Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
February 2020 Video Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: L’Atlantique Nord-Est by Adrien Dupont
Winning Video:
Yet another fantastic month for video entries. Sometimes I wish I didn’t do this. Choosing a winner from such great videos can be a nightmare. But a winner there has to be…
Palau Underwater by Kristian Mears
Watch Kristian’s video here.
Nice drone opening. The music for the following underwater shots set the scene and mood really well and gave a peaceful tranquillity to the images. The moray pulling out the octopus was amazing. I personally have never seen that before. Was it luck you got the shot or had you been watching either the eel or the octopus for a long time? Either way it was very good. Your camerawork is good with steady well framed shots as well as very smooth tracking. I liked the change of pace to the plane wreck. Worked well in creating a dramatic mood change for the following montage of animals. The manta and shoaling fish after your third mood change were spectacular and very well edited.
L’Atlantique Nord-Est – Adrien Dupont
Watch Adrien’s video here.
An all round excellent film. Loved the opening variety of bird shots. Really good tripod work. You created a high energy vibe to locations with the music and the careful editing of all species seeming to be aware of each other. The beautiful drone shots of the coasts to keep the high energy feel of the environment seamlessly flowed into the underwater sequences. Your underwater camera abilities are as good as your surface work. Beautiful clear, crisp underwater images in both general shots as well as your macro. Great lighting too. My only slight negative comment is the change of locations and type of species without more of a story to explain what is happening and if there is any connection or thread. Otherwise it just looks as if you have put together your best shots from various locations. Having said that I still thought the film was terrific.
Night Diving in Komodo by Hank
Watch Hank’s video here.
Interesting music. It was good. Worked well with the editing style. Great images, all well shot and lit. Good to have the graphic name tags too.
Truk Lagoon by Tony Reed
Watch Tony’s video here.
Hi Tony, I’m sure the Blue Lagoon Resort were delighted with this. It was a classy and professional opening in both shooting and editing. Good pacey shots with the music which make up a very good promo video. Love the effect throughout. The underwater shots were, as always, top notch.
And the Winner is….
L’Atlantique Nord-Est by Adrien Dupont. Can’t quite put my finger on why exactly, other than it left the most lasting impression.
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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