Well, I am trying to put my uwol short together and discover, I've done it again... I've captured some "nice" rain drops on the lense :( but I just have to use it anyway, too late to fix. The weather conditions have been very unstable during my shooting, from - 16C to +5, sunny days, snowy days and heavy rain a big challenge in itself. Can't complain though, we've had some fatastic days in the mountains of Bjorli. I will upload my film during the day.
Good luck to all of you.

Geir Inge

Geir: your videos are always an inspiration to me,I am sure even with rain on the lens you will still produce a stunning video as always.As for the weather....One of my mechanics here at the workshop just walk in from outside and said " I feel sorry for anyone working outside today,its hot as hell out there"

Well, I am trying to put my uwol short together and discover, I've done it again... I've captured some "nice" rain drops on the lense :( but I just have to use it anyway, too late to fix. The weather conditions have been very unstable during my shooting, from - 16C to +5, sunny days, snowy days and heavy rain a big challenge in itself. Can't complain though, we've had some fatastic days in the mountains of Bjorli. I will upload my film during the day.
Good luck to all of you.

Geir Inge
I can feel your anger Geir Inge! But I know you and I'm sure that you will bring up a stunning story from your trip to the mountains. I'm curious if you managed to get any muskox or other animals in those mountains?

The weather has changed dramatically here at my place too. Saturday we got -16 degrees celsius (4 F) and today it's almost spring temperature +9 degrees celsius. Glad I've finished my film during last weekend.

I can feel your anger Geir Inge! But I know you and I'm sure that you will bring up a stunning story from your trip to the mountains. I'm curious if you managed to get any muskox or other animals in those mountains?

Well, I didn't have time to go for the musk ox, (I spoke to the guiding company though) but I do have animals in my film :) No bird of pray either and no wild animals, but some great kids making me absoloute exhausted trying to keep up with them. I'm not sure about the quality of my film this time, but we did have a great time making it :)

Geir Inge

Hello All:

The uploader is killing me!!!!! Hooks up and runs to maybe 190 bites and just sits and smiles at me hour after hour after hour. Anyone else having trouble....hell maybe the ones and zeros are frozen.....

Help

Brian

Brian,
the upload process was slow but worked well for me. My file was approx. 59 MB in filesize and it took about 50 minutes to upload.

If there are several connections there might be slower to upload, maybe Kevin could answer that?

Brian, mine was 47 mb and it took almost 35 minutes. Uncheck the box that asks if you want status, I think that may help. Bob

Brian,
Let me know if you still are having troubles and I'll set something else up for you.
Just shoot me an email.

Hey guys. The server is simply slow to upload to and it seems that 35mins+ is just going to be what we can expect. This is not a software issue its a server/upload connection speed issue. As long as it gets there then that is the main thing.

Brian, what browser/OS are you using and what is your connection speed/setup? Feel free to email me (mdtmail@yahoo.co.uk) if you like and we'll see if we can't get it sorted because as yet I think your the only one it isn't working for.

Mat

I may have spoken out of turn. I'm not completely sure.... Kevin please take a look and let me know if it arrived late this afternoon.

Thanks for the input guys I only got concerned when it was over 3 hours and still very few bits were upload.

Please let me know Kevin.

Brian

Ooops I just checked the list and its there...again thanks for the help.

Brian

A bit more work on smoothing out the music score and the serious work of compression begins. Biggest hurdle there is that Windows Vista "broke" my workflow. I've been rendering to an HD MPEG4 and converting that to .mov with QT pro and Vista makes QT choke and die on MP4.

So I'll have to move that part of the process over to an older machine with XP.



Turns out I was mistaken on Vista "breaking" my usual workflow. I purchased a newer computer in Oct 07 with a dual core 5000+ processor and 3GB of RAM, it came with Vista Home Premium and I've been tearing hair out ever since. "Choking" on MPEG4 in QT, and some other sluggish issues until this morning. A Dell rep suggested I "turn off" Vista's "Aero" look so I gave that a try. So for any of you with Vista who haven't tried this yet here's where I found it:

Control Panel, select System And Maintenance, then Performance Information And Tools. Once there select Adjust Visual Effects and check the button for Adjust For Best Performance.

