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Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

April 2021 Video Contest Winner and Review

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WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN

Winner: Gems of Southeast Asia // Thailand & Myanmar by Andreas G Fiskeseth

Winning Video:

Great month for entries where the art of story telling seems to be growing. The use of drone shots along with pre-dive sequences is also on the increase as affordable technology makes the hardware more accessible. But even with that extra technology the underwater sequences are of a very high standard and a joy to watch. This month, based simply on the camera work and editing, the winner is ‘Gems of Southeast Asia // Thailand & Myanmar’ by Andreas G Fiskeseth.

Even if you did not win the month, please do read my comments to other entries as there may be something there to help you with your own films.


The eyes of Komodo by Celine – Travel2Sea

Just read your written intro and yes indeed you are very lucky to be have been able to dive Komodo during Covid. Very jealous. Fabulous opening to your film. Love the mixture of above and below shots along with the drone footage and the music really set up the film well. The drone dolphins were excellent and loved the way you cut into the underwater. The whole film has a great feel to it with momentum and power. The camera work is spot on with sharp, steady, well framed and exposed images.

Mawar, the dugong of Alor by Celine – Travel2Sea

Excellent story and very well told. Lovely opening both visually and with sound, although I thought there were a few minor sound level issues throughout. All beautifully filmed and poignant thoughts from Pak Oneh. Having gone this far in making a thoughtful and environmental film could I suggest that it would have been good to know why the dugong was alone and it would have been very powerful to have heard Pak’s voice telling us why he does this.

Nounours, the Teddy bear who wanted to become a scuba diver! by Celine – Travel2Sea

That was fun and very well done. Loved the music.

Dive the Red Sea by David Gwyer

Hi David. Well done for putting this together. Lovely to hear the narrative. I did feel though that it was fighting the music track in places for both space and volume. Have a look at it again, keeping the music track on a slightly lower level.

Gems of Southeast Asia // Thailand & Myanmar by Andreas G Fiskeseth

Good powerful opening images cut well to a dramatic music track. Was the lady on the dock one of the Gems of Southeast Asia? Nice well filmed wildlife images with good camera work and lighting. Often when a dramatic sound track is used throughout a film, the images don’t always manage to be equally dramatic. But this was not the case with your film as you made it all work together to the end.

Branksome Beach by Jonathan Bailey

I’ve had the same conversation with people on the beach but more often than not it is with fishermen who want to know if there is anything worth catching. I always have to say ‘no, nothing out there mate’. Liked your introduction. Had a good feel to it which told a story. Nice to see so many UK species. The on screen written information worked really well and made the video far more interesting. The jellyfish and cuttlefish were fun.

Amongst the Critters 4k by Marcelo Johan Ogata

What a place! Very stylish drone shots and land based opening which established a perfect moody feel for the film. The underwater images are stunning and the music is perfect. Your camera work and lighting is exceptional. I love the slow steady camera moves with the great variety of shot sizes and angles.

Eckernförder Delphin (1) by Ulli Nilsson

Hi Ulli, what a fabulous encounter. Where was it? The shots of it playing with your hand on the surface are wonderful. Although the encounter itself is spectacular, for a fifteen minute film it would have been nice to have had a bit of background information on what is happening. Is the dolphin male or female, how old, why is it alone, is it a regular visitor and so on.

Delphin (2) by Ulli Nilsson

Hi again Ulli. Same comments as before really. Perhaps have a go at some editing just to shorten the film and concentrate on the highlights to make the film more powerful.

The Rockfish swim by Alison Smith

That was nice. One single developing shot with a curious fish. Perfect. No need for any editing and the short length of the film did not need any extra ingredients like music or narration.

The Melibe Leonina Family by Alison Smith

Same comments as with the Rockfish, except this time, as the subject was not so charismatic, perhaps a little music would have been worth considering.

Monterey bay – Monestary beach by Alison Smith

You have a very visual style and your videos are relaxing to watch. Did I recognise your favourite Rockfish?

Sharks and caves by Brandon Hannan

That was quite lovely. So simple yet extremely moving. I loved the brief glimpse of a moment in time of the shark. The music fitted perfectly. The image itself was well framed and exposed.

Eckernförder Delphin (3) by Ulli Nilsson

I applaud your enthusiasm for the encounter.


The May competition is now open for entries. You can enter up to three videos by clicking here.

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.

Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

December 2022 Video Contest Winner and Review

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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.

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Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

November 2022 Video Contest Winner and Review

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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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