Winners - Underwater Videography Contests
October 2017 Video Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S EDITOR-AT-LARGE AND RESIDENT UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY EXPERT JEFF GOODMAN
Winner: Is there anybody out there? by Klemens Gann
Winning Video:
Very different styles of film making this month, each with their own merits and strengths. It’s great to see such a diversity of work as it explores many different aspects of underwater film making.
Let’s have a look at October’s videos – and please read the comments I have made on each individual video as they may well help you in your own film making style.
Is there anybody out there? – Klemens Gann
Watch Klemens’ video here.
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 the younger kids.
SCUBA diving with sand tiger sharks on the wreck of the Caribsea off the coast of the Outer Banks, North Carolina – Oleg Kaplun
Watch Oleg’s video here.
What a wonderful dive site. Good written introduction to the video and it was great to see an image of the ship before she became a wreck. Excellent dramatic opening underwater shots of fish and ray. Then came the sharks. Wonderful. The music was perfect for the mood of the video and fully enhanced the slow and powerful movements of the sharks and rays. It was quite mesmerizing. The lighting was excellent and also helped to strengthen the mood of the video.
Northern Reefs of Red Sea – Arkadiusz Plewa
Watch Arkadiusz’s video here.
Nice shots. Well done for spotting the stone fish. Not sure what it was in the bottom left corner of your frame. Possible your finger or a strap……….
The editing and effects worked well as did the music. Although the shots were nice there seemed to be quite a lot of camera movement and shake. Try to concentrate on keeping the camera steady and slow moving. It may well be that I am missing the point and the fast movements were deliberate to give pace to the edit and overall feel of the video. I recognised the wrecks, it was a real trip down memory lane. Overall the film gave a good pacey feel to diving.
Hurghada – Red Sea Life – Arkadiusz Plewa
Watch Arkadiusz’s video here.
Interesting style of editing transitions which actually worked really well and allowed the seamless introduction of still images. The pace of the music was a perfect fit for this. You created a real snapshot experience and a feel good video. I enjoyed it very much.
And the Winner is….
The video that left the most lasting impression on me this month was Is there anybody out there? by Klemens Gann. It carried a powerful story and message as well as being extremely well filmed and edited. Well done Klemens.
Do keep the entries coming – I look forward to what you all have in store for us in November!
Scubaverse.com’s November 2017 Underwater Video Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater videos 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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