That will uncheck the button for Adjust For Best Appearance, and I noticed two things: The monitor display got sharper and screens loaded faster. It seems all the "pretty" stuff like glass pane borders on windows, menus sliding in and out and the generally pleasing soft look are part of what hogs some memory.

So on a hunch I tried QT on a high def MPEG4 file and it did just fine so I tried rendering that to a .mov file with the parameters used to process for UWOL submission and it worked.

Vista still isn't my favorite OS but it looks like that is what the PC "Darkside" is going to be stuck with and it is more usable than I thought

I can't find my signup number!

'the number assigned to you in the sign-up thread"

I know - but where is it?

(there's always one)

Paul,
your number is 16. If you look in the sign-up thread and look all the way to the right above your message, you'll find your number!

Duh!! - If I'd read the sign up thread properly ....

Thanks Per Johan

Hey Paul ,dont feel too bad. I never knew what number I was but unlike you I never had the guts to ask.....My son just happened to mention "oh I see you are number 26 dad "

Well hello all.

I have been following this thread religiously to see how things work round here and thought it about time to post something. As a newbie, it's nice to see so many people with a common interest, supported with friendly online banter and ultimately sharing their films with each other. Glad to have got on board.

I have almost finished my film, a few tweaks here and there and it should be ready to upload by Friday. Although not I'm amazingly happy with the film (a tough theme methinks, ended up going with a story slant rather than wildlife footage!) it did get me out there shooting, so I guess that's the main thing.

I look forward to seeing all you films.

Mihali

Hi Mihali and welcome

I've got a feeling your not up to speed with the way the challenge works. You need to have signed up for the challenge in the sign up period and in the sign up thread on this board as well as send Meryem (Co-ord) an email. I'm guessing as this is your first post you haven't done this ??

Edit : If you have a side agreement with Meryem....no problem. If you use Meryems 'pending' activation post as your entry number when it comes to naming that will be great :-) !

Hello Mihali & Mat:

I noticed that Meryem signed Mihali up pending DVI account approval....I think your good to go.

Meryem can varify.......Mihali good luck.

Brian

Hi Mihali,
welcome to this community. As Brian correct notice you are sign in by Meryem, in this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost.php?p=818062&postcount=78

Looking forward to view your film. It's always exciting to see what new participants comes up with!

it's always lovely when i see all of the questions answered by the players before i even finish my morning coffee. i see that all the rule-based issues are already discussed and resolved, and i haven't lifted a finger. excellent! Per, you win Honorary Contest Co-coordinator bragging rights this round, for doing all my work for me this morning! thanks, my friend!

i was out looking for crows first thing this morning. once again, i'm empty-handed! the well-walked dog is happy, however, and i took in some much-needed fresh air....

Vista still isn't my favorite OS but it looks like that is what the PC "Darkside" is going to be stuck with and it is more usable than I thought
Bruce, thanks for your review of Vista OS for editing purpose. I've heard so many weird stories about that OS from many friends of mine!

The bad thing about this piece of junk is that you can't (almost) buy any new computer without it!
And particular for people like us, who do more "technical" matters, than ordinary web surfing and word processoring, it's definitive not the OS of our choice!

Per Johan,

I went to a 64 bit dual core computer a year and a half ago and the first thing I found was vista was a royal pain in this field!!!! I cleared it off the computer and downloaded my xp pro on it and all has been well sense.

If xp becomes obsolete I may try on a different operating system, go mac or whatever!!

Great to see so many people wrapping up their videos, Can't wait to see them.

Others may be wrapping up their videos, but I'm having to admit defeat.

It wasn't for want of trying. I went 350 miles east to Norfolk, had a vague idea that took greater shape in the first day or so and then shot over three hours of video. I got back with four days to sort out still photos, requests for survey work, requests for copies of reports, deal with the architect and other problems involved in the house extension, and get a short video made.

