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A rogue with an eye for salvage - and the ladies - Ray: A Life Underwater is an affectionate portrait of one man's deep sea diving career, told through his extraordinary collection of marine artefacts.

Like a modern-day pirate, 75-year-old Ray Ives has been scouring the seabed for treasure his whole life.

The former commercial diver has plundered the deep for over fifty years, bringing to the surface anything that glittered -- even gold.

In a shipping container near the water, Ray tends his museum of cannon, bottles, bells, swords, portholes and diving gear.

He even still takes to the water in a 1900s diving suit.

Ray can be found most days at his museum at Yacht Haven Quay, Plymouth.

Produced and Directed by Amanda Bluglass amandabluglass.co.uk
Editor and Director of Photography: Danny Cooke dannycooke.co.uk @dannycooke
Dive photography: Neil Hope divingimages.co.uk
Soundtrack: Tony Higgins tonyhiggins.org

Credits

Danny Cooke
Director of Photography, Editor
Amanda Bluglass
Producer, Director
junior85
Soundtrack

3,193 Likes

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Tags

junior85 5 months ago

Beautiful!!!
WEREHAUS 5 months ago

awesome
creativetorbay 5 months ago

Beautiful does not do it justice . Great work Danny
Olaf Henze 5 months ago

job well done!
Amanda Bluglass 5 months ago

Thanks, everyone. Superb photography from Danny and Neil, superb soundtrack from junior85 (Tony). Great team!!
Bandit Films 5 months ago

your best film yet...amazing photography, brilliant opening sequence, music..top work
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Thanks, it must be because I was controlled by a Director this time ;-p
Bandit Films 5 months ago

She did a good job..a bit of direction always helps
Mike Kobal 5 months ago

amazing documentary, congrats Danny and to your team!
Ralf Becker 5 months ago

Wow.
Jose Bayón 5 months ago

Great document. With the right speed. With respect just to illustrate for Ray. Take great Danny.
Alicia Lee Wade 5 months ago

sooooo good.
Michael Triana 5 months ago

What can I say Danny? Truly fantastic!!!! Just wonderful in countless ways!!!! Every shot was so well captured and as the story progressed, it kept you wanting more! You are a great editor and DP!!!! The music worked so well….Please keep surprising us with your choices.. You and your team deserve plenty as does Ray!!!!!
Victoria Taylor-Gore 5 months ago

Gorgeous and moving...
Ian Sill 5 months ago

Superb film. So interesting and so well made.
Jojo 5 months ago

deep :)
Dave Smith 5 months ago

I really am speechless... This has to be your most creative film yet. All your other films are right at the top here but I must say I watched this and I could feel the passion in that man's work, you and the team brought it to the screen beautifully Danny. Good to see your dad in the shot also. You keep going... its incredible work mate... by you and your crew.
Cottage Industry Films 5 months ago

A beautifully crafted documentary where passion, emotion and soul are captured. You are a true talent Danny. Your skills and talent progress to new heights with every film you make. Keep going, good things are bound for you my friend.
Christian Haberkern 5 months ago

beautiful picture! what camera did you use?
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Thanks Christian, it was shot with 3 cameras - Canon 7D for all the ground work, 5d Mark II for underwater shots and Cineflex for helicopter stuff
Bandit Films 5 months ago

exceptional use of all cameras, editing, pace, direction..the final shot is superb.
Short of the Week 5 months ago

Really quite good.
Erich Nestler 5 months ago

Awesome. Perfect. Peaceful. Interesting. Beautiful!
Meat Bingo 5 months ago

Both intimate and expansive - beautifully shot throughout. Poetic and contemplative.
Jay Johnson 5 months ago

Wow, great work! Congrats to you and your Crew on a very well done project. You guys should be very proud. You know Ray must be, especially after being portrayed so professionally.
stuart mcelney 5 months ago

One of the best vids i've seen in a long time. You've made my night.
The Film Artist 5 months ago

Fantastic, I agree with Stuart :) [TFA30]
Added to vimeo.com/channels/worldhd
joël 5 months ago

inspiring..awesome job!
Daniel Benning 5 months ago

the189.com/film/ray-a-life-underwater-from-daniel-crooke/
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Many thanks Daniel for a great writeup, However, Ray is Amanda's find, I just helped film and edit the project.
dramaqueen 5 months ago

What a lovable character - cheeky, too! Thanks for sharing. Beautifully directed and sensitively filmed - great team.
Junior Hernandez 5 months ago

