The OUIMA (Ohio University Immersive Media Association) captured 360 video footage at the Columbus Aquarium over the past few weeks. The project is directed by IMI team members Iggy Cossman, James Edelstein, and Aaron Dimanna, who shot with multiple 360 cameras on two different dates in February.

The team traveled to Columbus for the first time on the 10th to talk logistics with Graham Jones, the zoo and aquarium photographer. The team of three, along with IMI co-creator and producer Eric Williams, started pre-production talks in early February, with filming taking place on the 15th. A team of around 10 students participated in the project.

OUIMA students worked tirelessly to secure a location, contacting every aquarium in the state. The Columbus Aquarium expressed interest to the IMI team about working with virtual reality, establishing a partnership to work together on the shoot. During the brainstorming process for the project, the most popular pitch given by the three students was an underwater shoot. An aquarium is a prime underwater filming location because it gives way to the clearest imagery. The team traveled to Columbus on the 15th with a Kodak Pix Pro, an underwater camera rig, and a GoPro Omni, enabling VR capture within specific installations at the zoo.

Ohio University students interested in joining OUIMA can contact Iggy Cossman at ic074214@ohio.edu.

The Immersive Media Initiative (IMI) is an innovative student education and workforce training program providing technology, facilities, curriculum and active learning opportunities that encourage students to become leaders in the future immersive media job markets utilizing virtual and augmented reality. IMI is a part of the Scripps College of Communication's Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab. For more information, see here.