I've tried a few attempts at writing a full script on previous UWOL challenges but they've never really worked out. This time round I had a really strong idea of what I wanted to say, and I shot everything according to that idea, which made the whole process a lot easier!
I filmed the whole thing using a letus extreme 35mm adapter, and canon lenses up to 400mm. It's still a very new filming concept to me, but it seems to be producing results that I'm very happy with.

Thanks have to go to my wife, Louise, who is now almost 5 months pregnant, for stepping in to record the VO when my voice failed after a bout of "man flu"

Vimeo version here:
http://www.vimeo.com/1214053

Hey Rob:

Never seriously considered using my FX1 with an adapter for one of these nature challenges, as I don't have very long lenses for that purpose. Your image are great, and that has changed my mind.

Super job.

Rob,
First let me congratulate you, Dad to be.

I see you have used the creative camera technique of Focus Pull.
The scrip is well thought through, and your wife has done a great job on the narration. (Roll over Kate Humble)


The Jubilee River, construction in the 1990s I remember watching it’s progress when either passing over on the M4 or A4

Rob,

Nice work. Some beautiful shots. Editing, music choice and narration were right on the mark.

Rob,

A very nicely put together film!!!! you had a nice cross section of creatures and i am sure time allowed you would have had more!!! I really liked the images with your letus extreme allowed you to get. Goes to show thow old fd lenses can still do great work.
thanks for sharing!!!

Oh yea the naration was awesome!!

I loved the theme!!!!! great choice, well defined!!! great statement!!

Very well executed, nicely narrated with a solid script. Congratulations Rob, on both your film and your expected baby!

Cato

Rob,
A capivating piece. I especially like what you did with the light as it played on various insects. There is just something about the English countryside and its gentle charm that we can't duplicate over here, and you captured it perfectly. Maybe it was your wife's voice.
I expected to see Ratty and Toad appear on screen. Just loved it.

Hey Rob.

Nice peice fella! Some lovely use of shallow dof in your piece and that must be tough to control. I really like the use of it on the peid wagtail! I usually find myself fighting to find more dof so using an adapter like that must be tough. I'm not sure it hasn't softened things a lot though. I found quite a bit of the footage soft and a bit washed out. The VO delivery was excellent, your wife has a talent for it! On the whole I found there to be too much infomation though. I thought a bit more breathing space for some of the shots would have helped the piece overall. That said it was informative, interesting and well delivered.

Good work
Mat

Hi Rob,

Well I'm very excited to see what can be done with the Letus Extreme as mine just arrived a few weeks ago (still setting up the support rails). I'm using mine on my Canon HV30. Anyway, back to your entry.

Rob, I just love the use of the shallow DOF - it's got such a nice feel to it. The opening shots with your title work perfectly and also the late afternoon shots - just magical. Whilst some of the shots were a bit soft, I think these were too few to detract too much from the overall piece.

I think Louise has a beautiful voice and she did the vo perfectly. I found the whole story line very interesting and very well researched.

You certainly are very talented with the camera Rob and it always is exciting to see what you will come up with next. Great job with a beautiful overall feel.

Rob,

Very nicely done...colors and composition were excellent. And I learned something, which I always appreciate in these challenges.

I particularly like the shots right at the end, with the insects flitting about in the setting sun light....

And, as all have noted, your wife did an excellent job with the VO...
I think I'm going to see how my wife can do...

Bob T.

Very well done Rob, very well done. Your lady should record more VO, her voice is perfect.
And with you filmmaking that is a perfect mix. I love the DOF in this film, it’s a perfect way of exposing the right thing in the picture. You know have to handle a camera.
Very well sir…

As I’ve told a couple other folks from overseas, watching scenes of the landscape is just as interesting to me as those including wildlife, and this one was no exception. I found the shot of the man-made river with Windsor Castle in the background quite interesting.

Another thing I’ve mentioned more than once is that insects aren’t really my cup of tea; however, their presence in this video made me appreciate the birds even that much more! :)

Nice work, Rob.

Excellent film Rob, much have been said to this already. Your use of DOF was perfect in my eyes! Your wifes narrating was also splendid.
Definitive one of the top entries this round!

Brilliant.

A top class entry.

Beautiful scenery well presented and some wonderful shots of the reed warblers.

You really created a complete piece here rather than just a collection of nice footage which really raises the bar for the rest of us.

Well done!

Pete.

An amazing story - a brand new river on the map of GB!
Your information is very well thought out, beautifully supported by your footage and professionally narrated by Louise. A really enjoyable video to watch - another top video.
Congrats too!

That was very interesting, I liked the story and the visuals were clear and sharp. The narration was top notch you can tell your wife. You took on the challenge of making this a mini documentary and did a very good job.

Can't wait to see your next entry.

Hey Rob beautiful job. While first listening I thought to myself, "Boy Rob's voice is very soothing. Almost woman-like" Then of course I slapped myself silly. Not enough sleep lately.

Wonderful narration/story/VO. Nice images, good research. Congrats.

Rob,

As I work my way through the videos, I think this is the first UK entry after my own. Let's see what we have to offer!

Nice bug shots at the start, especially the damsel fly. The midges just make me want to start scraching, though - I hope you didn't get too badly bitten.

The depth of field on some of those shots is superb, I wish I had the cash for one of those adapters. The pied wagtail on the bridge handrail is particualy beautifully framed. You did really well to capture those reed warblers - that can't have been easy, given their size, colour, shyness and the vastness of the wetlands.

Even the wildflowers really come to life. And those shots at the end with the setting sun's rays and the insects are beautifully shot and lit.

Very well done - and you might persuade Louise to come back for your next voiceover too!

That was fantastic Rob. You captured some very interesting insect footage. I liked the way you put the whole thing together along with the VO it was pleasant and informative. I learned something.

Oliver

Hi Rob
getting to your video so late means that almost everyone has already said all the good stuff...My 2 cents worth is that I enjoyed your video,found it informative.I cant believe how good everyone is getting at these challenges

Hi guys thanks for all the feedback. Louise is particularly pleased at all the positive feedback on the VO -it was done in a little bit of a hurry, with noisy neighbours and overhead planes to contend with but it worked out really well ;-)
Mat, I know what you mean about the potential for information overload - I sometimes feel that you can be limited by three minutes, and I certainly had enough script ideas and footage to stretch this to at least five minutes, maybe more.
John, i think you're on the money when you say "I cant believe how good everyone is getting at these challenges " - I totally aggree - you can see it in everyone's work, the upward curve of progression is all around.
Perhaps there'll be a UWOL TV channel one of these days huh ?

Cheers!

Rob

This was an amazingly poetical film- the images were almost surreal in their beauty. Some of the grassland scenes were just transfixing. The music and VO worked perfectly- I learned a lot and was mesmerized by the images. Thanks for sharing.


Ruth

Hi Rob,

This was very interesting and informative! Louise did a great job with the VO.
Maybe we'll hear more of her in your future videos?

I like how you play with the DOF. Well done!
Some footage was a little soft, but I liked it anyway.

Keep up your good work!
Thanks for sharing!