First of all, rule 11 should be strictly followed, but if you can't... make sure you have fun anyway! :)

What goes well, what goes not exactly as planned... here is the place to tell all about it.

Well, almost a week in and I’m still struggling to come up with a workable idea. It sure is quiet around here. Is anyone else having trouble getting started?

Well I have a basic working idea in place; insofar as I know where my force of nature is located. However I kind of want to wrap a human story around the subject, which is proving to be the difficult part.

I'm going up country for a recce this Tuesday, if all goes well then I will be aiming to shoot the week after.

Hope everyone else's ideas are working out. I reckon this could be a real interesting challenge.

Thinking of taking some behind the scenes photos and stuff for this project (as we will be going to some interesting places). Are we allowed to post behind the scenes stuff, or will that be contrary to the competition?

I've thought up a few ideas and discarded all but one. Trying to come up with something that's not too predictable. Hopefully I have something that not too many people thought of. I guess we'll see if I can finish this time around.
Now I need to figure out if I can make a story out of it.

Well, almost a week in and I’m still struggling to come up with a workable idea. It sure is quiet around here. Is anyone else having trouble getting started?
Creator's block! Used to happen to me in the DV Challenge quite a bit. Then one day I would be in the shower (always the shower!) and a pretty decent idea would hit...with not enough time to pull it off. Hoping your idea comes to you soon. Maybe take lots of showers today. :)

Well, almost a week in and I’m still struggling to come up with a workable idea. It sure is quiet around here. Is anyone else having trouble getting started?

Hi Mike, I'm still searching for a volcano ;-)

Don't over think it Mike. The first thing I did was eliminate what most people would say are forces of nature, earthquakes, tornados, volcanoes etc. It's just not going to happen. There are plenty of things that could be considered a force of nature that everyone has access to.

One of my ideas that I discarded because I shoot too much of it already is water. It carved the Grand Canyon, can sprout a giant redwood seed and can wipe whole cities off the map. If you think about water for a while you can come up with all kinds of ideas that are probably local that you can film.

While water is probably still a fairly common idea I've thought of a few others that are more obscure.

Still don't know how I'm going to shoot my current idea, not even sure if I can make a story out of it but I guess that's where the challenge is. :)

Thanks guys, I’ll try not to over think it in the shower! It would be nice if I can find more than five minutes at a time to even think about it.

Simon- We would love to see your behind the scenes stills (or even vids). That’s one of the things this thread is here for.

Geir Inge- There is a volcano less than an hour’s drive from my house. I’d be glad to shoot over and send you some footage. Unfortunately it hasn’t been very active for the past hundred million years! (On second thought, since I live so close perhaps it is fortunate.)

Kevin- Here’s hoping you can pull it off. We’ve all been looking forward to one of your videos for a while.

Drats... I've only got a bathtub.

Drats... I've only got a bathtub.

Only got a bathtub...and you live in a Creek?!

A quick internet search reveals you are just East of the Canadian Rockies, just North of the Waterton Lakes National Park (glacial no less), exposed to the relentless Chinook Winds (177km no less) so much so that you're surrounded by Wind Farms.

Dude, you've got so many forces of nature blowing around you that you can't see the forest for trees.....

I expect great things from you this round!

My biggest problem has and continues to be is that when I think of an idea, it comes to me as a shot. I'm like OMG this shot would be so effin amazing!! Then I have to figure out how to build the rest of the film around it.

Same situation this round, I have one shot that I thought of that I love. Next step for me at least in the convoluted process I follow is to see if I can find some music that will go with that shot.once I do that then I have to figure out how to build the rest of the story and shoot footage to support it.

As many of you, some ideas have passed by, but I did film some B-roll footage this weekend.
Didn't have any specific plan, just thought "this might be useful for something" as I walked by...
Hopefully an idea that will fit in drops by soon.
Hmm, maybe Kevin and I think the same way this time...

OK, I’ve finally got an idea that might work. It came to me while I was asleep, so I hope I’m not just dreaming!

OK, I’ve finally got an idea that might work. It came to me while I was asleep, so I hope I’m not just dreaming!

Haha, that was a good one and I hope your dream will come true Mike :)
I have a plan but not enough time until 25 june and I need good weather to make my dream come true ;-)

Dude, you've got so many forces of nature blowing around you that you can't see the forest for trees.....

