommen was ich ausprobieren muss! Gruss und gut Luft vom Bodensee, Tino

[@ReefPatrol]

cool! Gerne gerne und Grüße in den Süden!

[@chefness2000]

Ummm that is something i never thought of thanx for the tip i thought hard fins r always better. Never tried free diving find

[@ReefPatrol]

cool :)

[@nicklawrence1573]

JBL makes open heel long blade fins.

[@timgosling6189]

I think I'll stick with my RK3s, which are 6" shorter than even your normal fins, and concentrate on a smooth stroke. A frog kick and coast gives a lovely smooth platform! I prefer to keep my manoeuvrability in tight places.

[@byronkay]

We in Kona, Hawaii use freediving fins for scuba diving regularly. My dive guides use them daily. I also use a freediving wetsuit for scuba diving because it’s better in every way than a scuba suit. For tight spaces scuba fins are better but for covering ground freediving fins are much more efficient. Especially when pushing a giant camera rig through the water.

[@SubH2O]

The best secret of underwater video :)

[@zerogravity5908]

Super Video! Und nochmals danke für deinen Tipp bezüglich Fluoreszenz Filmen. Freu mich schon auf die kommenden Videos.

[@ReefPatrol]

gerne :)

[@Bthefilmer]

I got to try these tips next time I’m in Hawaii.

[@takanishi21071979]

Did you get your Hawai?

[@Bthefilmer]

@@takanishi21071979 not since COVID started.

[@takanishi21071979]

Bronston That Hawaiian Filmmaker Guy: What underwater devices you using? ( housing+camera)

[@thisresinates5655]

lol at the “scuba diver” going “now I gotta bring two sets of fins just because I want smooth shots ..”

[@TheBronzorN]

imersion makes longer fins with open heel. i used to use freediving fins when recording video, but i changed to using short open heel fins now, because when i kick with freediving fins, my hole body tends to twist alittle from side to side, especially when diving against the current. doing slow smooth frog kicks gives me smoother results, together with open heel scuba fins.

[@ReefPatrol]

very true as well :) but actually longer swim-by's at a faster pace... thats where I've always had issues with the long ones not really. But I always bring both fin types with me anyhow... it's like with everything = use the spesific tools for the specific tasks :)

[@MrAdamdelux]

Najlepiej miec w bazie nurkowej wybor :) ja plywam na krotkich maresach i poki co nie ogarniam dlugich przy filmowaniu. Mam ten sam problem co Ty :)

[@TheBronzorN]

@@ReefPatrol true, but for those of us, who does video of our underwater adventures etc. on our vacation. i find it more usefull with shorter fins, and doing smooth frog Kicks. for longer steady footage of the reef's, i only try to get these if i can drift along the reef. but hey, i only do this as an amateur, which i first started doing 2 years ago, when i got scuba certified aswell. been freediving (spearfishing) here in cold Denmark for several years thou.

[@daynegarcia396]

Because of this video I am now considering buying one! 👌🏽

[@ReefPatrol]

hehe

[@4tatonka]

ardueno from australia have free dive fins with open heels.

[@lmlmd2714]

When you say it, it seems so obvious.... Would love to try this, but for my diving (Southwest UK) it'd have to be open heel type that allow for boots, as we have cool waters (9-17c) and lots of shore diving with entry over rocks and shingle.

[@ReefPatrol]

I know difficult... but open heel freediving fins perhaps? Scooter? ;)

[@andreatauer36]

Super Tipp! Danke :-)

[@ReefPatrol]

gerne gerne :)

[@firasaljifri6787]

Riffe makes open fins for freediving as well

[@PhillGraaf]

Molchanovs are manufacturing super soft freediving fins with open heels Vanessa.

[@jamescreighton7589]

Cressi...back in the 80's and 90's or so made an adjustable open heel version of their freediving fins. I have two pair that I got off Ebay at a reasonable price. They are rare. Great longblade freediving fins. About as stiff as the Cressi 2000. Interchangeable blades....but using the older single screw design. Foot pockets are not as generous as Cressi ARA or Cressi pro light. You can wear with booties (depending on foot size)....but not with thick soled booties....I wear with 5mm booties...but with a relatively thin sole (shoe size 10 US) When kicking there is some slight movement of the foot in the foot pocket which marginally reduces efficiency versus a full foot fin. But it's minor...much easier on and off in surf or boat entries. As a VERY LONG TIME UW still photographer (since 1970...I am f*#king OLD) just getting into video I love your postings....funny, to the point, and great advice about technique.

[@ReefPatrol]

thanks!

[@robert_starling]

Love my DiveR freedive fins and would never go back! I use the 1.5mm neoprene socks as well, but the only thing is that when you take off your fins and climb round rungs on ladders back into the boat, round rungs are absolutely murder on your feet.

[@richardyeoh2327]

Will a Mares X-atream work? They do have the flexibility that is similar to free diving fins although they are not quite as long

[@echozzzz]

thanks for sharing. this is definitely good idea... but have anyone try to kick with freediving fins during scuba in the strong current? would the fins get broken easily?

[@TuckysPhotography]

great tip!! i saw a videohead at the end of ur video! possible to share which video head works underwater? thank you!

