Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

October 2015 Video Contest Winner And Review

Published 10 years agoon November 5, 2015

WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EDITOR JEFF GOODMAN

Winner: Tony Reed

Winning Video:

As always some very good films entered this month which were varied in their subject matter as well as style. All though were well shot with good exposure and colour balance as well as being sharp and well framed. Music choices were all fine. It would be good to see someone in future competitions trying a bit of narration.

So here are October’s entries and my thoughts on them:

‘Gammarus Life’ by Kiril Ivanov

Really nice to see some good macro videoing. Interesting animals too. All well framed with good clear and sharp images. Good colour balance and exposure. What more can I say. Oh yes… Very suitable music with a few interesting sound effects. Great film.

‘Diving Lundy Island’ by Tony Reed

Good camera work Tony with very nice scene setting in the beginning. I liked the mysterious opening shots of the seal followed by that lovely Lobster. So nice to see it walking towards the camera rather than running away. All followed by good diver and more seal shots which made the video nice and pacey. Only one shot that spoiled the film and that was the shrimp in the crevasse. It was too far away and hence too small. Do try more small stuff but it is important to make sure the camera is rock steady and the subject is big in frame. Good music and nice ending.

‘Diving in Barbados with Sandals Barbados’ by Steven Baker

Great opening and things just got better. Lovely vibrant and well lit colours with a good steady pace of animals and camera moves. I know why you put in the shot of the speared Lion fish but as you were not able to explain it in any way I think it should have been left out. Perhaps that’s another film. What a fabulous Ray. Be wary of the length of your videos as just towards the end it was getting a bit repetitive and so could have been a little shorter. As I often say ‘less is more’. Great film though.

Hard again to choose a winner but this time I think I am having to go with Tony’s ‘Diving Lundy Island’ video. So a second win for you Tony – congratulations.

Jeff Goodman

Jeff is a multiple award winning, freelance TV cameraman/film maker and author. Having made both terrestrial and marine films, it is the world's oceans and their conservation that hold his passion with over 10.000 dives in his career. Having filmed for international television companies around the world and author of two books on underwater filming, Jeff is Author/Programme Specialist for the 'Underwater Action Camera' course for the RAID training agency. Jeff has experienced the rapid advances in technology for diving as well as camera equipment and has also experienced much of our planet’s marine life, witnessing, first hand, many of the changes that have occurred to the wildlife and environment during that time. Jeff runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops for the complete beginner up to the budding professional.