News
Announcing the Winner of Scubaverse.com’s Video of the Year 2017
Winner Chosen by our panel of experts:
Jeff Goodman, Scubaverse.com‘s Editor-At-Large and resident underwater videography expert
Sven Harms, Managing Director of SeaLife Cameras
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Scubaverse.com’s Editor-At-Large and resident underwater videography expert Jeff Goodman is once again joined by Sven Harms, Managing Director of SeaLife Cameras, to choose a winner of our Video of the Year award. Both Jeff and Sven differed slightly in their choice of the top three videos of the year, but agreed on the overall winner.
A message from Jeff:
This was a truly exceptional year for top quality video entries. I thought it was hard enough picking a winner each month, but having to pick an overall winner for the year has proven to be almost impossible!
All twelve films are good in different ways. The camera work throughout has been of a very high standard and the editing often very creative as well as precise. Music and additional sound effects are equally important as camera work and on screen content in the final presentation of any video, and all entrants have shown a true understanding of how the right music can strongly influence the ‘feel’ of a video and help to create an overall mood.
It has been really good to see how many video entries have taken on the mantle of marine conservation. It shows that we care what is happening to our world and I hope these films go a long way to encourage others to become more proactive.
The use of graphics has increased this year to great effect, especially in the context of sharing additional information about what is being shown on screen. Story telling and narration has also been used more, helping to take entries on to a higher level than previous years.
Although we have to pick an overall winner from the twelve winning entries for each month of 2017, I just want to mention all those excellent films that were entered throughout the year but never made it to the top spot. The variety and quality has been outstanding and it has demonstrated the time and effort that has been put into each production. It reflects the pleasure, excitement and concern you all have for our amazing marine world.
This year’s finalists were:
December – Changing Oceans by Katy Laveck Foster & Jeff Foster
Judges’ Comments
Jeff
Excellent written intro to the video which gave the film a great deal of meaning and purpose. As for the film itself, truly excellent. I know many people would prefer to ignore the poor state and serious decline of all our seas – it seems to be too much for some to take in – but we can’t go on ignoring the problem, and this films goes a long way towards making us think hard about what we are losing, what we have left and why we should try our best to do something about it. Great videography and editing with very good choice of emotive music. It was also the perfect length and style to be punchy without becoming preachy.
October – Is there anybody out there? by Klemens Gann
Judges’ Comments
Jeff
This is a very well conceived short underwater conservation story which held my full attention from beginning to end. The narrative was compelling, as was the diction. The under exposed ‘desolation shots’ worked really well to portray a lost environment, a lost world. The ‘historic’ shots of a rich and vibrant ocean were wonderful, and the pace of music fitted the images and mood well. A good short video to show in schools, especially for younger kids.
Sven
I liked the visual effect of the clown fish at the start, and the sound track. The underlying ecological message was also cool, and the macro clips throughout were great. Some subjects were a bit of a departure, but not enough to not rate this as a great video.
July – Jellyfish of the Gulf by Lara Dakers
Judges’ Comments
Sven
The sheer beauty and fascination of these Jellyfish are an amazing visual effect, almost sci-fi alien, yet beautiful. Good fitting soundtrack. Good camera angles.
February – The Beauty of the Philippines by Marc Eeckhaut
Judges’ Comments
Jeff
Excellent opening and perfect music. The wildlife images are magical and well shot. Nice to see the Mimic Octopus there. I would think the Philippines Tourist Board would like to see some of this. There was a very natural flow and progression to the film which culminated in a relaxed and tranquil ending.
Sven
This is a classic dive adventure video that makes me want to go diving. From start to finish, I enjoyed it. Sure, not every scene is glossy and perfect, but in general the creatures and flow excited me.
And the Winner is…
The Beauty of the Philippines by Marc Eeckhaut
Why? Well, it is an outstanding film both technically and artistically. It shows the incredible diversity of life in our oceans while creating a feeling of euphoria and a desire to get out there and see everything for one’s self. Makes me want to go diving. Not a direct conservation film as the other two finalists but in its own way leads to a great desire to protect and preserve.
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Congratulations from all of the Scubaverse team to our winner and to our runners-up. Thank you to everyone that entered in 2017. We hope to see plenty more of your videos in 2018!
As our 2017 Video of the Year Winner, Marc will receive an exclusive Scubapro Travel Kit, which comprises of a SeaLife Micro HD+ Action Camera, a Scubapro Mantis M1 Dive Computer, and lots more (full details of the prize can be found here).
For your chance to win the 2017 title, you simply need to enter your videos each month here:
www.scubaverse.com/current-contest-video
Good Luck!
Scubaverse.com would like to say a big thank you to Video of the Year’s sponsor, Scubapro.
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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