Once upon a time surf films were made very slowly and expensively on 16mm film cameras. They were a labour of love.
Then video cameras, Taylor Steele and the Momentum generation blew the doors off. Editing went from tape to digital meaning that dark art was available to all: thanks iMovie! And making surf films was no longer the preserve of the few.
Then HD came along and an HD video camera cost many thousands of pounds. Skip forward a few years and we all have broadcast quality HD cameras in our pockets for under a grand that are handy phones as well. Or one we can stick on our boards/heads for under £500.
Progress never rests so while most people are only just getting HD televisions at home the camera industry is jollying off into even greater resolution and detail. 4K cameras are the norm. You’re no one in the high end surf filming industry without a RED cam. Even though no one has a 4K TV or monitor. And really high end the BBC are filming nature docs in 6K and in between there’s 5K, like this clip of Dane from his filmer Mini.
This relentless march of technology means one thing. The art of surfing being displayed in increasing clarity, detail and in some cases slow motion. It means you can really appreciate every nuance of good surfing and understand the dynamics.
Pity that Vimeo defaults to 720HD eh? 😉