I downloaded everything onto the hard disk. First on the laptop, which decided to freeze up. Then on the desktop, which seemed fine except that when I played back the videos, there was no sound. Hmm. I tried again with just the twenty minutes of video I had decided to edit, but still no sound. Copied the file to the laptop, and yes, the sound was there. So I edited down on the laptop, then tried to record a narrative. I get either a big noise, or nothing. The video won't work without the words.

I do not have time to rethink a video without words, or to find out why recording the narrative isn't working. And I will be away for the next twelve days, without access to a computer or the internet. So I will miss the deadline.

But I have learned quite a few things, especially about operating the new camera (Canon XH A1). In particular, I was wondering why I kept finding the shutter speed had gone up to 1/750! It was because the button that controls the shutter speed on the A1 is in the same place as the one that you use to control exposure on the XM2, and I was using it when sometimes I should have been using the aperture ring - which the XM2 didn't have. And I know I must be more careful with panning shots - I am still doing them too fast.

But it has been a good learning experience, and the quality of the video picture (when I have taken out the bad bits) will be great.

Hopefully I'll have sorted out the problems by the next UWOL challenge.

The bad thing about this piece of junk (Vista)is that you can't (almost) buy any new computer without it!
And particular for people like us, who do more "technical" matters, than ordinary web surfing and word processoring, it's definitive not the OS of our choice!

I had contacted HP Customer Support and told them I "REQUIRED" a downgrade OS replacement from Vista to XP. I was advised that the a6130n was built with Vista compliant only components and was not supported with XP drivers.

My son works for Dell (server development) and he told me Dell was still configuring some of their Inspiron series with XP and I considered ordering one of those. But Vista is what we are going to have and by simply configuring for best performance instead of best appearance it does run a lot leaner for me.

I went to Dell's refurb pages and latched onto a quad core (Vista, of course) with 4GB RAM and a separate ATI Radeon graphics card with 256MB dedicated on board, so I should be in better shape when the new AVCHD flash memory based Canons hit the market in a few months.

I am getting along much better with Vista. I do tend to float with the flow at times.

After 7 days in below 0 weather, snow and -40 to-50 wind chills I have returned from a very sacred and moving time with eagles.

I have been within feet of eagles as they live their lives in the wild in winter for several days, with the quiet and peace of the snow falling, ice fog, and the crispness of the snow.

For me this has been one vary sacred moments in time that nature has provided me as an observer.

I can report that the HVX and the P2 system worked in the coldest of environments and that the only problems were the tripods freezing up not the cameras.

The footage is more than I ever expected and I will try to meet the UWOL deadline of the 22 but if I don’t for there is so much footage I will get a non-competing clip up for your review.

And a very special thanks to Kevin, who has helped me by freely answering so many questions over the months about the HVX.

Mike Blumberg
Arrow Maker Productions
Nature is the Contributor. I am an Observer of the Contributor.
http://www.arrowmakerproductions.com

Mike glad to hear you're out shooting some great footage! Look forward to seeing it!

We'll have to get together one of these days and go out shooting. Probably be in your neck of the woods since there's pretty much nothing around here. :)

You'll find that everyone here is willing to lend a hand be it shooting tips, locations, equipment suggestions, you name it. So, take your shoes off and stay a while. :)

Now I'm getting nervous - my footage is up, but it's soooo bad - it shouldn't be.

Still, It will be interesting to look back in a year or two and see how much I've improved - I fully intend to be up there with you guys (well maybe not level but at least within earshot)

Paul,

You're probably being to hard on yourself.

First of all, you finished! That's saying allot right there. I only finished 4 out of the 6 last year. So no matter how bad you think it might be, the fact that you finished and have a film that you wouldn't have had before says something right there.

I think we all have seen improvement in our work since we started UWOL. The feedback is great to learn what works and what doesn't.

The most important thing is that you had fun getting out there and making your film. You'll develop the areas you feel that you're not happy with.

Go back and look at some of our early films last year and look at the later ones. You'll see we've all become better filmmakers thanks to each others help.

I still might not be at the level I'd like to be but I know if I keep plugging away and everyone here keeps encouraging me and giving me feedback, I'll get there.

