You know, sometimes I really get irked with Meryem. As the day of announcing the theme gets closer, I spend a lot of time looking around and thinking ok, if the theme is this, then I can do this shot and do this. If the theme is about this, then I can go over here and do this and this.

Then the theme is announced and all my pre-planned shots go out the door!

I've had a shot I've wanted to do since UWOl#4 and every time a new challenge approaches I figure out ways to do it if the theme would work for the shot.

Well, Meryem strikes again and comes up with "Adventure." Doesn't she realize that I live in Iowa? Where I live it's either corn fields or factories. We have no mountains, no hills even.

But there is one cool thing that I know of ( well, I think it's cool, you may think otherwise ) and that my friends is skunk cabbage! Yeah, now I see I've got your attention! :) Attending a dull party? Bring up skunk cabbage and you'll find yourself the center of attention! :)

The thing I find so cool about skunk cabbage is that it has the rare ability to generate heat to warm the air around it. So, while there's still snow on the ground and other plants haven't even begun to think about coming up, skunk cabbage is generating enough heat to melt the snow and ice around it and grow in some very hostile conditions.

Skunk cabbage is rare around here. In the middle of the state there's a patch with a dozen or so plants. In the Northeast part of the state there's a patch of three or four plants. But, maybe ten miles from my house is a hanging bog that has hundreds of plants.

In most years the skunk cabbage is already popping up melting the snow and turning the landscape around the bog green.

In most years.

Not this year, we've had so much snow and ice that unless those little skunkies have flame throwers down there with them, they ain't poppin up until 4th of July!!

My adventure was going to be about the search for Spring. We've been having all these snowfalls etc and I though busting through all that in search of this small island of green in a sea of white would have been a good adventure.

So, I sat and waited and waited and waited. The snow kept falling and falling and falling.

So what was I going to do? I was looking around the internet one day and I stumbled across a quote about every artists project should be an adventure of the soul. So, I sat and looked at what I had already shot waiting for the skunkies to pop up and listened to the music I planned on using. I listened and listened and I thought back about the pure silence and solitude in the trees as the snow fell so silently.

As I watched and listened, I realized that nature had placed the adventure at my feet and I didn't even realize it. It was an adventure of the soul.

I've had long talks with Meryem and Mat about filmmaking. I've come to the conclusion that I'm probably not really a filmmaker at all. A filmmaker tells a story. If you go back and watch the films from past challenges as well as the ones that we'll be watching this weekend, you'll see they have a story.

I was watching Per's when he put up his link and not only does he have great footage, but he tells a story. THAT is a filmmaker.

I don't know what the heck you'd call me because even if I start out trying to tell a story it always gets left behind when I go out and shoot.

I can't sit down and plot out a list of shots or figure out a beginning, middle and end. Well, I can but I've never been able to see it to completion.

So, this is my adventure. It doesn't tell you a story, it doesn't take you on an adventure in the traditional sense. I'm sure you'll look at it and say, yep, some nice shots but not really an adventure now is it?

But for me, it takes my soul on an adventurous journey. A place where only my heart can travel. I hope it stirs some feelings in your soul as well.

Here's a link to a larger QuickTime H.264 version:

http://www.silverphoenixllc.com/movies/whispersofwinter.mov

it's because i can read minds! as i develop these themes, i think to myself, "how can i really screw up kevin's plans??"

and that way, i know i have something really good!

a beautiful film, my friend, but then, you already know that i think that your films are not about stories but are more profound than that...they are all about manifesting the love you have for this beautiful planet. you're right, you're not a filmmaker, you're more of a magician and a visionary, transforming the mundane into something beautiful and touching.

Yeah, but you still irk me! :)

I'm sure you'll look at it and say, yep, some nice shots but not really an adventure now is it?



No, I'm going to say those are some great! shots....sure, maybe not an obvious story, but great, great shots....

I'm feeling like such an amature around this stuff ;)

Your grasp of space is incredible. Your videos are the only ones I watch over and over, and learn something each time. Thank you for giving this to us.

