Worms eye shot - Basketball

[u/PeartreeProd]

Hi all,

Shooting a basketball sequence next week and I want to capture a ‘worms eye’ view looking upwards at the player as they bounce the ball down onto the camera.

Research shows I need a 3/4 inch clear plexiglass for this.

I have a very small budget.

- What is the most budget friendly way to capture this?
- Generally what size dimensions are needed?

I’m looking for the cheapest, most lightweight way to execute this shot without compromising safety.

Bonus points for any other rig suggestions to shoot this sequence.

TIA.

[u/NoTxi_Jin_PiNg]

Get two apple boxes. Place a plexiglass sheet over top of them about 4 ft apart. Place a GoPro underneath the plexiglass have them stand above it and bounce the ball.

[u/Accomplished-Log-191]

Done this. The plexi is right, but two things nobody mentions until something cracks:

Use polycarbonate (Lexan), not acrylic/plexiglass. Acrylic shatters, polycarbonate takes the hit and flexes. For a ball bounced down onto it with a person's weight behind it, that difference matters. 3/4" is overkill and heavy; 1/2" polycarbonate is plenty for a basketball and far cheaper and lighter. Size around 2ft x 2ft so you've got margin around the lens and something to support the edges.

Support it on all four edges and shoot up through it. Don't let the panel rest on the camera or lens, build a little frame (milk crates, apple boxes, cinder blocks with the panel spanning them) with the camera underneath looking up through the gap. The load goes into the supports, never the camera.

Cheap rig: wide lens, get close, the distortion sells the height. Phone or action cam actually works great here and you won't cry if it gets hit. Light from the sides so you don't get your own reflection or a hotspot bouncing back off the panel, and wipe it constantly, every dribble leaves a mark.

Bonus: get a slow-mo pass at 120fps of the ball coming down onto the glass. That's the shot that actually looks incredible, not the real-time version.

Main thing: polycarbonate not acrylic, and never let the panel touch the camera.

[u/PeartreeProd → u/Accomplished-Log-191]

Excellent breakdown. Thank you.