Incredible my friend! Always beautiful work!
Gavin Owens 5 months ago

The production value on this is amazing. Was it a commission for a broadcaster or a personal project.
Ray is one of the most interesting 75 year olds I've ever seen.
Truely well done
Amanda Bluglass 5 months ago

Thank you! It was a commission from a private client, who felt Ray's story was worth telling. It will be entered for film festivals now. Recommendations as to which festivals? gratefully received.
Gavin Owens 5 months ago

Hi Amanda,
The one that spings to mind is the Sheffield Doc/Fest
Anybody who is anybody (lots of commissioning editors...) will be there. It happens in June so you'll have to wait for 2012.
Also consider Guth Gafa in Donegal, Ireland, again for 2012.
Best of luck with it. It's a wonderful piece. Well done again
Gavin
Tommy Wilson 3 weeks ago

Definitely submit this to Doc Fest!
Hana Backland 5 months ago

Oh, this has made my week!
Absolutely exquisite job Amanda & Danny & crew.
I actually think I know the young female version of this gent.. so I best show her next.. for inspiration!
Thank you.
Amanda Bluglass 5 months ago

Thanks Hana! Nice to see you on here. The film was a commission from a private client who houses Ray's collection at his marina. Lucky us! I produced and directed and brought Danny is as DP/editor. Have to say we were blessed in many many ways on this project, talent, weather, (April; Plymouth; heatwave??) and generosity. We'd like as many people to see it as possible, so share it around!
Sam Morrill 5 months ago

Great job on this one, Danny. Love the sequence where he tries on the different helmets.
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Thanks very much Sam, Ray is an amazing character. Many thanks for featuring it on Vimeo HD :-)
33hirtz 5 months ago

Kudos!! I loved every second of this, just great!!
:-)))
Pedro Sttau 5 months ago

I loved this!
Michael Haydon 5 months ago

This is great work, you have a star in Ray. A fantastic film.
Patrick McLoad 5 months ago

I enjoyed this. Thought the aerials were really nice and fluid. If you shot them, did you use a two-axis gyro rig? Maybe I was just in a hurry and need to chill abit, but I thought the pacing of this show was a little on the slow side. Nice job anyway. I would like to have a few beers with Ray, what a character.
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Thanks Patrick, Peter Thompson shot the aerials - same guy that shot most of the BBC Coast TV Programme aerials, His equipment was really impressive - He used a Gyro Stabilised 'ball' Cineflex V14.
Patrick McLoad 5 months ago

Oh man, that thing is so way over the top....I'm sure the day rate w/chopper is a figure that only BBC can afford. I'm usually forecd to shoot handheld out the side of a chopper, but Tyler Mount Systems now has a MiniGyro device with two gyros that I expect to use from now on because it is affordable to rent and is contained in one Pelican case. I shoot with a large ENG-style camera, so this MiniGyro should smooth out the wind buffeting. Setup is easy and I can take this anywhere. Here's a short demo for those that are interested:

youtube.com/watch?v=wWvibiuCopM

Not as steady as the Cineflex V14, but affordable for the independent shooter.
Thanks for the response.
eric becker 5 months ago

This is great work. Here's Ray's younger female counterpart, searching for a different kind of underseas junk. vimeo.com/20473194
Amniótica (concepción sonora) 5 months ago

Beautiful work, story, characters and narrative.
TLKG 5 months ago

superb!

well done to all involved
Blake Bogosian 5 months ago

Thanks So much for sharing! super cool. That guy is amazing!
Uncharted Media 5 months ago

Bravo Danny.
Kalum Ko 5 months ago

So good, makes me wanna make a short !doc
Kaushik 5 months ago

Very good, enjoyed.
John Wesley Chisholm 5 months ago

Just wonderful !

Thanks for sharing this film.

John Wesley Chisholm
Tom Money 5 months ago

Wow! I just came across this video on the HD Channel and realised that I've actually met Ray. Not only that but I've been in that container and seen all of his cool stuff when I was doing my HSE Pro Scuba Course at Plymouth University 2 years ago. What an incredible guy he is. He gave all of us students some of his plum wine to try. Good stuff!
Amanda Bluglass 5 months ago

Yes, that's Ray! He has trained thousands of divers in HSE. He enjoys a flirt with the ladies and pressing his homemade brew on all and sundry. And he's still at it, diving when he can; and his sloe gin is getting ready for Christmas
Arbor Avenue Films 5 months ago