Kevin, I recently built a kitchen for a very nice woman a few towns over. She made me brownies once a week. That was nice. She gave me praise and complemented every nook and cranny. That was even nicer. But on the night she invited my wife and I over for the holidays, and I watched the glow she had while IN her kitchen, with her friends - well that was the nicest of all.

Your film takes me back decades. My parents are still together, and both are alive. All of my family is still in one place, and everyone is happy. I'm looking out over the lake at the geese flying by, in the snowfall. I can smell my mom's dinner. I can feel the wet brown leaves under my boots as I enter the house. I can feel the pure cold of the crisp clean air of winter. And I'm really sad that place is gone. I got that, and so much more, all in your three minutes.

For you, tonight, I am the woman from a few towns over, and I am standing in YOUR kitchen. Still think you're not a filmmaker? Still think you didn't tell a story? Or that you're not an artist?

I write a lot, but I'm not a writer. I teach a lot, but I'm not a teacher. I draw beautiful things, but I'm not an artist. I race professionally, but I'm not a pro. And don't even get me started on videography..

Shake it off kid. You're a filmmaker. And you're damn good.












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Shake it off kid. You're a filmmaker. And you're damn good.
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Dearest Kevin and friend...

Any film that is so beautiful and moving, so deeply riveting and awesome to behold is a masterpiece. Eric couldn't have said it better. Your work places me on a mountain top with dreams... I am nothing but alive with an adventure of the soul. Your talent is awesome. Thank you.

Cat

That was inspiring, it reminded me of what it was like to live where it snows. And just think of each snowflake, on the adventure of its almost unfathomably short lifetime. Nicely done!

Damn, you guys are choking me up!

You don't know how much it means to hear that from people who have both a love of nature and capturing it for others to see.

Not sure if you realize it but whether you've been involved in UWOL since #1 or if you just threw your hat in the ring with this challenge, YOU are my teacher.

I file away the waves crashing on the rocks, the koi swimming in the big fountain, ( that's for you Cat! :) ) the call of the raven, the flight of the kingfisher, the bond between horse and rider. You expand my vision and stretch my imagination. You inspire me with your creativity and the many ways you approach the same themes and come up with something different from everyone else.

We have become an incredible family here and like any son or daughter, I try to make my family proud.

I was telling Meryem how I go from time to time to a meeting of local filmmakers. I always feel so out of place like I don't belong. But here, I feel at home.

You give me the freedom to be able to express how I feel when I'm out in nature. There's no words you can use to describe how that feels.

Kevin, as always visual stunning cinemaphotography. I like your "framing" very well. Although it was not any story but more a visual journey through winterscenery, I was very moved of this piece. The music substantiated the pictures very well. In my view, this is how winterscenery is and you showed us it in a fabulous way Kevin!

Kevin:

Stunning piece. Too beautiful for me. Last shot just killed me.. I will study this film closely... want to see stuff like that come out of my camera someday...

hi Kevin


When you can see it ,It`s now ned for many word!!!!!!!

Great-film



VJV.

_________________

Oh wow:...Every time I enter this UWOL competition I learn something.IMO this is not just a video,this is art.I tend to go out with my camera and try to capture everything too fast,I edit the same way...from you I hope to have learned Patience,there can be no other way to have captured such stunning images. Great work Kevin

I'll echo some of the sentiments here, that was simply beautiful. The use of DOF, the slow vertical pans and transitions were all perfect, the motion throughout - you have a great ability to see things in frames. Thanks for creating and sharing it with us ;-)

Hello…
I love the framing… the calm feeling thro the film… really nice. Not much of a story, but sometime you don’t need one, but for uc7 I think one will be necessary. Still thins is a beautiful film, time-laps, slowmo, it got everything visually. Maybe you could have used some natural sound from the creek… something to get a closer feeling.

Beautiful film Kevin…

Markus

Man Kevin, that was beautiful. I to was taken back many years to a snow fall like that when I lived in Idaho. You are the only one that has ever gotten me to actually miss snow!!!! After watching it several times I decide I need to go and video snow. The shot with the geese was very moving. An excellant job. Thanks you. Bob

Kevin,

what a great job!! I have this one in my top four so far!!!

the imagery is awesome!!

