Filming just above the water line

[Willy Faes]

Hi Redusers,

I'm going to shoot a short film in Italy next week.
One of the shots is as close as possible to the water.
I was thinking of putting the camera in a aquarium (small fish tank) but my DOP thinks the reflections are going to ruin the shots.
Anyone had any experience with this?

Thanks

Willy Faes
Producer/Director

 

[Max M.]

Aquarium works fine. Just make sure the lens is against the glass so there are nearly no reflections possible. And its good to have something like rain-x so that water drops on the outside dont stick to the glass and stay in the shot.

 

[PatrickFaith]

bring some linear and circular polarizing filters, and make sure your matte box can spin them ... that way in most cases you can remove anything you don't like.

 

[Nick Pasquariello]

bring some linear and circular polarizing filters, and make sure your matte box can spin them ... that way in most cases you can remove anything you don't like.

This. This is exactly what I was going to suggest. A polarizing filter, properly positioned (as in, properly rotated), will remove the reflections.

 

[charles lim yi yong]

might need a spinner , if there's lots of splashing.

 

[Willy Faes]

Thanks for the advise guys. Will try it next week.

Willy Faes

 

[Dr. Sassi]

Try to get a coated glass and replace it with the glass in the aquarium, even though I wouldn't touch an aquarium in the first place, waves, etc.: Check you insurance.
I would be careful with a Polarization filter, it might take partly the reflections from the water as well, certainly no nice, as water is expected to be reflective.
An under water housing is the way to go, but as well the most expensive way. But if you get your camera really wet, and no other camera on set, that would be cheaper then.

Good Luck.

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

Halfway between the expense of a UW housing (which is definitely the way to go) and an aquarium is to rig a surface coated mirror at a 45 degree angle on a float, then under sling the camera in a support system above / lens towards the mirror.
Flip the image in post.

 

[Paul Hudson]

I have shoot for a boat company several times and have used the aquarium trick several times. With a little care it works great.

 

[Ted Parkes]

Also a couple pieces of Black cloth.. large flags might come in handy.

 

[Frank Martin]

Maybe a local rental house has a proper
Splashbox. Made out of metal,Secure , has a lid. , built in
slide plate and usually dirt cheep.