I expect great things from you this round!


Well that makes it pretty obvious that I'm creatively challenged. : )

I´m looking forward to this one! It´s been avail since my last challenge!

I am one week off work next week, planning to do most of the filming in that period. Got some exciting new gear to try out.

I feel a bit rusty regarding wildlife filming, but old horses never forget how to ride, right?!!

Looking forward to view what all of you come up with this round

Hi Per Johan. I’m glad you’re here. How did your work with the arctic foxes at Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella turn out? I can’t wait to hear about your exciting new gear. I have been getting more comfortable using the Samurai, but you were right. The extra cables pose management problems in the field. One of the biggest problems for me has turned out to be juggling the charging of three different batteries in remote areas. Old horses never forget. I just hope that, unlike old dogs, we can learn new tricks.

Well I was as as busy as a beaver yesterday when I went location scouting for my force of nature.

Unfortunately I was driving my car like a bat out of hell and it broke down, which made me as gruff as a bear.

Trying to get it going was like flogging a dead horse, so eventually I managed to get it towed to a bush garage. The mechanic was as stubborn as a mule and got it running (after bleeding the radiator).

I had lost so much time I had to book into to a campsite to spend the night as I didn't want to drive back in the dark (4 hours drive on rough roads), so instead I got as drunk as a skunk and as blind as a bat at the campfire.

I'm sure I looked like something the cat dragged in this morning, wearing the same clothes, no toothbrush, but I had a quick hair of the dog that bit me, and all was well. So I took the bull by the horns and got back to work.

Anyway, to cut a long shaggy dog story short; I managed to find some good locations. I'll post a photo later.

PS. (And in case someone smells a rat; all the above is true; not a cock and bull story; straight from the horses mouth.)

PPS. I better stop here. I could go on until the cows come home....

So I'm heading off to my location early tomorrow morning for a couple of nights.

The roads are bad there, mostly clay, and there has been heavy rains (clay and water make a messy mixture for cars). So I had to get a land rover that I usually use for photographic safaris ready for the journey. It has a big roof hatch which works as a nice filming platform (with a sandbag). Unfortunately there was not enough room for all the video equipment so I had to dismantle the 3rd row of seats and a luggage rack to make room.

Also had to get a set of pioneering equipment ready (hi-lift jack, some mud waffles, panga, spade etc).

If you look closely in the background you will see 'the Anti-Christ' (a Series One Land Rover from the early 1950's) who made a cameo appearance in 'Mondo Safari' for the Christmas Challenge. Anyone who saw the movie 'The Gods must be crazy' will get the Anti-Christ' reference; that movie nicely summed up the love/hate relationship most Land Rover owners have for their vehicles. Mostly hate.

Hoep everyone else is on track. I'll post some photos out in the field.

If you look closely in the background you will see 'the Anti-Christ' (a Series One Land Rover from the early 1950's) who made a cameo appearance in 'Mondo Safari' for the Christmas Challenge. Anyone who saw the movie 'The Gods must be crazy' will get the Anti-Christ' reference; that movie nicely summed up the love/hate relationship most Land Rover owners have for their vehicles. Mostly hate.
One of my favorite movies. And now that I think about it, Mondo Safari contained nuances of this movie...which has something to do with why I loved it so much. Good luck in the field, Simon. Sounds like an adventure! And a challenge!!

Ok, just a small update. I´m still out in the field. Got some of my wanted scenes, but weather are not cooperating. Very much rain showers recently forced me to abandon some great scenes, but this is uwol right?!
Still I think I will get most of my plan A done this week!!! Weather forcast for the next 3 days are good.
Tonight I´m in a small cottage, with electricity. Get all my batteries top loaded and ready for tomorrow.
Hurra, it´s great to back in the field, even if I have slept for only 6 hours the last 3 days :)

How are you doing? Very quiet on the forum. Guess your are all out shooting great video!

One of my favorite movies. And now that I think about it, Mondo Safari contained nuances of this movie...which has something to do with why I loved it so much. Good luck in the field, Simon. Sounds like an adventure! And a challenge!!

Thanks Linda. The director of 'Gods must be crazy', Jamie Uys made a true/pseudo documentary called "(Animals are) Beautiful People" which was a type of modo documentary, and very funny. I have been influenced by that movie since I was a kid.

