Feature-length documentary feedback

Godzillaalienfan1979

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Messages
265
Basically what it sounds like. When I get a whole lot older, have much more inverts than I do now, and am somehow able to get a full-length original soundtrack, I'm planning on making a documentary titled "Hidden World'', about small invertebrates. As such, does anyone have any recommendations for...

  • filming fast and unpredictable animals, like a Centipede or Vampire Crab?
  • filming underwater animals, like Crayfish or a Giant Prawn?
  • filming up-close to show incredible detail, for an Antlion?
  • filming through a microscope, for planarians, nematodes and tardigrades?
  • just overall filming tips for inverts? Camera/equipment recommendations?
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
Web search the Cousteau Society and Harold 'Doc' Edgerton as one starting point. The innovation in filming the Cousteau efforts has been the source of countless thesis and the springboard or inspiration of dozens of filming entrepreneurs.
Theodore Stephanides also contributed a tremendous amount of info on freshwater microbiology. Check the Wiki bibliography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Stephanides

I can think of a few dozen other sources but the above are very well documented and mostly open source, easily web browsed.

Edgerton was called 'the father of flash photography' for a very good reason. But his innovations only started there. As in working out micro focal distances 20,000 feet under the sea.
Jacques and Jean-Michel Cousteau is a vast field of knowledge of everything you mentioned. You could spend several months just unearthing what projects they have been involved in.
 
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Godzillaalienfan1979

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Messages
265
Web search the Cousteau Society and Harold 'Doc' Edgerton as one starting point. The innovation in filming the Cousteau efforts has been the source of countless thesis and the springboard or inspiration of dozens of filming entrepreneurs.
Theodore Stephanides also contributed a tremendous amount of info on freshwater microbiology. Check the Wiki bibliography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Stephanides

I can think of a few dozen other sources but the above are very well documented and mostly open source, easily web browsed.

Edgerton was called 'the father of flash photography' for a very good reason. But his innovations only started there. As in working out micro focal distances 20,000 feet under the sea.
Jacques and Jean-Michel Cousteau is a vast field of knowledge of everything you mentioned. You could spend several months just unearthing what projects they have been involved in.
thanks a ton dude! I'll be sure to check the link out ASAP, it sound amazing!
 

Mirandarachnid

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 11, 2017
Messages
532
There is a show, it may be on Netflix, I believe it's called Hidden Kingdoms. Similar to what you are wanting to do, but they mostly focus on small vertebrates, although inverts do make some appearances. At the end of each episode they go into what they did to film that particular episode. It might give you some ideas!
 

dragonblade71

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
Messages
523
For filming through a microscope, you could check out this forum for advice:

https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/

That's where I gained lots of hints and tips to film through my own microscope using the afocal method. The folks on there are very knowledgeable about this specialised field of photography. I still haven't come across any tardigrades myself but I would very much like to.
 

Godzillaalienfan1979

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Messages
265
For filming through a microscope, you could check out this forum for advice:

https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/

That's where I gained lots of hints and tips to film through my own microscope using the afocal method. I still haven't come across any tardigrades myself but I would very much like to find them.
Yeah, you can buy a bunch of 'em at https://www.carolina.com/other+invertebrates/water-bear-tardigrade-living/133960.pr , or just find them on damp moss beds in areas worldwide
 

dragonblade71

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
Messages
523
Yea Ive read that tardigrades that be found in moss and lichen but that sort of stuff is not very common around here. Plus I live in Australia so wouldn't be able to order them from that link.
 

Godzillaalienfan1979

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Messages
265
Yea Ive read that tardigrades that be found in moss and lichen but that sort of stuff is not very common around here. Plus I live in Australia so wouldn't be able to order them from that link.
Oh right, i'm forgetting that, sorry. Also man that sucks that theres not a lot moss OR lichen-where I live the entire state's friggin' carpeted in it
 
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