An Interview with Andy Brandy Casagrande IV

In the latest episode from Talking Scuba, host Bob Shoemaker speaks with National Geographic cinematographer Andy Brandy Casagrande IV, perhaps most well-known for his work filming Great White Sharks... outside of a cage.


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Interview with Jill Heinerth

In this special episode of Talking Scuba, host Bob Shoemaker speaks with legendary cave diver, underwater cinematographer, and independent filmmaker Jill Heinerth.

Jill shares some of her amazing cave diving stories, fond memories of the late Wes Skiles, and insight from work on underwater films such as The Cave and James Cameron’s upcoming film, Sanctum.


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To learn more about Jill and her work, visit: www.IntoThePlanet.com

Wes Skiles Tribute Video

An absolutely breath-taking video tribute to the passions of the late, great Wes Skiles.


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Preparing for Ice Diving

In their latest episode, Talking Scuba host Jim Norton introduces viewers to Derek Wheeler and discusses a whole host of scuba diving topics: a New Years dive and resolution, redundant tanks, preparing for ice diving, and Our World Underwater.

Be sure to stick around through the whole episode to see Bob Shoemaker drop by with a very... shall we say... special holiday gift for Jim.


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Galapagos 2010

Here's some phenomenal underwater footage courtesy of Darek Sepiolo, not to mention a spine-tingling soundtrack laid beneath it.


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Cinematographer for Disneynature's 'Oceans' Discusses Diving with Sharks

Check out this rad article.

There's deep-sea diving, and then there's being surrounded by a gang of sharks.

Eric Borjeson prefers the latter.

"You just have to think of a shark as a beautiful animal that doesn't want to harm you and is just living its life."

Easy for him to say. The 46-year-old Swede, a pro diver turned cinematographer, spent the last five years under-water filming Disneynature's documentary "Oceans," which opened Wednesday. With four other divers, he shuttled between Cape Town and Antarctica, in search of some of the world's scariest sea life.

"The vision was clear from the beginning," Borjeson says. "The producers wanted us to be with the animals, not just look at them."

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Hat tip: Alisa

Diving with Rajan, the Swimming Elephant

What an amazing story!

When I told my friends I was going to travel twelve-and-one-half time zones away, to India and the Andaman Islands to film an elephant swimming, they all responded, “Elephants swim?” This one does.

Rajan is a fifty-six year-old Asian bull elephant, a real tusker. He was brought to the Andaman Islands to work in the logging industry more years ago than anyone can remember. By day, Rajan was a beast of burden, laboring in the forest, moving logs as the mahout (elephant handler) directed. With the heat of the day and trunk-breaking work behind him, Rajan lumbered into the cool ocean with his mate of twenty years. It was she who taught him to swim. Sadly, no one remembers much about her.

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First Woman Camera Operator for Cousteau Family has the "Perfect Job"

It probably doesn't get much better than this for a photographer.

While studying French and political science at Wittenberg University, Carrie Vonderhaar wasn't sure how she'd ever use the degrees.

But after learning to scuba dive, and discovering a passion for photography, the Evendale native got a job with environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society based in Santa Barbara, Calif.

"Every day, I use everything I learned in school," says Vonderhaar, 32, a 1995 Mount Notre Dame graduate.

She's the first woman camera operator for the Cousteau family's TV documentaries, although mostly she shoots still photos under and above water for TV show publicity, books and educational materials.

Most of last year, Vonderhaar photographed whales around the world for two PBS "Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures" specials: "Sea Ghosts" 8 p.m. Wednesday, and "Call of the Killer Whale" April 22.

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Friends Found - Sharks of Tiger Beach Bahamas

Our MySpace friend David Ulloa put together this beautifully orchestrated video from his recent trip to Tiger Beach.



Bravo, David! BRAVO!

Valeo Films, Inc.

Valeo Films - YouTube

Valeo Films - MySpace

Shark Diving in Tahiti Video Available... Again

In case you noticed, our Shark Diving in Tahiti video on YouTube was unavailable for awhile. Apparently Jack Johnson -- yes, THE Jack Johnson -- wasn't happy that we were using one of his songs without permission.

Fair enough.

But fear not, the video is back as we used YouTube's nifty AudioSwap feature to layer a new song on top of the video.

Very easy. Very cool.


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Well, what do you think of the new soundtrack?

Marine Visions Unveils New Website for Gates Deep Red Underwater Video Housing

Marine Visions officially launched a new website dedicated to the Gates Deep Red Underwater Video Housing at this year's DEMA show.

Marine Visions, The Choice for Underwater Professionals, has officially launched a new website dedicated to the Gates Deep Red Underwater Video Housing. http://www.deepredvideohousing.com

Historically, few underwater video housings would warrant the creation of a dedicated website, however we believe that Deep Red has changed that. Designed for the revolutionary Red One Cinema Camera, Deep Red will usher in a new era for underwater cinematographers. This housing will allow underwater cinematographers to capture stunning 4K (4 x HD) motion images, a feat, that until now was not possible. Technically speaking, 4K means that there are 4000 lines of resolution versus the 1920 lines in HD.

Deep Red is currently in development by Gates Underwater Products and is expected to be available in February of 2009. The prototype housing was on display at DEMA and as usual, Gates has proven that they are a leader in the field of capturing underwater motion images.

For more information on the Gates Deep Red Video Housing, visit our websites at http://www.deepredvideohousing.com or http://www.marinevisions.com

About Marine Visions: Marine Visions, Inc., located in Webster Texas, is the Choice for Underwater Professionals. Marine Visions carries a full line of professional underwater video and photo housings and accessories. Rental housings are also available for many professional video cameras. If your production calls for underwater shots, then Marine Visions is the ultimate resource. Video Housings are available for Canon, Sony and Panasonic models. Marine Visions is committed to providing the highest quality equipment along with the best possible customer service.

About Gates: For over 38 years Gates Underwater Products has produced the world’s most reliable underwater housings. Using ‘bulletproof" machined aluminum, 100% mechanical controls, time-proven design methods, and state of the art manufacturing, Gates housings are built to satisfy the most demanding recreational divers, imaging professionals, marine researchers, salvage operators and military personnel.

For more info, you can also follow Joe Holley's blog.

UPDATE at 11/9/2008 8:58PM

DivePhotoGuide.com posted some great photos of the Deep Red housing.