Introduction
Underwater videography has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, thanks to advancements in technology. Today, it is possible to shoot, edit, and upload high-quality videos with ease, all from a smartphone. With the rise of action cameras, drones, and smartphones that can shoot stabilized 4K video, there has been an explosion in content creation. This article aims to provide essential tips for creating standout underwater videos that captivate viewers’ attention.
By Andrew Marriott
Tell a Story
Unlike still photos that capture a single moment, videos demand more. Viewers have come to expect a well-crafted story, influenced by their experience of watching TV shows and movies. Before even starting to shoot a video, having a clear storyline in mind is crucial.
Even the simplest videos require a plot. For example, opening a door can be a plot itself. It begins with a shot of a person looking at the door, followed by opening the door and stepping through, and finally, closing the door to conclude the action. This simple storyline creates a sense of narrative. To illustrate this point, we will create a video together, applying these principles.
Here are our unedited clips in the order they were shot. They are random and disjointed, as they were taken during multiple dives.
I bet you didn’t watch that entire video! It has some cool clips, but as it stands, it’s pretty much unwatchable. Now, let’s come up with a simple plot and rearrange these clips to create a coherent story. How about this? A diver enters the water, encounters some amazing underwater creatures, and emerges from the water with excitement. It may not be an Academy Award-winning plot, but at least it makes sense.
First, let’s rearrange the clips to create a story, no matter how simple it may be. This basic plot will guide how we cut and organize our clips. If you are on a dive trip, try to come up with a few distinct stories and reflect them in your videos. Don’t simply compile all the clips in chronological order, as it will appear disjointed and cause viewers to lose interest.
Keep the Best, Delete the Rest
We all know the feeling when friends flood social media with an overload of vacation photos. Similarly, videos should only showcase the best clips to keep the final product concise and engaging. While a still image only requires a few seconds of a viewer’s attention, videos demand more time. Therefore, it’s essential to cater to people’s short attention spans.
At this stage, our video has a plot, and the clips are organized in a logical order that tells our story. However, it is still far too long. We now need to be ruthless and eliminate all clips that do not meet the required standard. This is similar to selecting the best shots in photography. Remove uninteresting clips, those with technical flaws, and any that do not contribute to the story you want to tell.
Exercise caution and trust your judgment. If there’s even a shadow of doubt about a clip, it’s better to get rid of it.
Keep It Short
Have you ever filmed a video where a shark slowly approaches and cruises by the camera? Although it may have been an incredible experience underwater, such footage can be boring in a video. If it takes several minutes for the shark to complete its actions, it’s necessary to edit the footage. Viewers won’t stay engaged long enough to reach the “money shot.”
Consider this as your homework assignment: watch any movie and count the duration of each clip. You’ll notice that they only last for a couple of seconds, with longer clips strategically used for dramatic effect. For now, let’s forget about dramatic long clips. As underwater videographers, we primarily capture creatures like nudibranchs, which may not hold viewers’ attention for more than a few seconds.
So, we have a story, the clips are organized, and we have removed the weaker shots. However, our video is still too long. The final step is to meticulously review each clip and keep only the essential moments of action. It can be helpful to mentally time each clip while watching it. If it exceeds five seconds, it’s time to consider a cut. Be prepared for some frustration as you realize that out of 90 minutes of footage, only 90 seconds prove to be usable.
Finishing Touches
Before diving into post-production, it’s crucial to lay the groundwork by organizing, cutting, and editing the video to an appropriate length. In the case of this tutorial, the video was shot in a flat profile similar to a RAW file in photography. This means that it requires some post-production work.
While the basic color-correction steps are beyond the scope of this article, it’s important to note that once your video is organized and edited, you can proceed to the editing software’s post-production tools. In this case, Adobe Premiere Rush was used for simple adjustments. From the initial footage straight out of the camera, significant progress has been made, resulting in a video that viewers are likely to watch and, importantly, finish.
Our final product showcases the progress we made, reducing over 10 minutes of footage to a concise video lasting less than a minute.
Final Thoughts
When creating underwater videos, capturing viewers’ attention is crucial. It is not enough to acquire numerous views on YouTube; ensuring that viewers watch your videos till the end is essential for a satisfying viewing experience. In a world with short attention spans, the longer the video, the more challenging it is to maintain engagement.
Regardless of the software used, the fundamental process of creating a story, arranging, deleting, and trimming clips remains the same. As with photography, the ability to select and reject clips, keeping them short and captivating, improves with practice. Over time, you’ll notice viewers staying engaged until the final credits roll.
The article is compiled and compiled by tipcamera.com
