Underwater Cinematography and still photography
Jan Balster is an experienced underwater cinematographer and photographer, bringing the same European eye and technical precision below the surface as above it. Underwater credits include commercial work for TYR Sport alongside Olympic swimmers Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke, product cinematography for Hayward Pool Products — including their TracVac and PoolCleaner R130 systems — and underwater video and stills for travel and tourism clients. Jan holds certifications as a scuba diver, drysuit diver, cave diver, and rebreather diver, enabling access to challenging underwater environments that demand both technical expertise and creative vision.
the equipment
Underwater production at 83ºWEST is built around a GATES Deep Komodo housing for the RED Komodo 6K cinema camera, capable of capturing RAW footage underwater with a versatile range of cinema lenses — from compact Zeiss Super Speed primes to large-format anamorphics including the ATLAS Orion 65mm. This professional-grade system delivers the same uncompromised image quality and cinematic flexibility below the surface as above it, making it equally at home on high-end commercials, documentary work, and travel and tourism productions.
Hydroflex MK5
cinema camera housing system — professional-grade underwater housing trusted on Hollywood features and high-end commercials, delivering uncompromised image quality below the surface. (available upon request)
Easy Dive universal housing
For underwater still photography, 83ºWEST uses an Easy Dive LeoR housing paired with a Sony 60-megapixel camera, delivering high-resolution imagery with the detail and dynamic range demanded by advertising and editorial clients.
