The most recent webisode from Substantial Media House, “Hello Darkness,” features aerial whitewater footage like we’ve never seen before. The Substantial crew teamed up with Pacific Northwest-based media company, Shifted Cinema, LLC, to capture these images from high-end remote-controlled helicopters. We caught up with Ethan Fortney, CEO and camera operator at Shifted Cinema, to get his take on why aerials are changing the way we see the river:
“As with all industries, aerials can provide a dynamic perspective of the chosen subject. A classic car commercial goes from something everyone has seen a million times that is easily dismissed, to something—if executed correctly—that is so visually pleasing and stimulating that you want to continue watching. Therefore rather than having many short choppy cuts to attempt to hold the attention, longer, more impactful and captivating shots are possible without having to worry about losing the audience.
When we first met the Substantial Media House boys, we knew little to nothing about kayaking. But after one look at the locations they were paddling, we knew it was perfectly tuned for our operation to create powerful images. We love to operate in locations that provide some adventure both for the operators and the aircraft. The more complex the environment, the more tempted we are to fly it. We wanted to create something that no one had ever seen before.
In the kayak industry, creating great web edits of dynamic and extreme locations is the norm. The aerial aspect can capture the essence of the sport while adding a perspective that, until recently, had never been seen. That is a big reason we love working within the kayak industry: the environments these incredible athletes seek out are so powerful that when we get brought onto a project, it’s a canvas with limitless potential to create. It’s a sport and environment that deserves to be showcased accordingly. Cable-camera rigs are an awesome tool but they are such a process to get setup, and full size helicopters are limited to where they can fit. So, when we go out, we often try to blend the two, which creates that dynamic shot that is only achievable with a remote control platform.
Our platforms differ from the small GoPro rigs that a lot of the kayak industry has been picking up. We use much larger equipment that requires far more experience to operate and maintain. But, the great thing about the GoPro rigs is that they are much cheaper, smaller, easier to fly, and are designed to withstand a crash or two which makes them great for paddlers wanting to captures a better perspective of their environment with limited risk.
What it all boils down to is that we are driven to work within the kayak industry because of the community that is whitewater kayaking. The amount of passion and stoke in each and every individual is enough to make you want to sell your possessions and chase that gypsy kayak life, living every day like it’s your last. Instead, we just try to showcase it.”
