Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
September 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: Muck Diving around Manado Bay, Bangka Island and Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi – Indonesia by Pim van Schendel
Winning Video:
Hi all. So close this month and great to see all the hard work and talent which has gone into every film. People generally never know or appreciate just how much effort goes into making even a short video. But I know and I can see it in every entry.
As there can only be one winner I, after much deliberation, feel Muck Diving around Manado Bay, Bangka Island and Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi – Indonesia by Pim van Schendel has a slight edge on the other entries with some magnificent camera work and lighting.
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/
Engelbrechts West Cave by Paul Battersby
Great opening drone and land shots which all told an important part of the story. Good music too. Lovely dramatic shots and nicely edited. Although it was obviously quite an adventure the video there was no climax to the video and became slightly repetitive. It was crying out for some sort of information. Be it on screen graphics or spoken narration. It would work extremely well as part of a lecture or presentation where someone was speaking over it. Really well filmed and excellent lighting.
Endless blue by Maria Bereozka
Your films make me smile. Nothing special visually but the poetic and heart felt narration is totally captivating. It simply makes me want to dive.
Looking for dinosaurs underwater by Maria Bereozka
Excellent! Great music choice which fitted perfectly with your narration.
To be free! by Maria Bereozka
I don’t know if there is anything new to say about your films. I’m still smiling at the last one. Again perfect music choice.
Caribbean Night – Creatures of the Dark by Oliver Knopken
Wonderful opening shots on the surface and stunning underwater opening to follow. Your lighting is perfect and your camera work is very good. I liked the narration and script. I liked the story you were telling but with quite a long film I personally would have liked to have had a bit more information on the animal behaviour you captured so well even though you did sum up so nicely at the end.
Muck Diving around Manado Bay, Bangka Island and Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi – Indonesia by Pim van Schendel
Beautiful images. Quite stunning. Good steady camera work and very good lighting. You captured some great behaviour esp[decimally with the octopuses. Music works well. Such a fantastic array of marine life. What a wonderful world we live in.
The October 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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