Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
May 2021 Video Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: Once upon a time… by Fredi
Winning Video:
WOW! What a month for excellent films. Such amazing quality in artistic content as well as technical ability. There is no better or best film out of all of them, simply one that caught my attention slightly more that the others. The winner this month is Once upon a time…by Fredi. As I said in my comments to this film, Fredi has pushed the level of film making in this monthly competition up to another level. HOWEVER… If you are not quite so experienced as Fredi, please don’t be put off from entering your film. It is by showing your work in public and getting feedback that can help improve and move forward.
Change of Seasons Underwater by Marcell Nikolausz
Excellent! Really good to see a freshwater film and a good one too. Superb images with interesting and informative narration which was spoken with great professionalism. You took us through the seasons and species with great film work. The underwater bird was a wonderful surprise, as was the catfish.
What an incredible encounter by Ayub Mooduto
Perfect written introduction to your film which describes some of the skills needed to to take good macro video. Stunning opening shot which was edited and timed well with the music. The following images were very good and a joy to watch. Not sure about the sound effects though. Sounded a bit like a growling dog. Your lighting and steady camera work was excellent. Wonderful selection of species.
Once upon a time… by Fredi
That was quite a special written story. Loved it. You just pushed the level of film making in this monthly competition up another level. The narrated story is good and the videography is superb. Stunning images. The story drew me right in and I found myself smiling as it developed. Your choice of animal characters was perfect. I’m so glad you gave it a happy ending.
The meadow behind our home by Fredi
It’s a wonderful and powerful film with a good sentiment. Stunningly shot, narrated and edited. It is well written and conceived. I don’t know what more I can say about it.
Manta Alley Redux by Craig Beasley
Ah yes, we all have disappointing days. Nice drone and land opening sequence with good narration and interesting script. Liked the ‘stop – start again’. It livened the whole film up. Fun music and editing. Nice story for the area with well shot images and a great variety of species.
The June 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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