Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
January 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: Masters of Camouflage by Betsy Beasley
Winning Video:
Yet another fantastic month for video entries. The standard just keeps rocketing up. But, if you are a beginner to the video making world, please don’t be put off by these great entries. Novice and simple films or clips are always a joy to watch, and getting your work shown and appraised is a big step to improving your abilities.
Underwater Philippines by Anita Moresi
Watch Anita’s video here.
Superb close up images to open the video with great music. Loved the ocean sound effect as well. The videography really is of a very high standard with crisp, well exposed and well framed steady shots. Have to mention the lighting as well which was perfect.
Revillagigedo Islands – Mexico Pacifico Selvagem by Tompson P Pecini
Watch Tompson’s video here.
Clever introduction to the film. Haven’t seen that done before. Good aerials to follow and the shots of the boat completed the storey although perhaps I would have liked to have seen just a few seconds of the briefing and the guests. Loved the manta underwater opening and really liked the way you kept cutting back to it. The marine life in-between was fantastic. Good to make a short break back to the surface before commencing with more Mantas. Excellent sharks and loved the tuna. Then, ending with dolphins…. how good was that!
Taboo a place for the spirit by Serge Melesan
Watch Serge’s video here.
Good drone opening which set the location scene. The music fitted well. Loved the whale seen from the shore. Moments like that are very special. Once underwater you kept up the slow and emphatic pace of the video, up until the deliberate change of pace with both music and action which worked well.
10 Cool Underwater Moments in Komodo by Hank
Watch Hank’s video here.
Nice. The cuttlefish opening was very good and the mantas were magic. Stunning animals. The Bigfin squid was spectacular and extremely well lit. The next few moments were also good but the burying stargazer was perfect. Well done. 10 very cool moments….
The secret Valentines by David Gwyer
Watch David’s video here.
Hi David, Thanks for the written introduction, it’s good to have a back story and also good to see a UK video. I did like the underwater opening with the whiting leading up to the surface for the full introduction. It’s a good way to do things. Seeing the tank brought back very fond memories for me of a film I made many years ago for the BBC about a similar tank in Start Bay, Devon. So full of life in an otherwise stark sandy landscape. Good sound effects.
Masters of Camouflage by Betsy Beasley
Watch Betsy’s video here.
Excellent opening and I love the concept. It’s a true educational video while being entertaining and memorable. The images on the video are good, well shot, lit and framed and the music choice is perfect. Even though the clips are very simple and portrait in style it’s the script that drives the film and makes it special.
And the Winner is….
There was one clear winner for me this month. Masters of Camouflage by Betsy Beasley. A well crafted educational film that was delightful to watch. Quite a simple film visually but it was the script that made it so special. More of this please!
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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