in the wild
Dec 14, 2017
words by Tarik Benbrahim, RYOT
This summer, the RYOT team took off to capture one of the worlds longest waves in Chicama, Peru with the legendary Laird Hamilton to create Take Every Wave: Laird in VR, a VR experience around his innovative approach to surfing, and life, that coincided with the release of his documentary Take Every Wave by Rory Kennedy. We saw this as an opportunity to push the envelope and utilize the newest camera technologies, via our tech partnerships with Radiant Images and GoPro, to get shots from new, previously inaccessible perspectives.
RYOT was selected pretty early on as a partner for the Fusion pilot program, and we went about testing the cameras capabilities as we would any other piece of equipment that came across our desks: proximity tests, environments with varying exposures, nat sound, color, the improved image quality at higher frame rates obviously sparked our interest... and of course we immediately strapped it onto a shaky/fast-moving motorized vehicle or two. We were very impressed with the outcome and a few of us continued to take the cameras wherever we went, trying to get feedback from every environment imaginable.
The Laird project was something that was brought to us months before hand but was shelved for variables out of our control. When we got the call that it was back on, if we thought we could pull it off with 3 days to pre-produce and travel to Peru, we obviously jumped at the opportunity - a swell was headed for a standout locale and Team Laird was excited to shoot VR content for the first time. The shoot location and parameters changed, but when we knew we had been granted full access to Laird on the water we packed our Fusions immediately.
When it came down to actually shooting with Laird we encountered a couple hiccups, as is to be expected when you have no time for proper gear tests in a controlled environment.
Everyone we assembled for shoot team happened to be surfers (weird, right? ha!) and being in the VR game wed meticulously picked-apart every piece of surf VR that had been made up to that point. Wed decided that mounting the camera to the board was our best bet- the hydrofoil-modified paddle boards seemed much more stable than their high-performance counterparts you see charging barrels in Tahiti. But when we finally got our hands on the boards the standard mounts seemed unreliable in the event of a crash and there wasnt much room for a lanyard or leash as a failsafe.
It was actually Laird that first offered the paddle as an option. I was weary because he was actually using it, aggressively, to catch these waves. Camera weight is the biggest challenge when it comes to shooting 360 in the water... Ive looked like a damned fool too many times (unsuccessfully) trying to surf with/pass-off Abyss360 and F360 Explorer rigs at local breaks to try it with Laird in this environment. So, we found a point on the paddle conducive to both Lairds grip while also being more-centralized to the point of rotation as to minimize the centrifugal effects from the weight of the camera on the mount. Rigged the mount to the paddle using back-alley engineering knowledge along with plenty of gaff tape and zip-ties, I know "theres a mount for that" but we didnt have it and the clamps we had mightve splintered the carbon fiber getting the grip we needed in water - and it wouldnt be a RYOT production without a gaff tape/zip-tie rig. If it wasnt for the lightweight and waterproof construction of the Fusion the shot wouldve been impossible.
The wave in Chicama breaks for 2.5 miles, 4 miles from the very outside, so the surfers were utilizing zodiac boats to shuttle them and their gear from where they kicked-out back to the point. The heavy conditions didnt allow for much calibration/adjustment of gear once on the water so I preset the cams according to the few quick tests I was able to do on location. As for the shots themselves, Laird has countless more hours clocked on set than most but is the furthest thing from a camera operator there is. Without the one-button auto shoot function I doubt he wouldve had the patience to sit and wait for the GoPros to fire-up as theyve had to in the past - Laird doesnt "sit" or "wait."
Once back on dry land I was able to quickly download the data and stitch the 20-30 scenes in the time it took the guys to store their gear and freshen up. To say their minds were blown is an understatement.
After the long trip back to LA we dove head-first into post; the images we pulled from the Fusion werent only some of the most compelling we had for the piece (I mean, how often do you get to surf on-board with Laird Hamilton?) but our VR post team was very thankful for the stitch quality - especially with rapidly approaching deliverable date.
Overall, it was wild ride beginning to end... Shotgun start, shooting from the hip in crazy conditions throughout the production, and a race against short deadlines but we did it. The RYOT team is the best in the game, Ill say it again and again... but without support from our partners and access to new tech we wouldnt be able to pull off half of the stuff we do. Thanks for always having our backs guys!
More to come, stay tuned!
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
in the wild 
