8 tips for FILMING UNDERWATER

[@markusknorr6497]

I love wreck diving and I am planing to take an action camera for filming. What is your suggestion for the lighting system that I should use? I understand that two lights are mandatory for wide angle, how much power is your minimum suggestion and what light colour should I go for? As most wrecks are quite deep and also big, what is the main purpose of the lights? Putting colour in your foreground? Because there is no chance you light up a wreck no matter how powerful your lights are.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thanks for your questions. On a wreck I would try to use a red filter for the outside shots, the ones where your lights don't stand a chance to reach the wreck in a way that is going to be beneficial. Once on the inside of the wreck, remove the red filter and use the lights to light up the darker inside areas of the wreck. Hope this helps a bit?

[@TheOutdoor_Guy]

Very good video. Thank you!

[@MatthiasLebo]

You’re very welcome. Glad you liked it. 😊🙏

[@dzmitrhammer4333]

Thanks for sharing, Matthias. Your recommendations are great and helpful.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thank you for your feedback mate. Very happy you find my videos helpful. 😊🙏🏻

[@TheDaniel675]

awesome video, really inspired me to get me out there with my gopro and get some shots!

[@MatthiasLebo]

That's awesome mate. Thanks so much for your feedback and I'm really happy if I was able to inspire you to shoot more underwater. Way to go! 👍🏻

[@exploringwithnug]

Lots of great information. I’m trying to improve my videos every time I dive. Thanks for the tips

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thanks for your feedback mate. Appreciate it and happy to be able to help. 🙏🏻😊 Cool, channel by the way... 👍🏻

[@JUSTINOGRAPHY]

You're a great human being. Thank you for this.

[@roneyyoneda556]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@MatthiasLebo]

You’re welcome mate. 👍🏻

[@PabloGreg]

great advice bro!, thanks! Incredible footage by the way.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thank you mate 🙏😊

[@ManeaSayal]

Great advice Matthias BIG THANK YOU!

[@MatthiasLebo]

You’re welcome mate. 👍🏻

[@WeiseGuy91]

How do you set your white balance? Like how do I know what to change it to? I know how to change it but how do I know what to change it to? I thought you just keep it at your video light kelvin value?

[@MatthiasLebo]

You can certainly do that or you use a grey or white slate to do a manual white balance, which is pretty much always the preferred method. Of course this only works if your camera allows you to do a manual white balance.

[@guicostadiveazores]

Sometimes you have to remember the simple things. Nice info, thanks

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thanks mate! Appreciate your feedback. 🙏🏻😊

[@corissaheins6684]

I've been scuba diving for 2 1/2 years and decided to get into underwater photography and videography. What would be your recommendation for an underwater light for beginners? I don't think I am ready for a strobe light but want to make sure I can capture images at 20 meters. I have an Olympus TG-6 with underwater housing and an wide angle airs lens.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Whats going to be your main focus? Photo or video? Depending on your answer you should go for a strobe like i.e. this one from Sea & Sea (amzn.to/2QGktdx) if you're going to be shooting photos primarily. If video is what you'll be focussing on then I would recommend something like this from Light & Motion (amzn.to/2QhN6yH). In any case, if you're using a wide angle lens/dome port, you want two lights/strobes to be able to have enough light. Hope this helps?

[@charlesg7926]

If you want a reasonable-cost but great 5000 lumen video light, get the OrcaTorch D910V. It’s only $360, but it has 5000 lumens and lasts 1 full hour (60 minutes) on full 5000 lumen power. I’ve been using mine for awhile, they’re great

[@yochananbendavid57]

I like your tips and listening to you!

[@chrisgg]

Any idea why backscatter recommends auto-white balance on the GoPro 9-10?

[@MatthiasLebo]

Because auto WB works quite well on recent GoPro models, especially when combined with some red filters. Also, even though it is possible to change the white balance manually while being underwater, it is not straight forward and requires some preparation. And the results are usually not better than using auto WB.

[@evaeva1277]

Thank you for your video, I found it very interesting! Have you dive in Switzerland aswell to practice? I am from Lausanne and I want to do a diver license this year :)

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thank you Eva for your comments. Yes, I do dive in Switzerland on a regular basis, to test equipment, for training but also just for fun. Good decision on getting scuba certified this year, you won't regret it. 😉👍🏻

[@mss291]

Very useful tips Organized in a very easy way

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thank you mate, appreciate your feedback! 🙏🏻😊

[@PhillGraaf]

SO much work Matthias, thanks for making these awesome videos!

