Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
August 2017 Video Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: Life of a Lion’s Mane jellyfish in one minute by Istvan Zoboki
Winning Video:
This month I completely ran out of superlatives. The standard of filmmaking was extremely high and congratulations to all. As I have said many times in the past, filmmaking can be a time consuming affair but often the more time, effort and thought put into a video the better the end product.
Let’s take a look at August’s entries:
Life of a Lion’s Mane jellyfish in one minute – Istvan Zoboki
Watch Istvan’s video here.
First of all thank you for the written introduction to your video. It makes such a difference to know what is going on and what the circumstances were when it was filmed. Quite a poignant sequence reflecting the beauty of life and the loneliness of death. The music fitted really well and the camera work was excellent.
Anemone shrimp on “Junkyard”, Koh Tao – Istvan Zoboki
Watch Istvan’s video here.
They are remarkable little creatures. Good music choice which greatly enhanced the overall feel of the video. All well shot and nicely edited. Very good crisp and clear images which were well framed and exposed.
Feather Star takes his afternoon walk – Istvan Zoboki
Watch Istvan’s video here.
Great images and once again excellent music choice. The editing was very precise and kept the flow and pace of the video perfectly with the audio. The written introduction was excellent and gave the short film much more meaning.
Manatee madness – Cathrine Jægerud
Watch Cathrine’s video here.
My compliments on the written intro and your camera work. So sad to see the terrible scarring which is so easily avoidable, if only boat users would take more care. Your music choice was just right and fully enhanced the feel of the images. I personally have no problem with gentle physical contact with animals, especially when they initiate it in the first place. Many animals, marine or otherwise, are extremely tactile and sentient and if done with care and sensitivity, physical contact can be extremely rewarding. Loved the group shot.
The Lion’s Mane performs a majestic dance – Lara Dakers
Watch Lara’s video here.
The written intro was very good and gave an excellent prologue to the video. A beautiful film with excellent music choice. Very simple yet extremely effective images that captured a moment in time from our magical underwater world.
Let’s go diving – Marc Eeckhaut
Watch Marc’s video here.
Stunning images and what wonderful diversity and abundance of marine life. So good to see. Good steady camera work, all well exposed framed and sharp. The Whaleshark was breathtaking.
And the Winner is….
This month’s winning video, although simple in its shooting and editing, was a moving story of a Jellyfish. Life of a Lion’s Mane Jellyfish in one minute by Istvan Zoboki. Well done Istvan.
I look forward to watching your entries in September. Good luck to you all!
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Scubaverse.com’s September 2017 Underwater Video Contest is now open! Enter as many as 3 of your best underwater films here.
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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