Ok, just a small update. I´m still out in the field. Got some of my wanted scenes, but weather are not cooperating. Very much rain showers recently forced me to abandon some great scenes, but this is uwol right?!
Still I think I will get most of my plan A done this week!!! Weather forcast for the next 3 days are good.
Tonight I´m in a small cottage, with electricity. Get all my batteries top loaded and ready for tomorrow.
Hurra, it´s great to back in the field, even if I have slept for only 6 hours the last 3 days :)

How are you doing? Very quiet on the forum. Guess your are all out shooting great video!

I'm still out in the field. Staying in a backpacker camp at the moment that has wi-fi so I'm posting this from here.

Things have gone terribly for me. I ripped a calf muscle so I've been hobbling around. The weather has been a washout. We couldn't get decent location audio due to wind and other factors. The funny thing is every time wrap up, the sun comes out!

I'm shooting this with a small crew; Ali Musoke is doing 'B' camera, and Shantos Ssekito is my audio engineer. Shooting DSLR and XLH1 (plus GoPro). I have attached a photo of our editing workstation (with a view, complete with beers).

Anyway, I'm finishing up tomorrow and going to try to work around what we have. I'll have to make or break this one in the edit....

“Things have gone terribly for me….I'll have to make or break this one in the edit.…”

Sounds like a motto for UWOL 23. I just got in for a while. It has been interesting. (What’s that curse-”May you live an interesting life”?) I had just got to the top of the mountain when a thunder storm cropped up in the valley. I rushed to put the camera away against the rain when a funnel cloud popped out. I rushed to get the camera out, thinking “At least I’ll get some Force-of Nature tornado shots before this thing kills me.”, then it hooks back into the cloud. Missed the rain, got the forty mile per hour wind. I wrote this script to be all field audio- no VO. “Yeah, like that’s gonna work in this wind.” Once the storm passed the problem was tourists. Why do people think that when they are outside they have to scream? It took over two hours to get one ten second clip with dialogue because people were all around and they wouldn’t shut up. By this time I was so frustrated things like framing and exposure had gone out the window. I just wanted to get a shot, any shot. I’m also hobbling a bit. I stubbed my toe on a cactus while climbing the rock and filming myself with one hand. The whole time my own version of Bill Thesken’s angel/devil video kept playing in my mind (and no ice cream in sight). The devil was myself in a fume and the angel was Trond Saetre saying “Relax. Remember Rule 11. Have fun!” Fortunately, Rule 11 managed to prevail after a while. (Thanks, Bill and Trond- I needed that!) I saw gray fox, bobcat, jackrabbit, cottontail, white-tailed deer, and elk (where the heck did That thing come from?). Unfortunately, the camera only saw the deer. Still, always fun to see them. I managed to get the bare minimum on my shot list but I have a nagging suspicion that every shot stinks. Tomorrow I’ll do a rough edit and determine whether another trip might yield enough band-aids to patch this pig.

To keep things in perspective, it could have been much worse. Below I’ve attached a still of the area I’ve been working in (Texans will, no doubt, recognize it). The rocks in the center are the place one of my relatives took refuge after being attacked by fourteen Comanche. He fought them off with a muzzle loading rifle and a Colt Patterson revolver. As a boy I used to find arrow heads there and I always wondered if they had been fired at Great-uncle Jack. Thank goodness the tourists were shouting not shooting at me!

I feel bad about all the woes, Mike, and I also feel a little bit bad about laughing during your well-written tale...though not bad enough to be able to read it again without laughing some more! Some of you guys are going to be lucky to get out of UWOL 23 alive, I'm thinking. ;)

Have fun, y'all, but be careful!!!

This has been the only month in many years I have wished for a storm or at least strong wind...
And what do I get... almost calm wind and mirror flat ocean! Do I hear "missing forces of nature"?

Filmed a little, but still need lots more to complete. Or is it time to think about a plan B?

But from the bright side... The filming was fun in bright and nice weather! Can't complain.