Beautiful work.
Reel Bear Media 5 months ago

what a fantastic soundtrack to a great story. minutes went by like seconds. well done.
Joe and Steve Greenberg 5 months ago

Beautiful work.
PunkinMusher 5 months ago

Breath taking beauty down below. And fascinating finds. If each piece could tell their story.
Mint Bhuntuvech 5 months ago

True happiness right there~
Tom B 5 months ago

love this! great work. Really enjoyed it.
Tom Pichette 5 months ago

This was truly amazing. Well shot, edited, and produced film. Inspirational!
Oleg Kalyan 5 months ago

That's great Danny!
Kevin Davidson 5 months ago

Greatness!!! thanks so much Danny :)
Tristan Waldroop 5 months ago

I absolutely loved this. Very nice. Thank you Danny.
Ryan Alexander 5 months ago

Absolutely magnificent!
Manuel Leito 5 months ago

I really like the video, thnx for sharing.
Raf. 5 months ago

This is such an incredible portrait! One of the best ones I've ever seen.

May I ask what lenses were used in this production?
Particularly the close up shot like at 00:37 or the beautiful portrait shots around 10:20.

What underwater set up did you guys use for around 12:55 (lens and housing). The under/above water shots are just incredible.

This is such an inspiration.
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Many Thanks Raf. The shots at 00:37 and 10:20 were a Canon 50mm f1.4. Neil Hope shot the underwater scenes with a Ikelite housing and Canon 5D Mark II and Sigma 15mm lens.
Raf. 5 months ago

Thanks Danny. Again, such a beautiful production. I've shared it on fbook and people are loving it.
Joachim Ott 5 months ago

Very impressive! I like the mix of portrait, reportage and atmospheric scenes.
Talk to The Hand Productions 5 months ago

well done! I really enjoyed the music!
Kelly Hunt 5 months ago

Absolutely stunning.
ferelmafe 5 months ago

Maravilloso!!!
A Nice Film!!!
Michael Browers 5 months ago

Amazing storytelling. What a wonderful presentation! Exceptional!!
sara gorringe 5 months ago

Wonderful!!
Brandon Bloch 5 months ago

What a great character! Seems like he was really willing to work with you guys to get the best footage. Some really stunning shots.

Wondering - How did you guys record such clean underwater audio? And how'd you manage that one aerial shot?
Amanda Bluglass 5 months ago

The aerials were via helicopter company Castle Air who shoot all the BBC Coast series stuff on a gyro mounted camera.
Danny Cooke 5 months ago

Thanks, The sound was just recorded as normal with built in mic on 5d Mark II from Ikelite housing
Laszlo Huszar 5 months ago

Great documentary film. Thanks for sharing.
John Savage 5 months ago

Such a great doco. I really enjoyed watching this, thanks :)
Erik Jackson 5 months ago

Ray did a great job demonstrating the difference between rec and commercial diving. I also can't imagine how many stories he has.
Niklas Großmann 5 months ago

Great work! Up on actuallygee.blogspot.com
Sparks Bros Media 5 months ago

Great job! This was amazing!
Jim 5 months ago

Ray, thank you for a glimpse into your wonderful life.
Jim, Alabama
james rockford 5 months ago

truly inspiring. thanks for sharing this wonderful documentary! :)
Riley Hooper 5 months ago

This is wonderful! Beautiful story and beautiful visuals.
Nick Cooke 5 months ago

Really nice. Well produced, well organised and well shot!
Who's the camera man/person/woman? He or she's got a great future....
Travis Guerra 5 months ago

Great Job to all involved. Well done and great story.
Pavel Kučera 5 months ago

nicely done
Schpok 5 months ago

Nice job ! Thanks for this moment.
Caleb Vinson 5 months ago

SO good, so amazing!! Very well done guys!!
Bill Newsinger 5 months ago

Really fantastic. Fascinating story. Great work
Dillon McEvoy 5 months ago

amazing man, great use of editing and shots!
Teodor Dokov 5 months ago

Awesome filming and good editing!!! Loved the whole thing! Thank you!
Easton Turner 5 months ago

Amazing!
Carol Vine 5 months ago

A beautiful, moving and evocative film. Superb camerawork and direction. A gentle portrait of an extraordinary man, that stands out a mile for its stillness and affection.
Tobit Emmens 5 months ago

utterly mesmerizing. Fantastic work Danny, well done.
Marcelo Rodrigues 5 months ago

Danny, Amanda, Neil and Tony,

Thank you for such a wonderful story!