Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
April 2015 Video Contest Winner And Review
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WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EDITOR JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: ‘Intro to Farnes’ by Ian Neale
Videolink: https://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/19367/
Once again it was good to see excellent entries with everyone obviously enjoying their diving. Each video had different qualities but the one that stood out for me on this occasion was ‘Intro to Farnes’ by Ian Neale. While all the other entries had good individual elements to them, Ian’s film brought all those elements together. As usual please look at everyone else’s video and consider the comment on each.
I viewed each film twice and made my overall judgement on several factors. Content, image sharpness, colour continuity, lighting, framing, exposure, music and narration. The length of any video is also an important factor as even the best made film can become boring if it is too long.
Making good underwater videos is by no means as easy as it looks. It does take time and patience. Having said that, there are occasions when you can simply jump in the water with a point and shoot camera next to a charismatic animal like a turtle or dolphin and no matter what you shoot its probably going to look good. Remember, you don’t need expensive cameras to make good underwater videos.
Diving Dorset – Chee Zee
Great opening, very moody and interesting music, Love the fast motion. Good feel to the wreck but try to move the camera smoothly to stop the shaky images. Try to apply the same discipline you show for the surface filming to that underwater. It looked to me if everyone was having a great time on the boat and diving but the music was full of drama and tension. The correct music for the mood is important.
My Maldives holiday – Mark Milburn
Nice steady shots and well framed. Looks like it was a good trip. Have a think about lighting if you can.
Lanzarote Day – Mark Milburn
Very nice selection of animals and images. All sharp and well exposed. Perhaps a hint of background mood music to help the feel of the film.
Nautical Archaeological Societies Underwater Archaeology Photography Course – Mark Milburn
What can I say…….Epic. Great promo and well put together.
Intro to Farnes – Ian Neale
Made me smile. Beautiful interactions with the seals and very nicely shot. Well edited and good music. Length was just right, not too long. Nice use of graphics as well.
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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