[@ReefPatrol]

I use a Rollei Video head.. cheap but not made for UW, but lasts already 2-3 years... so :)

[@martinhain]

Im so sad, my motus broke on the flight to the Philippines. So I used regular ones, had a super hard time filming. Hearing this now makes me even more sad 😞 thanks for the info!

[@ReefPatrol]

welcome :)

[@SamNuttmann]

OMG, you're a genius :) Thank you so so much for this

[@InfiniteBlue_]

Super Tipps!

[@ReefPatrol]

Thanks!

[@pjansen]

Thanks! does this tip also works for snorkeling? Best

[@lichtfang-photography]

Vielen Dank. Toller Tipp. Ich mache meistens Fotos, möchte aber jetzt auch Videos machen.

[@ReefPatrol]

Na dann mal los! :)

[@AndreiVoinigescu]

Interesting observations. In my own experience, frog kicking definitely leads to more jerky starts-and-stops if you're filming a forward push over a reef for example than flutter-kicking. Basically, if you kick and glide you will always have one section of the movement that is faster when you kick, and gradually slows down as you glide to and then speeds up again on the next kick. Flutter-kicks produce a more consistent speed, but I'm not sure there's any real need for free-diving fins specifically. If the theory is that free-diving fins are softer and therefore lead to less jerky (forceful) movement than stiff paddle-like fins, then shouldn't the best results be achieved with something like split fins that offer practically no resistance to your movement? As free-diving fins go, carbon-fiber ones can be a lot softer than plastic, so presumably they would produce even smoother motion of your legs less likely to transfer to your camera. But free-diving fins have some real limitations too -- they're nowhere near as manuverable as paddle-style fins. You can't really back-kick with them or do helicopter turns easily, and it's all too easy to hit coral if working near a reef. Harder to travel with, too. If doing a lot of reef fly-over type shots, letting the current move you produces the best results overall :)

[@ReefPatrol]

different methods for everyone :) no right and wrong :) Thanks for your input!

[@aha200971]

Great videos! How common is it to use a scooter for shoots like that?

[@ReefPatrol]

if you have scooter go ahead :) works good too, if you don't go too fast.

[@alexanderheidenbauer2588]

Dear Vanessa & Behind the Mask Team. First of all - thank you a lot for all the tips & tricks around getting better shots and clips! Thats great work! I have a question, but it is not about smooth fin-kicking. During the video you showed your rig on a tripod taking fluorescence clips at min 6:41. Iam really interested in the pan and tilt tripod head you are using! Can you please tell me which brand it is? Or do you have any recommendations for a robust, not shaking tripod head, which is not too high and not too heavy? I know it sounds like I want everything in one piece.. but there must be better products out there.. but I dont find it. Iam filming Macro with Panasonic GH4 + Olympus 60mm Macro + 10 Diopter on a DIY tripod that looks similar to your system. I tried different "land" tripod heads, but of course its just a question of time until they are done.. than i tried the ULCS Video head and modified it in high because it was too shaky... but Iam still not happy with it. There are some other brands out there, but they are too high or seem too fragile or are are soo heavy that I cant take it on a flight. I want to be as close to the bottom as possible... Iam also thinking about mounting the tripod vice versa on the top of the housing. I even started designing my own tripod head, but I dont have the time to continue. So you see I spend a lot of time thinking about it :) Can you please help me? Thanks a lot! Alex

[@AdrianKeller]

Have you tried a dry suit with neoprene socks and the free diving fins? :) and thanks for your videos!

[@turtle_diver4146]

In addition to JBL and Immersion, Riffe and Land & Sea Marlin make Open heel fins

[@fernandotrinidad9665]

Yes I use free diving fins and I’m a scuba diver

[@MaximumDiver]

I never used freediving fins and I too wondered if there are some with opened heels to don them with my drysuit hehe Very cool tip as always! :D

[@ReefPatrol]

if you find some or some advice - let me know!!! :)

[@BehindtheMask]

unfortunately freediving fins and dry suit doesn't work...

[@pemlk18]

Free dive fins is the best for dive... only who never used complan

[@raishareef8172]

The immersion E:black open heel ones are 78cm in length and cost about $60, which is a reasonable price and it has a good length. So I’d recommend it yes. 🤙🏻

[@ReefPatrol]

cool! will check them out.

[@Secondsanitation]

can I find a carbon fin that I can use a shoe

[@yoosufhassan7915]

When i take a picture with wide angle it look brighter than the actual image can i have ideas

[@dkdude]

try exposure compensation?

[@DamonSun-kz6ty]

Now i don't see myself as a weirdo any more, lol.

[@ReefPatrol]

we are all weirdos aren't we?

[@DamonSun-kz6ty]

@@ReefPatrol lol

[@davepike1220]

How are you dealing with sharks when you dive with your equipment?

[@takanishi21071979]

Nice moment! Like and subscribe!

[@dbriccolani]

mmmm...free dive fins with dry suit with a DIR setup for tech dive, wreck dive, cave dive, deep and cold water?...(stage back gas, deco 50%, deco 100%)...in hot, open and shallow water, ok...

[@jonnieinbangkok]

I'm a scuba diver...not s free diver!