Field Notes: Hermit Crabs (Patreon)

Our lead producer and cinematographer Josh Cassidy returned to his filmmaking roots for this upcoming Deep Look episode about hermit crabs. His career began in the beautiful environs of Northern California tide pools, where he taught himself how to film tiny creatures for his first film, “Life By The Tide.” It was a nostalgic trip back to his humble beginnings; this time, however, he was equipped with updated 4K camera gear and nearly two decades of experience under his belt.

(Josh Cassidy/KQED)

Josh filmed the hermit crabs using a newly acquired waterproof macro probe lens. It was a big upgrade from the DIY solution he used to film underwater creatures in the past.

(Josh Cassidy/KQED)

“One of the most magical aspects of tide pools is that they only emerge at certain times: they only appear when the tide is low, Josh said. “But that also creates more challenging conditions for filming as low tides don’t always coincide with good weather or daylight.” And Josh also had to remain vigilant for rogue waves and the incoming tide while simultaneously concentrating on peering through the lens.

(Josh Cassidy/KQED)

Here’s Josh’s previous solution for filming underwater. It had served him well for many years, but it was pretty frustrating for him to use. It’s a simple plastic tube with a piece of clear acrylic on the front. He'd tape the tube onto his lens shade and then lower that end into the water. It was a constant struggle to capture a steady shot, however, since it displaced a lot of water that made it buoyant and unstable.

This episode premieres next Tuesday, June 15, but Patreon supporters will get a sneak peek this Friday!