skip to Main Content

Vertical Display 4K Underwater Stock Footage Collection Added To Video Library

We once saw a large UltraHD TV in a mall tipped up on its side and showing scenic video décor footage of a tree in 4K. It looked nice, but we thought, “Hmm, underwater footage would be better.” We are biased, of course.

And so began the tinkering to modify my Gates Z100 housing‘s trim, balance, handles, monitor, lights and light arms to be able to film underwater in 4K in both regular and vertical format… whether in mid-water or on the tripod.

So after much fun, frustration and cable ties, my tripod morphed into a pentapod (one of the legs is used in either orientation). Here’s what the first vertical display 4K stock footage filming expedition has produced.

The video’s species shot list, below.

—Josh

Time What
0:00 I always wanted to shoot a scuba diver on a vertical wall like this, but haven’t done so since I stopped taking stills in the pre-digital world.
0:07 Manta rays (Manta alfredi) cruising to the front of the feeding area low and out of the current.
0:17 Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) moves rubble around in search of food, Regal angel (Pygoplites diacanthus), Flagtail grouper (Cephalopholis urodeta) and Checkerboard wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus) all get excited about the destruction.
0:26 School of diamondish (Monodactylus argenteus) streaming along a vertical wall.
0:33 Cardinalfish and damselfish share the branches of the staghorn coral for hotbed sleeping and refuge, this is the day shift.
0:39 The Java moray eel’s (Gymnothorax javanicus) lair is a safe haven for small gobies and blennies, their predators may be moray prey.
0:45 This juvenile Scrawled filefish (Aluterus scriptus) was nicely camouflaged against the grey Elephant ear sponge (Ianthella basta)… until I arrived and gently threw 6000Lumens at the scene.
0:49 Broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) displaying rough skin texture for excellent camouflage.
0:52 Hermit crab (Dardanus lagopodes) grazing on the bottom.
0:55 The juvenile Barramundi cod’s (Chromileptes altivelis) unusual swimming style.
0:58 The schooling Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) are one of the highlights of Mary Island; in minutes they will accept a diver into the school.
1:05 Pristine hard coral gardens still exist in the world, these are as good as I have seen in the last dozen years or so.
1:08 Healthy and diverse hard coral scenery swarming with planktivores.
1:11 Beautiful mature and varied hard coral field with planktivores above.
1:14 Slow exploration of a pristine hard coral garden.
1:17 Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) leads camera pan over a healthy hard coral garden.
1:23 Red sea whips are common on walls exposed to current.
1:27 Golden damsels (Amblyglyphidodon aureus) lay their eggs on the skeleton of sea fans and whips.
1:30 Lionfish (Pterois volitans) patrolling his patch.
1:37 Midnight snapper (Macolor macularis) chasing anthias spawn at dusk.
1:40 Clark’s anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) feeding on plankton above their fluorescent anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor).
1:43 Wide lock shot of hard corals.
1:46 Giant clam (Tridacna gigas) surrounded by hard and soft corals.
1:49 Giant soft coral (Dendronephthya sp.) trees like this are common on trawl grounds, home to many small and juvenile critters; they fare badly against chains dragged across the bottom.
1:53 Deep reef full of sea fans and planktivore fish.
1:56 Travel shot through healthy hard coral fields.
1:58 Wide shot of mature and diverse hard coral gardens.
2:02 Shipwreck swarming with baitfish, fusiliers, jacks.
2:05 Young trevally (Carangidae) feeding on fusiliers over the wreck of the Ann. Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) cameo.
2:08 School of fusiliers in a cut at dusk.
2:12 Large school of Mackeral scad (Decapterus macarellus), with jackfish below.
2:15 Large school of Mackeral scad, with trevally below.
2:18 School of Blackfin barracuda.
2:22 Circling school of Sea pikes.
2:25 School of Chevron barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) move in and away from the reef, from the surface to 40m.
2:34 Scene filled with large school of Mackeral scad (Decapterus macarellus).

You may also be interested in:

Subscribe
Notify of
2 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Marcus K
9 years ago

Very cool indeed!

wuilfredo
6 years ago

I need 2 videos in this format for a vertical screen which is the press and if I could download it would be great

Back To Top