Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
February 2022 Video Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: Encounter by Maria Bereozka
Winning Video:
Hi all. The joys of film making are very personal and it is what you get out of it as an individual that is most important. The fun of planning, going on location, doing the dive, filming, looking at what you have shot, editing and sharing it. From day one and for many years after, it is a continual learning process. For me, even after a lifetime of making films, I am still learning new things, technically and stylistically. One of the most pleasant things for me about judging these monthly video competitions is seeing other peoples work. There are no bad films ever entered. They are all personal stories and as such deserve to be seen and appreciated.
As with all competitions there has to be a winner and this month it is Encounter by Maria Bereozka.
Good diving and look forward to seeing your films next month.
Maldives Liveaboard byJoshua Barnes
Really nice feel to the film. Good choice of music and good pace for the editing. Lovely whale shark and mantas. All well filmed and good lighting. What a super trip.
Jelly fish dance by Maria Bereozka
So nice to sit and watch one animal on screen. Jelly fish certainly are extraordinary and stunning.
Good camerawork and nice music choice.
Coral garden by Maria Bereozka
Hi again Maria. It was good again to see a single species video. As there were more than one lionfish it did look as if you were torn over which one to film. Ideally it would have been good to establish a few in single shot and then concentrate on just one of the fish with long and steady shots just to let your audience relax with the one animal.
Encounter by Maria Bereozka
That was a an excellent opening. I loved the way you developed the shot from the reef to the open water and wonderful image of the ray. Beautifully shot. Perfect music. I have rarely seen such a relaxed eagle ray. I did like the way you then finished with the ray going back out into the blue.
Diving Palau by Connor Finlen
That was good to watch. Full of lovely images and great animals. You camerawork is very good as is your eye for framing. I think it was all filmed with available daylight which is OK but once you get below four or five meters the colours and contrast do start to disappear and as a result images take on a flat blue appearance. If you can, have a look at investing in a video light of some sort. Doesn’t have to be expensive and there are many on the market.
The March 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:
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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