I´m back from a exciting tour to one of my favorite places in Norway. Visited one of the highland region in my country.
Spend 6 days out in the field and I think I have enough footage to get some in for this round.
One of the highlights of the tour was a trip to one of the ten highest waterfalls in Europe, the Mardalsfossen (Mardal Waterfall). This is one of the most powerful waterfall I ever witnessed. Manage to get all the way up to the pouring, rainy and wet environment where the water hits the ground after a vertical drop of 360 meters! The total fall is more than 700 meters high.
This time of year the tiered waterfall is floating free, throwing 45 cubic meter of water per second out from the mountain peak.
Of course doing any serious recording in this kind of environment is very difficult, but I got some exciting footage after all.
Below you see a screen capture of how the waterfall is like at some distance. Even at this distance the front lens glass was covered with vapor in seconds

Looks pretty dramatic!

Well, I have managed to pull together a story in the edit; I also managed to get some workable location audio after a bit of scrubbing.

Also, I'm happy to say that after 2 previous UWOL entries I have finally managed to get an underwater shot, which has pride of place at the very end of the story (a fleeting scene, but an important one).

Lorinda; I was just wondering if we can open the Vimeo site for uploading (with a password lock until the start date)? My internet is really poor at the moment so I'm going to need as much time as possible to upload this one without any disruptions.

Sure thing, Simon. If everyone will shoot me an email at uwol@dvinfo.net when ready I'll send the upload info. Once uploaded if you send back the link that would be great!

Alright, well when I first heard the theme I thought cool, then when I thought more, it seemed impossible.
How can anyone explain "A Force of Nature" in under 3 minutes. Too vast. Then I considered more, and thought to take a small bit of that force and show it in all it's glory, to the best of my surroundings and camera's ability. I've been getting some snippets here and there, but needed to go out and take a physical beating to get the shots that I really needed to bring it out. Luckily I have some kids that were willing to go out in the danger zone and get the shots I need. Good old Dad! So I gave them some quick tutoring on how to work the camera while getting pummeled and they came back with so-so footage, we picked it apart and I re-coached on how to hold your line and keep the camera level against all odds and real forces of nature. Charged up the camera and sent them back out and they came back with some epic shots. We were all hooting when we saw some of the results. And now they are hooked on photography, big time.

Should be interesting to see what your kids came up with Bill! I find my kids are actually a kind of force of nature, so I generally never let them near the cameras (although the GoPro is the exception).

So I finished my video ahead of schedule for a change. I managed to get the edit done in a day, which was quick for me. It was a simple edit though; straight cuts all the way (no effects, no transitions, only a small amount of grading).

This round I filmed with 3 cameras; my trusty Canon XLH1 with a Nanoflash, a Canon T3i DSLR, and a GoPro Hero. This is the first documentary project I have done with a DSLR (I have only used the T3i for a couple music videos) . Although I shot as much with the XL as I did with the T3i I found in the edit that I only actually used 1 small shot from the XL. Other than 3 quick GoPro shots the whole thing was a DSLR edit.

This is very strange as the XL is clearly a better documentary camera, and much easier to use. The image from the T3i was technically a lot worse than the XL too (it was much softer, and lacked definition). However the T3i paired with a vintage 50mm Nikkor lens produced some 'dreamy' soft images that seemed to work well for the scenes, and I found myself repeatedly choosing these instead of the sharper XL shots.

I still think that the XL will be my go-to camera for documentary work, but I was really surprised at how much I was able to get out of the dslr for this project.

This round I filmed with 3 cameras; my trusty Canon XLH1 with a Nanoflash, a Canon T3i DSLR, and a GoPro Hero.
I´m almost on the same setup, even if the XLH1 is the least used for me! Maybe because I don´t have any external recorder, still using tape with the H1.
How are you dealing with different frame rates, or are you doing everything i 30p?

I found that I record most of the time in 30p this days. As the Canon 7D can be switched between PAL and NTSC. Even if we are in PAL setup here in Europe, recording 30p is the most convenient for me. If I need 25p it´s quite easy to downconvert from 30p using Cinema tools on my Mac.
In fact I found quality being better (less stuttering) when uploading 30p to Youtube or Vimeo than 25p.

I´ve been using some new gear this round. My newest gear is the Stage Zero time lapse rail system from Stage Zero (http://dynamicperception.com/products/stage-zero-ultimate-bundle)
This is an incredible peace of equipment, with a unlimited ways of doing creative shooting effects!

Started the edit process and found that I still miss some shots to get the story I want. So next weekend I have to urge out to get the last sequences.

