Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
December 2015 Video Contest Winner And Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EDITOR JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: Tony Reed
Winning Video:
Four very different films in December and all very enjoyable to watch. It’s good to see other divers’ underwater experiences being captured on video and shared. December’s videos gave us some great wildlife encounters which were all well filmed.
Let’s take a look:
Harassment from a Hawaiian Monk Seal – Keith Saddler
Watch Keith’s video here.
I would guess the seal was very lonely and craved some warm mammal company. It can be a bit unnerving when large animals pay you such close and unending attention. I assume it all ended well.
Well done for videoing it all. The still images in the middle were a little confusing at first but I see why you wanted to include them. Can I suggest you have a go at a bit more editing and removing parts of video clips that have no action in such as at the surface near the end. Also have a think about music and/or narration.
Copulating Cuttle Fish – Alex Binnen
Watch Alex’s video here.
Nice. Good music choice too. Good steady camera work and well done for keeping the camera going. Sometimes it can be tempting to try and get closer but if you had then I think the cuttlefish would have separated earlier. It may be that after the separation that you filmed, the animals disappeared, but if they did stay around then it would have been an idea to try and get close to one or both just to get a few detailed close up shots which could have been edited in either at the end or the beginning of the video.
Heaven is in Devon – Tony Reed
Watch Tony’s video here.
Hi Tony. The dynamic openings are getting quite, well… dynamic.
Love the time lapse sequences on land to start the video off and very nice choice of music.
Good montage of wildlife and even though I recognise many of the shots from previous videos, it just goes to show that material can always be reused again and again in different edits to great effect. The only issue I have with some of the ‘already used’ shots is that some of them have ident graphics on them which breaks up the continuity of the sequence. Also some of the graphics are half out of frame.
I liked the naming of all the dive sites at the end.
Mission Impossible – Craig Mainprize
Watch Craig’s video here.
Great looking bit of kit. Well filmed but I would have loved to have had some facts about what was going on as well as some details about the building and the testing. This could have been done with a simple narration or perhaps a few graphics. It just keeps the audience interested. The music kept the pace of the film going and the lighting was quite moody. If you shoot more, then think about a few close ups such as in the cockpit or the drivers’ faces.
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As usual there can only be one winning video, and for December that is ‘Heaven is Devon’ by Tony Reed. Tony had gone the extra distance and added both music and informative graphics as well as putting together a solid opening and ending. Congratulations Tony – a serial winner!
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner:
Winning Video:
Hi everyone. Happy Christmas and New Year. Just four videos this month. I felt the Maria Bereozka film ‘Jingle Fish’ had the edge over the others by way of carefully executed shots and editing, which gave a good steady pace to the video.
Looking forward to more films next year.
If you are keen to advance in your film making skills, don’t forget to look at my book and/or take my RAID Action Camera course.
A love story by Ronald Faber
Synthetic voice – Really!!! Didn’t know there was such software in existence. Should have know better really. Nice video though. I don’t get many entries with David doing the narration. Good story and well shot with great steady camera work and lighting. The editing was spot on as was the music choice. The David voice did give it a certain quality that no matter how good or poor the film actually was, the audience automatically assume it has to be professional and thus top quality. It’s a clever trick but not sure I like it.
Jingle Fish by Maria Bereozka
Nice thoughts and excellent images with great quality. All works really well. The video has a real good feel to it and I love the diver/animal shots.
Fish Dance by Maria Bereozka
Ah Maria, Once again it is your narration that lifts the film by 100%. although your camera work is very good with steady well lit shots.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Dives! by Maria Bereozka
Not sure about this one. Didn’t quite work for me. It seemed to be a collection of loose shots put together to the music.
The January competition is now open for entries. You can enter up to three videos by clicking here.
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: Sharkydelity by Fredi
Winning Video:
Such good films this month. It took me a while to decide on the winner. I had to watch them all twice. But in the end my choice was Sharkydelity by Fredi. You can seen my comments on this film as well as all the others below.
If you are keen to advance in your film making skills, don’t forget to look at my book https://www.divedup.com/shop/action-camera-underwater-video-basics-the-essential-guide-to-making-underwater-films/
Time to breath by Maria Bereozka
Yep! Love it. So relaxing to watch and I really feel a bond with Turtle. Good camerawork.
Sharkydelity by Fredi
Lovely written intro thanks. Adds so much to the actual film. It’s a great story and stunning images.
A perfect blend of aerial, land and underwater sequences. Your music choice was perfect as was your camera work and lighting which gave wonderful clear, steady, sharp, well exposed and beautiful framed images. I liked your creativity with the editing, especially where you made the most of the music phrases.
Point of view by Maria Bereozka
The written intro was obviously heart felt and moving. It is so good to set up a video in this way. Once again it is your narration combined with your artistic skills and imagination that make your videos so unique.
Underwater Red Sea paradise by Maria Bereozka
Nice feel to the video which was well complimented by the music. My only suggestion is that for general reef shots you try some way to hold the camera steady. It’s not so important with moving subjects like the ray but when there is just coral and background fish the camera must be as steady as possible.
Banda Sea, Seram Sea and Raja Ampat by Daniel French
Sounds like a fantastic trip from your write-up. The on-screen identification captions work really well. I like the slow motion throughout. The slow steady tracking shots and the slow animal movements. It creates a very peaceful feel and the music is perfect. Great camera work and lighting. I also like your camera angle perspective on subjects where you get below the animals.
Maldives Far North Expedition with MantaTrust by ondrejv
Good written intro thanks. I liked the personal on-screen introduction. Wonderful shots of the mantas. What amazing animals they are. Having gone this far though with the shooting and editing I would have loved to have had some information on what you learned about the Mantas especially as you were with the Manta Trust.
Calm Indian ocean by ondrejv
Stunning opening shot of the Sweetlips. Fabulously sharp and well lit. You have captured some excellent wildlife images and the music fits really well. Loved the turtle turning to look at you.
The December competition is now open for entries. You can enter up to three videos by clicking here.
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