Over the past forty years, Pete Romano, ASC, has become one of the most sought after cinematographers for any movie where there’s any underwater action, due to his skills at underwater cinematography and ability to light the great blue sea.
Romano’s 40-year underwater track record is unmatched with 159 credits on IMDB.com for film and television that just skim the surface, since it doesn’t include all of his commercials, music videos and documentaries. (Some of Romano’s earliest work includes underwater camerawork on Jaws 3-D in 1983, DeepStar Six, and James Cameron‘s The Abyss in 1989.) Romano’s company, Hydroflex, makes and rents underwater camera housings, splash bags and hundreds of lights, many of them built in his own shop. When it comes to underwater, he’s seen it all.
Romano recently tried Litra‘s LitraStudio™, and it offered him a new perspective, saying, “Litra is great. It’s a surprisingly powerful little beast with great intensity, but the fact that it goes underwater without a housing is a really big deal.”
With a deceptively small footprint, LitraStudio delivers 3,000 Lumens of color accurate RGBWW output—totally cable-free. Complete with integral interior battery, there’s an array of operating features like Bluetooth or DMX control, color tuning, gel, effects and more—all in a rugged, solution that goes underwater to 30’ below.
Romano says that the accessories make this viable. “The silicone diffuser is quite useful and the handle is perfect. What really sold me is the battery.” The 9000 mAh rechargeable, hot-swappable Lithium Ion battery stays safe within the light’s sealed waterproof door.
Romano explains, “We just did a TV show scene in a pool in Los Angele, and the electrical department loved it. It’s a great little run and gun light. That’s why I added it to my rental inventory in Los Angeles, and will also be renting them out through Cinemoves Atlanta.”
Hydroflex kits the LitraStudio in a compact Pelican case complete with the light, 2 batteries, a fast charger, and other accessories.
For more information about renting from Hydroflex, the professional’s source for underwater cinematography, visit Hydroflex.com. For more information on LitraStudio and other models check out Litra’s adventure lighting at Litra.com.