I rreally liked the vertical pan where you slide ever so slowly up and then the transition into a new clip and you continue on with the pan at the same speed!!!
what a wonderful piece of work!!!


truly inspiring!!!!

Kevin, you deliver quality work!
Don't ever think you are not a filmmaker!
You are a true filmmaker, just as all of us in this awesome uwol family!!
The film is really good. I enjoyed every single second.
So what if your camera doesn't move much. You give the audience a great show, and I felt I was there.

Keep up the good work, and I am really looking forward to see more of your artwork!

Hey Kevin. As beautiful as ever fella, you are an artist with your framing and you see detail where most would overlook. You know I love your work and as I've said for me your probably the best shooter in our group.

I think your piece stands on it own and didn't need the VO you spoke about doing. As far as film making goes, you have your own visually artistic, non narrative style and I look forward to your work. Kevin, your an artist and you do what you do very well. Your work in always pristine and perfectly polished, its emotive with pictures not words and I know thats what you feel most comfortable doing. But I guess sometimes doing things your not comfortable with can take you to places you wouldn't have thought about previously.

Great piece fella.

Kevin,

As always, you have some really visually stunning images. You know my preference, and I prefer story driven pieces, but this certainly was beautiful, and fun to watch. The music was a good match to the flow of the piece. Some natural sound- water, geese- would have been a nice addition, too, since your piece was so good at evoking the feeling of being there, location audio would have meshed well with the visuals. The skunk cabbage are interesting- and would be fun to see sometime (as long as you don't have smellorama).

Ruth

Hi Kevin,

Well you know how I feel about your work. You also know I favour films that stirr our emotions - films that see the beauty in life, through nature and our loved ones.

Given the above, you can imagine just how wonderful it was for me to watch "Whispers of Winter". I think it is a beautiful piece - just like "Journey to the Sea".

I guess everyone else has covered all the technical side of things but I think for me it will always be the feeling in your films, the passion, the love for what you do and how you pass this from your heart through the lens that will mean the most.

Remember I mentioned about my wife saying you have a beautiful mind? This is what you bring our in people and I know from our past discussions that bringing such emotions out in the viewer is more valuable than any story or technically brilliant piece. What is amazing is how you manage to get the emotion bit and ALSO the technically brilliant bit as well.

Beautiful Kevin - just beautiful.

What a great and moving film Kevin.
You really got an eye for details and how to capture what's inside of our hearts and dreams. Very beautiful film indeed.
It somehow reminds me of Steven Dempsey (if you've heard about him) and some of his films, but you put your own mark on it so it's a complete Kevin-film :)

Thank you for sharing, and all the best
Geir Inge

...filming Kevin! And I love the movement from snowy weather to sunshine. A lot of naturephotographer and -filmmakers only get out in the sunshine, but the variety of nature is much more than that.

I disagree with you in terms of the "lack of a story" in your filming, watching rivers float and ice melt is a new story everytime :o)

I liked it. Good choice of music aswell.

Espen

As someone who only very briefly has lived where it snowed, this is a world quite alien to me. While everything down here is boring (albeit warm) during winter, you are trekking through beautiful forests of snow, filming geese skimming the water and small patches of ice slowly breaking apart, heralding spring's soon to come arrival. I never thought I would have envy for feet of snow. =D

A moving piece, and one I quite enjoyed. Look forward to seeing more great stuff from you!

C

Kevin
I have spent much time playing your videos over and over because they are just so calming and delightful to the eye. I have learned a great deal from your work especially your approach to landscape, light and water. Your Yellowstone video is my all time favourite - I have watched that so many times simply because it is an absolute joy to watch. This is yet another outstanding video to add to the collection - an adventure into a winter wonderland. (I have looked forward to these winter videos with great anticipation - a world so foreign to us.)

You captured so beautifully, the flying geese and their landing in the water - a special moment for me - perhaps because they provide a bit of life, movement and interest, like your perennial river, in an otherwise static world of silence and dormancy. I played your video without the music as well - just to try and capture a bit more of the absolute stillness you experienced.

