There is a technical debate in the world of underwater filmmaking regarding the ideal frame rate to choose when light begins to fade. It is often suggested to use the lowest possible frame rate, such as 30 fps, as a way to avoid images excessively disturbed by digital noise caused by the necessary increase in ISO. To clarify this aspect, I conducted a comparative test...
As anticipated in the first part, to isolate the technical origin of the problem, it was necessary to analyze the video files' metadata. Telemetry Extractor is a specialized software tool for extracting and analyzing the "invisible" metadata found in GoPro camera files (from the HERO5 series onwards). This application, free for most of its functions, allows you ..
Antiflicker is a function designed to eliminate the flickering caused by artificial lights, such as LEDs or fluorescent tubes, which pulse at the frequency of the power grid. The system works by limiting the shutter speed to values synchronized with these frequencies..
During my test dives with GoPro Labs, I happened to accidentally disable stabilization more than a few times. That is when I realized that underwater, regardless of perfect buoyancy, it is very difficult to produce good footage without stabilization. Correcting a very shaky clip with a standard editing app is not easy. This is where Gyroflow comes into play...
Arriving on the boat, all we want is to enjoy a solid hour of diving without the anxiety of the pressure gauge. Looking at the rack, with a knowing smile, one says to the guide: "I'll take the 15 today, I want to be on the safe side." It is precisely at that moment that one falls for one of the most common misunderstandings in scuba diving...
Maldives, nearing the end of the dive, seven meters deep. Sorin, an Advanced diver for a couple of years, is messing around with friends who are playfully trying to pull his mask off. I get closer and see the SPG (pressure gauge) needle pinned to the left. Zero bar. Not thirty, not ten. Zero. The response back on the boat was...
Typically, GoPro assigns standard filenames like GH013607.MP4 to files. This might be fine if you own just one camera, but when using multiple GoPros simultaneously, it becomes very difficult to distinguish which camera the clips came from. Recently, at the end of a dive, I even had the misfortune of finding the exact...
Many believe that post-production is a magic wand capable of transforming any underwater clip into a cinematic masterpiece. The reality is quite different: computer can make a difference, but only if the base file was shot with the right parameters and, above all, is rich in information. If a clip...
At the end of a recent dive at Elphinstone Reef, in southern Egypt, we encountered a strong surge hitting the reef flat at a depth of about 4-5 meters. Surge is the horizontal, cyclic movement caused by waves that, after hitting the reef, pull back, creating a constant shift first toward the reef and then out toward the blue...
One of the most challenging filming conditions for those dedicated to underwater shooting is undoubtedly capturing pelagic life. Encountering grey reef sharks or eagle rays at the mouth of Maldivian "passes" is an incredible emotion, but technically, it represents a true test for our GoPros. Here we face...