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

Winner: I meet Ray or Shark during scuba diving in Gordon Reef, Tiran island?! by Maria Bereozka

Winning Video:

Not many people realise just how hard it is to make an underwater video. They have little concept of how much work and effort goes into each and every film. Well I do and I can see it in full evidence month after month, year after year in these competitions and so I thank you for taking the time to share.

Critter Capital of the Caribbean by Scuba Hank NYC

Lovely images with great camera work and lighting. I did notice however that a few of the sections were not sharp. Sometimes this can be got away with if they are a crucial part of a gripping story, but as these are part of a collection of ID shots then they do stand out. I know it can be tempting to put in hard earned images even if they are a little soft, but my advice is don’t., they discredit the rest  of the film. I liked the on-screen ID graphics and I thought the music choice was just right.

Tiran island. Coral garden by Maria Bereozka

Nice opening surface sequence both visually and sound wise. It’s so good to show free-divers and snorkellers just what you can do on shallow reefs. Nice music and a real feel-good energy to the film.

Freediving with eagle rays. Best moments by Maria Bereozka

Such a good way to dive with rays. Nicely with with long developing shots. Very steady camera work. Love the long shots that develop into close-ups which gives the audience time to get to know the animal. Good music.

I meet Ray or Shark during scuba diving in Gordon Reef, Tiran island?! by Maria Bereozka

Well done for creating this story. It was interesting as well as well presented. I love the simplicity and personalization of your narration. The Guitar Shark was fantastic. You make all your films so relaxing to watch.

The November 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

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.