Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
March 2015 Video Contest Winner And Review
Winner Chosen And Review By Scubaverse.com’s Underwater Videography Editor Jeff Goodman
Winner: ‘Fate’ by Milorad Djuknic
Videolink: https://www.scubaverse.com/?contestants=fate
Thanks to all who entered. The standard was good and I enjoyed watching all the entries. I have made a few comments for each film, not as a criticism but in the hope of encouragement.
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 nest to a charismatic animal like a turtle or dolphin and no matter what you shoot it’s probably going to look good. Remember, you don’t need expensive cameras to make good underwater videos.
Here are my comments for each film – do read through them if you have time, as they may well help you to think more on how you shoot.
Diving with Seals – Atlantic Scuba
Really nice film with great images of seals interacting with divers. Nicely exposed, good colour balance, sharp and well framed. Also good transitions. Really shows of some of the magic of diving and sharing the underwater environment with other species.
At 7.5 minutes I did feel it was a bit too long and would have cut it down to 3-4 minutes with a hint of music to enhance the mood.
Cornish Sharks and Rays – Atlantic Scuba
Good fun using the Big Screen template for the opening and end credits. Music works well but I felt the images were just a bit too disjointed and short. But maybe I am missing the point.
Toucan Dive – Bonaire
Lovely images but far to long at 20 minutes. Perfect length for background video in a shop or waiting room, but without dramatic action interludes and some form of commentary it doesn’t quite work. The saying ‘less is more’ is a truism.
Mermaid Freediving in Sheffield
Enjoyed this. So simple and very effective. Good variety of image sizes and perspectives. Sharp. Good colour and well exposed. Music – perfect.
Fate – Bora Bora
Nice to see some additional thought and planning going into a video. The dramatic opening with music and narration makes you want to see more. Well edited to keep the pace going with dramatic action. Interesting and informative script fosters a personal association with the film’s characters.
Noise – Bora Bora
Interesting concept. Makes me realise why I like to get underwater. Well shot and editied with good sound. A minute or two shorter would have done the same job.
Scuba diving in Cornwall – Atlantic Scuba
Certainly short. A little music would have helped a lot.
Tobago – A day in the Life
Nice film but as with so many others it is a bit too long. Think of your audience and who they may be. Families and friends will love to watch forever but others may not be quite so keen. Well shot and edited but perhaps look into underwater lighting if you can.
Inside the Zenobia
Good start to the video invoking a sense of mood and mystery. The music and images worked well together. But… as with so many films, it is too long. If the story had developed in some way then a longer film could have worked well. On the next wreck dive, try to think about how you are going to edit while you are actually filming. Look for those dramatic bits of wreckage that stand out. Looking forward to seeing the next one.
Manatees – Roveal
When you have such a good encounter with such a wonderful animal then simplicity is the best option for fiming and editing. Let the animal do the work for you, which is exactly what you did.
Nice music too.
And The Winner Is…
As with all competitions, there has to be a winner (but no losers). On this occasion there is one clear winner for me: FATE. This film was well planned, shot and edited, but most of all benefited greatly by its sensitive and informative narration. Congratulations.
I look forward to seeing next month’s entries, so please keep sending them in.
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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