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thanks for your feedback buddy and you're very welcome. Happy to hear that my content is useful to you. ☺️

[@PhillGraaf]

@@MatthiasLebo always my friend! Do you have any Tipps for attaching weights to your housing without the use of the ikelite thing you showed in one of your other videos? I only want to make it a bit heavier. Thanks for your reply!

[@MatthiasLebo]

Try these adhesive car wheel weights: amzn.to/39VMHOS These work quite well.

[@PhillGraaf]

@@MatthiasLebo thank you Matthias!

[@mochammadfadly6905]

speed, light, and ISO in the underwater photography system And where in general have the same ratio?

[@MatthiasLebo]

What exactly is your question? Sorry, don't quite understand...

[@EpicDiving]

Great tips Matthias! Love the video :)

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thank you! Glad you liked it. 😊🙏🏻

[@AegeanEpiphany]

Stay shallow with twin Keldans? Filters or post-prod correction? I don't use filters but I shoot 10 bit... My number 1.)? Be stable and pan slowly... 2.) get a rebreather...3.) dive in clear water

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thanks for your comment. Twin Keldans? Are you referring to the light on my rig in the Thumbnail? These are Light and Motion lights and I have them on the rig even if I'm in shallow water just in case I want to shoot some macro or put some extra light into a scene. 10 bit definitely helps, I agree and also shoot in 10 bit most of the time, but it is also limited in my opinion. It's always best to get the colors as accurate as possible in-camera. And thanks for your additional points. There are very valid, but getting a rebreather might not be an option for everyone. 😉

[@Chogogo717]

If you have enough artificial light (say 1000-1500 lumens) can you skip the filters?

[@MatthiasLebo]

Well first of all, 1000 - 1500 Lumen is nowhere close to having enough artificial light for most scenarios. You won't need filters when shooting macro and using lights, but as soon as you shoot wide angle, you are much better off using a combination of a red/magenta filter on the lens with ambient light filters on your video lights, no matter how powerful they are. I'll make a separate video about why and how to use ambient light filters on underwater video lights. Should be coming up in the next few weeks. Hope this helps?

[@Chogogo717]

Matthias Lebo thanks another video would help. I’m still at the entry level with a Faux-Pro canera, so I had been hoping one of the extra wide angle flashlights might do the trick, or be better than what I have.

[@MatthiasLebo]

A video about the use of ambient light filters is planned for early August. 😉

[@steveh1844]

Great video - thanks.

[@LostinAfrica]

This would be a killer video if you filmed it in the right location. Such good points, such a weirdly contrasted background.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Thanks for your comment buddy. I know it wasn’t ideal, but sometime you have to work with what you have available. 😉🤷🏻‍♂️

[@richschwer]

Looks like you shot a lot of this in Bonaire. Yes?

[@MatthiasLebo]

Correct, yes. The whole video was shot in Bonaire on my last visit in November 2018. Beautiful place and I'm able to go back there again this October. 😊

[@richschwer]

Matthias Lebo cool. I live in Bonaire and do underwater video as well. See A Diver’s Life on Facebook and KZbin.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Hey Rich, nice content on your channel. 👍🏻 What gear do you use to film underwater? I'm actually coming back to Bonaire this October to do some more filming for one of the dive resorts there. I'll be in Bonaire from October 3rd to 13th. Will you be around during that time? Would be cool to meet up and maybe even go for a dive or two!? 😉

[@richschwer]

Matthias Lebo Hi Matthias, I have a Panasonic GH5S, Panasonic 8-18m lens,, Olympus 8-18 mm Macro lens, Nauticam housing, and SOLA 3800 lights. I also have a GoPro 4 but its capabilities are limited underwater as you know. The GH5S is very light sensitive so I like it for underwater filming. Also important is Adobe Creative Cloud for post editing. Currently, I plan to be here in October and would love to dive with you. Thank you for putting up the content on filming underwater. There is not a lot out there.

[@MatthiasLebo]

Very cool. I also film with the GH5S and Nauticam combo, but normally with the Leica 12-60mm. Great, lets stay in touch and see if we can make it happen to go for a dive in October. And thanks for your kind words. I agree, there is not a lot of good content about filming underwater on the net. I'm planning on putting out a lot more videos related to that topic. I'm flying to Egypt in 2 weeks time and will hopefully bring back a ton of new footage and I'm also testing some new gear there. Should be interesting... 😉

[@otsoni03]

One more tip: use wide angle lens underwater.

[@7in1]

Lots of bla bla, few of information, multiple repeats and useless words, are you enjoying waisting the time of your viewer?