Deadliest Catch

[svp]

Season 3 is underway. looks like this year will be a rougher one for the crew. my money is still on the Northwestern to catch the most crab. anyone else watch this show as much as i do???

[villagevidiot]

what is deadliest catch?

[Baltimore's Finest Fotog]

If you really don't know, here ya go: Deadliest Catch (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/deadliestcatch.html) HAS to be one of the toughest shows, if not THE toughest show to shoot. I believe they did one or two behind-the-scenes episodes, which I'd love to see.

Another show I enjoy is "Man vs. Wild (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/manvswild/manvswild.html)" simply because there are times when it leaves me scratching my head wondering how they get some of the shots they manage to get. Plus, I've found it is classically edited with few jumpcuts and alot of good entering and exiting frame, which also tells me it's well shot, technically anyway.

And if you really like good production value, check out "I Shouldn't Be Alive. (http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/alive/alive.html)"

Note: I do not work for The Discovery Channel. I just think they're doing some good stuff.

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

Absolutely LOVE it! Still not exactly sure why. Its the third season of pretty much the same thing every week, yet I can't turn away! Great characters, I guess. Real people in an environment that isn't controlable. That's reality TV...

[Jonathan]

Yeah, I don't know why it still intrigues me. Maybe it is how much money they make in a month or just my love of eating crab. These guys could buy a Varicam with the money they make.

Though if you look at the behind the scenes footage you will see that the Discovery crew is using PD150s.

[svp]

Though if you look at the behind the scenes footage you will see that the Discovery crew is using PD150s.

What do you expect? Lugging around an XDCAM on deck in that weather? This is REAL reality TV. The PD150 is fine for what they're doing. I know most of you are fighting the transition to these small cameras but give the discovery guys a break.

[herter857]

This show created the second most deadliest job. The people who tape the Deadliest Catch.

[Jonathan]

What do you expect? Lugging around an XDCAM on deck in that weather? This is REAL reality TV. The PD150 is fine for what they're doing. I know most of you are fighting the transition to these small cameras but give the discovery guys a break.

I use a PD150 in certain situations that call for it. I also have to say it was pretty good footage to be shot on PD150s. Even if the lens were equal the small cameras don't balance good enough in my hand especially after you add a on camera light. The only real advantage I see that the little cameras can gain access to more places and fit in tighter spaces.

[Focused]

I love this show!! I watch the re-runs late at night when I can't sleep. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but there are a number of reasons I am hooked. The raw elements and how the complicated story line told from different locations and crews (cast) is just exciting compared to watching the people dig through the sand for immunity. Who cares if they get to dig again another day? This is about life and death not about if some dude had shelter on a beach for the night.

About the PD-150. Look at the elements they are shooting in. I would never take a full size camera out there. Salt water. Wind, waves and a rolling deck. I would be lopsided before the wave hit if I had a shoulder mount on me. If it goes overboard it's only 2 grand. If the xdcam goes it's a lot more then that. And the size of it can old help staying steady in those elements by freeing up a hand to grab onto something.

[Grip]

it's all fake,
complete BS
It is all done in front of a blue wall.

[herter857]

it's all fake,
complete BS
It is all done in front of a blue wall.

Yeah right and the U.S. nuked Jupiter with Galileo.

[Grip]

everyone knows it was a friggin laser beam shot out of the Hubble. A nuke would never work.

[Alaska cameradude]

First, I have friends who have been deckhands doing this, and believe me, they don't make NEARLY enough money for what they go through...no way no how. My brother fished up there and the other deckhand was washed overboard, my bro managed to grab a gaff hook and gaff his raingear and drag the dude back on the boat, broke his ribs when he was dragging him in (banged against the side of the boat with a big wave) but saved the guy.

They do use PD-150's and they average loosing two or three of them each season. PD-150's can give you some good footage....it IS possible.

[Grip]

sure the pd150 can give you a decent picture, but I think you can do better. I would still include it in the tool bag, but take those cabin shots, all the captain time. That would be so much better with a real camera. Keep the XD off the deck, but why not inside?

[Foxwood]

It's a very harsh environment. I would think that the producers would want the footage to match as best as possible. That's why they use PD-170's. Nice image shot in very difficult condititions. Lose a camera? No big deal, bring another out.

The bottom line, the average guy watching at home doesn't even have a synapse in his mind that cares what kind of camera was used.

That's reality.

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

The bottom line, the average guy watching at home doesn't even have a synapse in his mind that cares what kind of camera was used.

That's reality.

Bingo! :cool:

[Grip]

which is the perfect motto to have, if you aspire to be an average guy.

They should match their grfx package then, have it all look cheap

[NEWSSHOOTER3]

which is the perfect motto to have, if you aspire to be an average guy.

They should match their grfx package then, have it all look cheap

Are you refering to "bingo"?

[cinehead]

sure the pd150 can give you a decent picture, but I think you can do better. I would still include it in the tool bag, but take those cabin shots, all the captain time. That would be so much better with a real camera. Keep the XD off the deck, but why not inside?

Do you know how cramped these boats are? Not only would it be cramped shooting for an HD Cam, even with a wide angle or fisheye, but there's virtually no room to bring "extra" cameras, batteries, etc.

[cinehead]

which is the perfect motto to have, if you aspire to be an average guy.

They should match their grfx package then, have it all look cheap

Yeah, these photogs are shooting in some of the harsest conditions on the planet and making a compelling program, but to you they are aspiring to be an average guy?

