Ok… first, I am so sorry! This is a really cheese film and I did not put in much time at all. Please be gentle…

I tried to make a film about the last two minutes before sun is rising over the horizon. It is not much about mammals but it is a few shots with a deer (and some mammals driving the vessel). This is my first wildlife film filmed just over land. During this production I realized my lack of long distance lenses.
Any way… I hope you enjoy my few minutes before sunrise.

Markus Nord

Markus, the sunset is always an interesting scene to capture, and I think you did well.
One detail: I think you held the clip of the deer at the end of your film a little bit long. Wouldn't hurt if you shortened that one a bit.

Thanks...
I totally agree with you… The problem was that I didn’t got any different shots to cut to, and my lack of long distance lens made it hard for me to get some close ups to cut to.

Hi Markus

Ok I read your lead in so I know you've struggled but well done for not becoming shark food fella !:-) Your film seemed quite un-balanced in its approach, lacking real structure. It seemed to have a huge intro with little 'meat' in the middle. Your sunrise shots where beautiful but before that the gain you needed for the exposure was very obvious. I can see you were lacking some reach too....that is frustrating when coming from your wide angle UW work I bet.

Welcome to the world of topside shooting Markus....good start!

Mat

Mat… I want back in the water… that is no fun up here. I yes, I was no “meat” in the middle ‘cause I did not got enough time (or didn’t put in more time) to get shot that really worked. I’m pleased with my sunrise shots, but as you say, lack of light, to much gain, not enough time…

Thanks for watching…

Hi Markus:

Full apologies here! I'm trying to view your film and my systems are having trouble with mpg.... my problem not yours! I'm still working on it.

Without even seeing it and reading your forward... it sounds like you did a good job getting something in and avoiding the tank. Way to go!

I'll be back when I can view your film.

Cat

I guess its the same "problem" as last time. You need to download .mpg files. Right click and "save target as". I think that it is a problem with QT player.

I will try this! Thanks,

Cat

Hi Markus:

Okay, I get it... I've found a way to review this. I apologize. When I get the time this week I'll go back and look at your previous entry too.

By reading your comments, I was actually expecting a lot worse. You were able to set the mood in this clip and draw us in with your footage. We are anticipating something and that's a good start to any film.

It is simply a matter of having more time and more material. As you and Mat have talked about, it was lacking "meat" in the middle. The deer footage added to the feeling of a pre-dawn experience, but it needed other supplements to round it out. Not that you didn't know this already.

So, solid camera work, nice the way you put the music in at the very end and good choice with it, and nice sunrise to finish it off. Next time just give yourself more time to round it out and give us something to chew on!

Cat

Hi Markus
Im sure this was just a "Keep you out the shark tank video :-) " was a bit short of mammals but showed your talent for getting some great video shots anyway.I must say that at that time of the morning the sky is a wonderfull sight no matter where in the world you are.

I'm fighting the same reach problem, using the FX1 (12x) and the HV20 (10x)--- I think I got those right. What are you shooting ?

That and low light cause some image issues, and lack of a lot of mammal footage left me looking for something I may have missed.

Hi Markus,

Yes, certainly agree with the meat in the middle comments however, I would like to focus on your ending - which had some of the nicest footage I have seen in a while. The shots at 2:12, 2:16 and 2:23 were the real money shots.
You can certanly capture some stunning shots, and to be able to "see these shots" is a real art. I truly believe light is one of the secrets to good video (as in still photography), and you really captured this beautifully.

Given the difficulty in capturing the mammal shots, I would have focused on the shots you managed to get at the beginning and end of the day (with a bit more variety) - with the theme of the elusive deer, or something similar. Shots of deer tracks, "rubbing trees", etc filled with forest sounds and beautiful scenery to mix it up a bit.

I think with some structure, your future UWOL entries will be right up there!

Hi Markus,
I'm a bit late in my response. Second what have been said by the others.
You got a very good eye for composing your scenes. Some of the opening and closing shoots was just stunning!
Glad you made it and not the swim in the tank

Thanks…

Catherine: As you say, it is just about time. I’ve been so busy during September so it’s been a lack of time for me. I am more secure of filming near water than on land, I always prefer getting wet during my filming :).
I like that music and I thought that it would be a nice ending and just keep the original sound on everything else.

