underwater light

[Michael Ragen]

I'm planning a shoot in a dark pool just lit by one light source. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a decent, powerful, and not too expensive underwater flashlight. It would also be nice if the light output was pretty even as opposed to having light halos in the spot. Thanks.

[Finner]

Light drops off fast in a pool. I can get you in touch with a company out of Twassen BC that I have done underwater work with and they rent out a wide package of underwater lights and are fairly close to the border. PM me if you want info and I will get you in touchy with the right people.

[Michael Ragen]

Thanks Finner, that may be helpful in the future. I would love to play with some underwater hmi's, but this shoot is more of a guerilla shoot in a hotel pool where we happen to know the security guard. I will be really close to the subject and I will have an assistant hold the light right off of frame. It doesn't matter if there is no fill. You only need to see the light on the subject. Kind of so you can't even tell they are underwater at first.

[Finner]

Ok Mike

In that case just call up a few scuba dive shops in your area and get a dive light. They are a bit pricey so find a shop that has a few to rent out and go pick the one you want and just rent it sometimes you can talk places into renting free or for a discount if you include the name of their shop in the credits, its all about how good a salesman you are. Caution underwater flashlights go through batteries faster then anything I have seen, so only have it on when you need it and have 5 times more batteries then you think you will need. Extra batteries can always be returned to wal-mart.

[Michael Ragen]

Would something like this be sufficient to get an exposure wide open at close range (using an HVX):

http://pelican.com/lights_detail_specs.php?recordID=4300

I don't really care if the image is a bit noisey. We are going for gritty underwater, not dreamy or slick looking.

Thanks.

[Finner]

That would probably be alright depending how far you are with the light. It probably will not work that well for a wide shot but for mediums and close ups should be okay. You may want some 216 or some diffusion in front of it for the close up.

[Michael Ragen]

How would you recommend i diffuse it underwater?

[Finner]

Just have the guy holding the light hold a small bit of diffusion in front of it. By the way don't trust the 4 hour battery time it says it will last. This light will start to lose its intensity a lot sooner then that time so have lots of back up batteries.

[Michael Ragen]

Thanks for all the info Finner! I guess you should know about underwater gear being a famous lifeguard for so long.

[Finner]

Oh ya 1 more thing. the beam on most every underwater dive light is very tight beam directional.