Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

March 2021 Video Contest Winner and Review

Published

2 years ago

April 1, 2021

Jeff Goodman

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

Winner: Breathing under the sea by Noemie Stroh

Winning Video:

Oh I don’t know! Every film once again was top quality and everyone must feel proud of their work. For me this month the most outstanding film was Breathing under the sea by Noemie Stroh which just had that little extra in it’s editing and overall treatment.

Thanks to everyone for your amazing entries and look forward to seeing more next month.

Mediterranean sea by A deep forest by Claudio Valerio

Hi Claudio, thanks for setting up your film with the excellent written introduction. Fabulous quality right from the start and I loved the slow pace of the film which was edited perfectly to the music. Great lighting, which brought out all the amazing coral colours to their full glory. I loved the slow camera moves in your close up shots which gave the video a real cinema feel. The cutting to and from the divers worked well. The video was a perfect visual treat. What a beautiful area to dive!

Breathing under the sea by Noemie Stroh

Wow, that was terrific. Great quality of images with wonderful wildlife. Your commentary worked very well and having a French accent didn’t do any harm. The words and sentiment were well thought out and moving. I have to say again that the wildlife images were fabulous and very well lit. Great film.

We are Swanwick Divers by David Gwyer

Thanks for the intro David. Swanwick Divers must be pleased with this. Good pace and nice bright music. Camera work was good as was the editing. Although it’s always good to use your own footage in this type of promo video, it may be an idea to think about incorporating 3^rd party clips as well. As long as you list the names of contributors and edit yourself, then that is perfectly fine. I only mention this because I’m sure that over the years various people from the group must have caught some exceptional moments that would boost the clubs profile even more. I do the same myself when shooting a promo for lets say a tourist board. I do the trip and then ask around for anyone who has great video clips that I would have no chance of capturing during my short visit. I then give credit where it’s due and everyone is happy.

Similans – Thailand // Liveaboard experience by Andreas Fiskeseth

Very nice. Loved the anemone tracking shot with the wreck behind. Good touch with the freeze frame and really well cut to the music which was the perfect choice for the videos treatment. The drone and life on board sequence was terrific especially with the slow motion. Great wildlife images all beautifully shot and lit. Great film.

Turtle moments by Zaflee Bin Md Suibarek

Your opening shot was wonderful. For me it could have lasted for another minute. I felt I was peeking in a secret moment of the turtles life. I love the simplicity of the video and the music choice was perfect.

Treasure Bay by Craig Beasley

What an adventure! Very exciting story in the written introduction which carried on into the video. Nice that you did the music yourself as well as the very professional narration. Excellent rock steady macro camera work and lighting on stunning creatures.

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

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April 2021 Video Contest Winner and Review

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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.

Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

December 2022 Video Contest Winner and Review

Published

5 months ago

January 3, 2023

Jeff Goodman

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.

Winners - Underwater Videography Contests

November 2022 Video Contest Winner and Review

Published

6 months ago

December 1, 2022

Jeff Goodman

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.