John Dennis: Yes, it was a “keep swimming film”. Sunrise is one of my favorite times on the day. During my time as a diveguide in SE Asia I spend some time on liveaboard, and we always woke up at the sunrise of open sea.

Chris: I’m filming with a XL2 (original lens x20). It is a nice lens, but at distance over 100 meters you need to switch to a 200-300 mm lens (I guess, I have never worked with one). The first deer was just 50 meter away but it was to dark, the second two was over 100 meter away but the light was good.

David: Thanks man, the ending shot come out really nice. I love the fog “dancing” on the water and with the redish sun rising colouring the fog. As a mention to Chris, if a hade a 200+mm lens I probably have got some close ups on the deer feeding and that could have been the structure I was lacking.

Per Johan: As long as it is close to water I make it… thanks for you words.

Next time I hope I can put in some more time and produce something special.

Hi Markus,

I can't say much that hasn't been said. I agree with the positives and negatives. But to focus on the good, I really like the use of natural sound. And I also really liked the ending, with excellent composition and a wonderful capture of the magic dawn light. To fit with the mammals theme, it would be better to focus on the deer. Maybe the same film with half the length, so the deer could be a major focus, without any single shot of them too long in the video. Less can be more. But great job, some very evocative shots, and I like your concept of the world just before sunrise. Was it just me, or was minute spelled munites in the title?

Ruth

Hi Markus,

I can't say much that hasn't been said. I agree with the positives and negatives. But to focus on the good, I really like the use of natural sound. And I also really liked the ending, with excellent composition and a wonderful capture of the magic dawn light. To fit with the mammals theme, it would be better to focus on the deer. Maybe the same film with half the length, so the deer could be a major focus, without any single shot of them too long in the video. Less can be more. But great job, some very evocative shots, and I like your concept of the world just before sunrise. Was it just me, or was minute spelled munites in the title?

Ruth


Thanks for watching. Well, about my spelling… I always need at spelling program (I’m dyslexic), so some time I do spell wrong… Like now, I write all my answers in word first and then I copy to the forum.
About my film… Because I don’t got any more different shots on deer then what you se, a shorter film with the deer in “focus” would be a really short film. That’s way I put in the dawn parts to make it a film. In a way, the deer a just there so the film would fit in the “mammal theme”, but in a way the film are really about dawn…
Anyway… thanks for you word… next time I’ll put in some more time and effort.

Hi Markus.
It's weekend. I've quit my old job and it's uwol movie time and Yes, the popcorn is in the bowl :)


I think you've made a beautiful film with this one, and I'm thinking of your opening and ending scene. The natural sound gives it a calm and relaxed feeling. The suddenly appearance of piano at the end was neat :)
Your editing skills are good but in this short I think you're in lack of a good story or maybe opportunity to make one?
I know you're a waterguy, but still I would like to see more mammals and maybe some narration or bird sound when the flock of goose heading south?
The haze over water was stunning and so is the opening where we get a glimpse of the lighthouse far out.

Best wishes.
Geir Inge

Markus this was nice. Sunrise is always a magical time. With your shots of migrating geese I would have liked to have been able to hear them. Your tighter shot of the deer, which I assume you did digitally, made it a little to grainy for me.

Gordon Hoffman

Geir Inge: Thanks man… I didn’t have enough time to write and record a VO. But the story I tried to tell was what happens the last to minutes before the sun rise over the horizon. I wish I hade some close ups on the deer feeding to blend with the wide shots, but what’s done is done. About a natural sound from the geese maybe tough cause that was Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo flying pass out to feeding grounds, and they don’t make mouth sound when they fly. But, I thing that it would have fitted the scene and the film better with geese (with natural sound) immigrating south.

Gordon: Hi Gordon, the tight shot of the deer are not digital enhance, it is just too little light and I needed to go up to 18dB gain and that makes it grainy.



Thanks al for you feedback, it is a learning process and you develop your skill every time you finish a production. I hope the next theme will fit me better (or I just got more time).


Markus Nord

Marcus,

first, your could not have picked a harder time to shoot video. the noise is the biggest issue of course. impossible to beat for themost part.

I loved the end footage!!! Shows what you can do with a little more light!!! A thought would be to shoot in better light then darken in in post.

Great effort for a difficult shoot!!