Shooting Video On a Boat
The Boating Magazine offshoot Fishboat Mag is no more, but this video remnant remains from our web efforts. So, too, do the frustrations of trying to hold steady a handheld on a boat. Here are a few things we learned while shooting stuff ourselves for the web.
1. Never zoom. Using the zoom function on a moving platform only amplifies the shakiness. On playback, you’ll get nausea faster than if you’re adrift in a beam sea while eating pork rinds.
2. Keep it low. Shooting from the bridge or up high is better for getting an overall view of the boat or to look down on another boat you’re shooting. But odds are you don’t have a gyro stabilizer for your handheld, which is what professionals use to keep cameras steady for those beautiful overheads. The lower you’re positioned on the boat, the more stable and steady the lens. Also, consider the back of the boat is the most stable area, least susceptible to pounding.
3. Get a Gorillapod. Use this twisty gripper to mount your vid cam anywhere on the boat. Just keep in mind point two above.
4. Get a waterproof vid camera. It’s going to get wet, trust me. I use the Sanyo Xacti, but there are other quality brands. Or get a waterproof casing like this one for the Flip.