And again, congrats on finishing!!!

yeah, for those of you concerned about the quality of your productions--we're all here to learn and help each other out, period, regardless of your existing skill level.

my, when i look back at the first thing i ever shot, it's a great idea wrapped in a complete technical embarrassment, but that's the only way to learn.

Now I'm getting nervous - my footage is up, but it's soooo bad - it shouldn't be.

Hey Paul...
I just put mine up and I don't think it's anything special, that's for sure....

But I got it done....!! :)
My first time I was in the tank and it feels so good to complete my first UWOL Challenge...

So congrats on the completion....because completion is no small potatoes....

Bob T. - Glad I put it up so I would stop tinkerin' with it....

Whew!

Uploading now! It comes with a heavy disclaimer of "I really had no clue what I was doing with this specific equipment" (as you will see!) =D

But I'm glad to turn in something! It was quite the personal adventure, though nothing to compare to snowboarders or eagles!

C

Final tails of wonder and woe -

I went into this thing without a clue. Just a dream. No storyboard, no plan, no idea. And I thought about it a lot, too... But I went out and shot four days anyway. As I did some funny things happened. No real "Story" ever occurred to me out there, but I definitely found myself in some ridiculous situations - hanging from a tree, leaned over a rocky cliff, perched inside cave looking outward at complete madness, soaked, blinded by fog, seven miles from my truck with 60lbs of gear strapped to my back, I got lost, I got found, I got kicked out, I got invited in, I ran to, and I ran from - and those were the days I got nothing...

I've lied by my girl at night talking with her about this challenge - only to find she's been asleep half an hour already. I've lost my right to ever tell our son Matthew how much he can pay to download "just one song." And I've taken many breaks from this "work" by doing anything BUT sitting.

Matthew asked me tonight, "Do you think they'll be able to tell that you timed that guy getting up right along with the music?" My answer was classic, "No, probably not. But they'd be able to tell if I didn't.."

In the end, somewhat by default, I've ended up with an adventurous film. This was my goal, ultimately, but it was not achieved by plan. It was by adventure.

Good luck to everyone. I'm really looking forward to watching all of our UWOL films - while I'm standing of course...

Haha Eric, good story! My story isn't nearly as adventurous as yours, I took 4 days shooting mine off and on and about 7-8 hours editing it, finding suitable music etc. I had 3 other editing projects to work on in the same timeframe so I just didn't have the energy to go "all out".

For me this one wasn't about winning top honors. I just didn't want to end up as "shark bait!". I learned something about POV shooting/editing though and I'm happy with that.

Hi

I'm using Microsoft Movie Maker ( thunderous laughter ), which I learnt editing on and found quite intuitive, but realise it is a bit basic.

Anyhow when I save the movie it doesnt save a lot of the titles, anyone got an idea how to resolve this, before I try and upload what I've got?

Any help appreciated

David

Hi David
Not too much wrong with windows movie maker for some basic editing,I started using movie maker when i got my camera.I dont know what the problem is that you are having.try these guys they may know
http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Forums/Default.aspx

Hi

I'm using Microsoft Movie Maker ( thunderous laughter ), which I learnt editing on and found quite intuitive, but realise it is a bit basic.
David, there's no reason to laugh of using Movie Maker. In fact I could certainly used it myself in 99% of my films!
Most films don't have so much fancy transitions, but mostly single cuts betweem frames.
No NLE (non-linear editing software) regardless of price will do ANY film. It's the editor (the human) which is the base factor here for doing those glorious films we all strive to archieve... ;-)

I'm sorry, I can not help you out with the problem's you have with applying text!

Eric,

This was the best read I have had in ages. I had a good laugh several times and could identify with it all.

Like filming the eclipse last night from a road edge never used at that time, but there were vehicles on it last night, of course!!

Thanks for sharing!! Look forward to viewing it.

Like filming the eclipse last night from a road edge never used at that time, but there were vehicles on it last night, of course!!