I noticed that this video was done in the same location as your geo-caching video and I had great fun comparing the same place under two types of weather conditions. Your work is very inspiring - and after reading your intro which I did only after writing this - trust me your images speak louder than a thousand words. Words can seldom express something so spiritual. You have an eye for light and its subtleties that is truly unique and the ability - more importantly - to be able to capture it for us to see. I hope I can learn to do that one day. Never stop making your story.

Thanks again everyone for the kind words. It sure inspires me to continue to try and capture what I feel in my heart when I'm out in nature.

Sometimes it's tough to shut out the chaos of the everyday world.

Attached is a behind the scenes pic of what caused the geese to take flight in my film.

It's hard to imagine that on all sides of this little oasis is a major train route, two major highways, housing developments and a sewage treatment plant.

But, I think it also shows that you can find natural beauty almost anywhere and as hard as we try to wipe it off the face of the Earth, she manages to hang on despite the constant pressure from us.

Marj, if you go back and watch "Wild no More" that was all done in pretty much the exact same section of the trail as this film was shot.
I was worried that someone would call me out for basically doing a winter version of "Wild no More." :)

In fact, there was the mallard duck in the same spot as the previous film but I thought if I shot that again I would really get called out. :)

But with all that going on as the snow fell, the traffic was silenced as the snow kept everyone inside and off the roads, the train had passed, the slight breeze was blowing the smell of the sewage plant away from the nature center and I stood in complete silence only hearing the call of nature as she asked me to share a part of her with you.

I hope I did her justice.

Most nature reserves are bordered by highways and railway lines and factories and other such things - that's the world in which we live today unfortunately. The smaller the reserve the more imposing they become.

We have a number of sewerage plants around here that are prime birding locations often attracting otherwise rare species. Just goes to show - if you look for it, you can find exquisite beauty even in the most unattractive of places.

Kevin, I'm late in this feedback due to computer problems...

So all I can do is echo everything folks have already said here. As a photographer most of my life I have come to appreciate excellence in imaging whatever venue it is found in and in this film you have portrayed the delicate beauty of winter in a way that touches, relaxes, soothes, and excites the spirit all at the same time.

The almost monochromatic theme throughout captured a mood that was held consistent by smooth transitions from one element, one depiction to another.

Man, I loved this one!

Kevin, I have watched your film 8 or 9 times and every time I enjoy it more than the first time. This type of film is what I like most, very serene and soothing. It is the type of film I like to perfect. Thanks for making it.

Thanks Warren!

As much as I try to do something different, once I get out there I just revert to the same old thing. Guess it's a good thing that people are ok with that cause fast action cuts and fast tempo music seems to not work for me no matter how hard I try to do something different.

Heck, I've already picked out the music I want to use for #8. :-) Yep, it's more of the same.
The challenge will be that EVERYTHING will be dull and brown. So coming up with something will be tough.

But, I'm glad you enjoyed this one!

Hi Kevin

Really good footage, that look like my country in winter. I think that you have a great soul.
only a little problem i think that the police title is not adapted, Arial or other will be better, this point is only to have a comment.

I suppose that's an HD format ?

Thanks for the answer i'have contacted Ron.

Gilles

Kevin,

Was just breezing by when I noticed you mentioned you already had music worked up for #8.

I played and recorded a piece, worked in audition and had it ready for the last one before i even knew the theme.
as it turned out I never used it!!! Maybe in #8

wont be long!! wonder what Meryem will be up to this time!!!

Dale,

I certainly could change it based on what Meryem's devious mind has in store for us but I hope not.

I like going out with the music in my head and kind of let that dictate how and what I shoot. Usually I wind up forgetting all about it and just shoot whatever moves me. Since I'm kind of a one trick pony, it usually works out in the end. :)

Kevin,
As usual, beautiful images. I really was glued to the screen, & filled with a very peaceful feeling. Sitting here at home in Australia, this video took me on an adventure to a place very far from where i am sitting, & had me feeling like i was really there.

Thanks,

Bryce