[Land Rover]

sure the pd150 can give you a decent picture, but I think you can do better. I would still include it in the tool bag, but take those cabin shots, all the captain time. That would be so much better with a real camera. Keep the XD off the deck, but why not inside?

Why would you use different cameras on a shoot like this? That doubles up your support gear and causes logistical problems you don't need. If you loose a PD150 are you going to take the XD Cam outside? These are basically disposable cameras as far as this shoot is concerned. The video needs to match as well so you wouldn't want to mix and match the cameras.

[cameragod]

I’ve shot on fishing boats down in the South Pacific. It’s not fun even for someone like me who never gets seasick. Hours of just cruising, nothing to shoot as you pound endlessly through the heavy seas. Every so often the boat will heal over so far you think this is it we’re going to roll or even cartwheel. In all an exhausting mix of excitement fear and boredom. “Ho hum another giant wall of water rushing to crush us.”:eek:

I was shooting on Sony 400a and honestly with a bit of planning it was no problem at all. We had a clear plastic cover made to protect the camera and it was tethered to my belt with a quick release pin in case it was ever me or the camera.
I got knocked off my feet a couple of times but as long as you take it slow and keep aware of your surroundings no worries, having a producer assist as spotter may have saved me from falling a few times. Just another day at the office.
Actually aside from the lens fogging going inside from out, the biggest pain was the boat was 110V and my charger was 230V so the batteries were never fully charged and with the cold I was only getting about 20min per battery.

edit: found this on their blogg, they are going HD



Entry No. 1: New Season, New Gear, New Challenge

Just before dawn today, I was standing on the deck of the Cornelia Marie with my brother Todd and Zac McFarlane, the two men I will have to lean heavily upon in order to complete what is becoming a monumental task.
Over the next week, we will be running the crews that will rig “our” crabbing vessels with cameras, microphones and all the other gear. We have done this before, except this time we will have to rig eight boats, and all the new equipment we have brought is not our usual stuff. This will be our first year producing the show in HDTV. None of this new equipment has ever been tested in the Bering Sea, possibly the toughest environment that any show has ever been produced in.
Before it is all done, much of the equipment will see four sea journeys, each with its own unique challenges. Last year, the temperature dropped to -20 F. How will this new gear fare? I don’t know. I can’t guarantee anything, and that is a spot I am not used to.
Dutch harbor is already awake now in the pre-dawn hours. The king crab season approaches, and the docks are buzzing with activity. Dutch has changed a lot since I first came here four years ago. About half the boats that once fished crab out of this port are still fishing today. More than a thousand men have lost their jobs, many of them my friends. The island seems sad in some ways, but there is little time to heed. With only a week until the fishing begins, my crew, each captain and every deckhand in this town is involved in the favorite pastime of Dutch Harbor: hard work.
When the boats are rigged, I will head to sea aboard the Time Bandit. Jonathan, Andy and Neil Hilstrand are some of my favorite crab boys. They are not yet in town, but I keep my eye on the harbor’s entrance, hoping they will arrive soon. I need to have every vessel being rigged day and night until we are done. Problem is none of the new equipment was designed for this task, and every piece of it is giving us fits in some way.

[Grip]

I would go all XD if it was up to me, but at the very least, have all the stuff shot inside on a decent camera. And as long as all the cabin video matched up, it would not be a harsh transition.

I will say this much, whatever you are shooting, it will be some of the toughtest shooting you could do. You better be in good shape.

I have shot both a real camera and a handy cam on the high seas. Unlike CG, I still did get sick, even after being out in the ocean for a month straight only coming to shore once a week. When it got bad, I did spew a couple times, but that could also be connected to drinking the night before.

[cinehead]

I would go all XD if it was up to me, but at the very least, have all the stuff shot inside on a decent camera. And as long as all the cabin video matched up, it would not be a harsh transition.

I will say this much, whatever you are shooting, it will be some of the toughtest shooting you could do. You better be in good shape.

I have shot both a real camera and a handy cam on the high seas. Unlike CG, I still did get sick, even after being out in the ocean for a month straight only coming to shore once a week. When it got bad, I did spew a couple times, but that could also be connected to drinking the night before.

I dunno, I disagree. The XD Cam is absolutely horrible in low light, it's noisy as hell. But hey, that's just me.

[NeverSummer]

A full size camera leaves you blind on your right side. The difference in quality isn't the issue.

[SoMissTV]

The behind the scenes clips on discovery.com claim that the second season started with 26 working DV cameras, and ended with 13 fully functional cameras when they returned.

[Oldhuskie]

Season 3 is underway. looks like this year will be a rougher one for the crew. my money is still on the Northwestern to catch the most crab. anyone else watch this show as much as i do???


One of the few shows I will watch the repeats whenever they are on. Great shows!

[Sooner]

Anybody else notice all the staging in Man vs. Wild? Also the fact that he obviously goes from having a life jacket on under his coat in one water shot to no life jacket as he crawls out of the water in the next. Still like the show anyway.

[Grip]

One of my good friends is a bear guide, sightseeing and hunting, Discovery did a show on him, I think it was dangerous jobs. They had him staging for almost the whole thing. A couple times he was asked to do some crap that went way past safe distance, and he just had to tell them no.

[TXPhotog]

It's a damn hard job considering they have to basically hold on/keep balance with one arm and still get stuff in frame. My lens cap is off to them.

[HudsonValleyVideo]

anyone know what the camera guys get paid for what they go through?

[f11vid]

Just like the fishermen....Scale