Don't talk to me about the eclipse :( I meant to wake up and go out and film it - 3:00 - 3:40 am here, set my alarm then woke up at 7:00am half-remembering some dream about pushing something until it stopped buzzing. Thankfully my wife was still in bed ;-)

No swimming with the sharks for me this time round, I wrapped last night and got a draft edit in place, some tweaking tonight and then it's all the way to FTPVille ;-)

You think that's funny Dale...? You should have been one of the vultures circling overhead during my Point Reyes journey. Beautiful place, or so I hear. Went there with the gear, asked the rangers where all the action was. They pointed to a point on the map. "The point" on the map, of Point Reyes. Guy said you can't miss. Only one problem though, "You have a lot of gear? Cause it's a bit of a hike..." "Yeah no problem" I figured. "I can still remember working out regularly." The pack was real heavy so I opted for no water or sandwich (not like I packed a sandwich anyway). Seven mile hike - TO the point. Mile marker one has me all jazzed. Mile marker three I'm a little concerned about visibility. Mile marker five I can't see thirty feet in front of me. Some bird expert passes me on his way back. "Nice tripod you got there." "Thanks. You want it? Cause I came here to die apparently.." He fell down laughing. We both dropped our packs and compared gear. Suddenly I was my wife comparing shoes with her girlfriends. So I asked the guy as I packed back up, "Am I still in California?" He told me to come again another day, "Before the fog comes." "Before the fog?" I asked. "I thought fog burns off as the day goes on." Two steps from vanishing into the fog he turns over his shoulder and says "Everywhere else on the planet, maybe, but not here.." I almost cried - once he was out of sight of course.

Two hours later I was discovered by three Vultures - talking to myself. "OK so I'm not saying I'll ever even see the truck again. So this is just for fun... But can you even imagine what it would be like to actually take this pack off? Or to drink again??"

The fog was so thick my face was soaked. Or maybe it was sweat. Or maybe it was tears. All I know is I left the house at 7am, drove five hours, hiked from here to Oregon and got home by 8pm. I ran the camera a total of five minutes..

You can bet any part of your anatomy I used that footage though. I had to.

Things that I was reminded of in shooting this film:

1. Adding a 1.7x Tele adapter to a Sony FX1 won't get you sufficient reach for a lot of nature shooting.

2. Teleextenders add or magnify CA, and degrade the image.

3. Birds on the wing are hard to follow.

4. I need to dedicate more time to field shooting for these projects. For some reason our subjects just don't show up when we want them to be there. Be prepared to hurry up and wait.

5. Sometimes you do get a lucky shot, or are in the right place at the right time, and may actually even have your camera rolling at the right moment.

5. Narrator needed !

Well, I´m happy to say that at least I have uploaded "something" :o) which has been my main goal this time. Getting started!

There has been lots of wonders and woes, but I think the hardest part has been finding the time. Both to come up with an idea, and then putting that idea into life. But I have learned a lot. This is fun :o)

Looking forward to the next challenge!

Espen

I have tried to upload 4 times now, but it crashes all the time...

1. time after 64%, the next times around 14%. Scheise!

I´ve been trying since 23.40 and now it´s 02.00. I am trying this last time, and if it doesn´t work... bye-bye t-shirt!

Espen :o(

Sent you an email. Let me know.

Espen if you're having trouble call in the troops. Meryem and Kevin were very helpful to me. I was having similar trouble and they worked it out. Don't give up, it gets tougher as the deadline closes in.



<edit>... Or, the troops will call you!

If anyone else is having last minute issues trying to upload, shoot me an email. I have a FTP account that you can use and I'll transfer your file over.

wow, you people are already blabbing away on each other's threads, and i have not even had my morning coffee yet. scrolling through a few of these threads, i can see we are in for some outstanding films!

i love UWOL--best group o' people on the planet!

Holy smokes there's like ten people here. I feel like we're a bunch of vultures waiting for an animal to finally kick the bucket. :)

Gotta go work on my feedback thread. Look forward to watching all the films!!!

OK! So where are those films? Bring 'em on!

Cat

just fyi, we set a new record for film uploads, 32 films posted out of 58 sign-ups. our previous record was 30 for the WATER theme.

so either mat is buried under the task of linking all 32 of these films to the website. or else he is out snowboarding, while we lurk and drool.