2012Operating forum
Operating a steadicam in deep snow at high altitude
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Carrying a steadicam while walking in deep snow at 8000 feet elevation causes significant fatigue due to the combination of altitude, walking resistance, and equipment weight.
- Thick winter clothing and gloves restrict operator movement and make precise gimbal control difficult.
- Bulky rain covers can interfere with gimbal operation by applying unwanted pressure.
- Running shots while operating backwards in deep snow are impractical with snowshoes and require alternative methods like moving sideways or using different camera rigs.
- Roll-a-ramp portable walkways can provide stable platforms for snow-based camera movement and can be rented from grip departments or specialty rental companies.
- Hard-mounting the camera to a snowmobile sled provides smoother results and a lower center of gravity compared to operating handheld on a snowmobile.
- Snowmobile sleds allow enough space to accommodate additional crew like a director of photography and focus puller.
- At high altitude with reduced oxygen availability, assigning crew members to carry equipment back to starting positions preserves the operator's energy.
- Drinking substantial amounts of water helps maintain physical performance while operating at altitude.
- Budget and schedule pressure often force shoots to proceed in marginal conditions despite safety and quality concerns.
Depends on
- The original poster was relatively new to steadicam operating with approximately one year of consistent experience.
- This was the poster's first experience shooting in snow.
- Specific details about which sled mounting setup was used are not provided.
- One participant mentioned hard-mounting on a sled but acknowledged downhill terrain presents limitations for this setup.
- Roll-a-ramp availability appears limited to rental from private grip owners in some regions.
- The advice about operating in Denver at 5280 feet elevation is anecdotal and not directly applicable to the 8000 foot altitude described.