Well I just set everything to 25p (I'm not sure that the XLH1 can do 30p, but I have never tried). The T3i does every frame rate, as does the GoPro, but as I live in a PAL country I decided to stick to 25p (I still live in hope that something I film will one day be good enough for broadcast I guess). The Nanoflash makes the XL tapeless, and this function really breathes new life into that camera. I still record tape as backup for running and gunning, but for controlled shoots I just record directly to the nanoflash without tape.

There is definitely video stutter when viewed on youtube or vimeo, but not on the original footage (or the H.264 HD master that I make). 30p gets around this when seen after vimeo/youtube compression?

One thing that I disliked about the DSLR film set up is having to record dual audio to an audio recorder. However, the synchronization effect in FCPX worked 100% every time, so this is now a one click fix. I find that a loud clap at the beginning of each interview section provides all the info needed for the program to work it out. Its a really amazing 'automated' feature, that takes all the work out of the edit (and saves massive amounts of time in the process).

The more I use FCPX the more I love it; and the automated time saving features are the main reason for this. Luckily all the features can still be worked manually (like in FCP7), but why bother when it works? I find that I can spend more time on the creative aspect of editing, while the computer takes care of the time consuming drudgery. Win win!

Well, my schedule just got complicated again. I joked about doing three or four videos this round, but in fact, I will have completed five by the deadline. During the contest time I’ve made one event BR and two training DVDs. Now I need to do a web short plus UWOL! It means I won’t be able to re-shoot the shots where wind blew out the audio so I’m just dubbing them as best I can. Not great, but the best I can do at the moment. At least I’m sure I’ll have something to show.

Per Johan- I’m excited to hear that you got the DP Stage Zero. I’m sure you will do some really awesome work with it. The Stage Zero started as a discussion over on the Timescapes Timelapse Forum and several people (including myself) made DIY versions of the original design that was later refined into the commercial product. I later added the MX2 controller so my timelapse slider is very similar to yours. There are two things I recommend you think about upgrading. First, the Merlin pan/ tilt head (which the MX2 can also control- info at the DP website) when mounted on the Stage Zero adds a lot of functionality. If you think you might want one, better get it now. It is no longer being made and demand for them is huge because it is also used by the Megapano people. There are none left in North America but a few are still available in Europe. (Try Pulsar Optical (http://www.pulsar-optical.co.uk/prod/merlin/starter-scope/refractor/merlindeluxe.html)) Second, you might like to replace the 8.75RPM Dayton gear motor with a 25RPM version in order to do regular video moves as well as timelapse. It’s a simple swap and then re-calibrate in the MX2. There is information about this over at Timescapes (http://forum.timescapes.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=43). The Dayton motors can be difficult to source in Europe, but Servo City (http://www.servocity.com/) will ship there. I think you’re going to love using the Stage Zero.

There is definitely video stutter when viewed on youtube or vimeo, but not on the original footage (or the H.264 HD master that I make). 30p gets around this when seen after vimeo/youtube compression?

My test, without any scientific evidence, show that uploading in 30p makes video smother both at Youtube and Vimeo. I am also selling stock video, and I think the marked is greater in 30p world than 25p



Per Johan- I’m excited to hear that you got the DP Stage Zero. I’m sure you will do some really awesome work with it.
Thanks a lot for those links, Mike. I got this rail system for only 1 week ago, so I have only fiddled a bit with some basic things. But I feel that the this gear has a great potential for me!
I intent to use it for scenic footage but I also looking forward to try some milky way and Aurora Borealis footage later this year when nights are getting darker.
I bought the bundle kit, with everything you need to start. I´m planning to hike up in the highlands of Norway, where you can´t use a car, so I have to find a way to put this gear (the 6 foot rail) attached to a backpack for easily transport to those far away places!

I put the rail and two tripods in a bag for skis and then strap it to my packboard.

Sorry, this round, I can not participate.
Wish you all good luck.
Geir Inge

Me too. I was really looking forward to this challenge but, for the second time in succession, a load of work came in a couple of days after I signed up! Our planned break was also put on hold - so I’m out.

Just under 1 week to go.

Over 20 sign-ups. 2 Down. Is everyone else still onboard? I hope so; lets make it a big one.

Against the slow internet odds I managed to upload my entry to the UWOL Vimeo site (password locked so is not visible). So I guess the wonders outweighed the woes.

I also managed to upload it to my own Vimeo site. This one was password locked too; yet in the stats chart I can see its been viewed in the USA, UK, Germany & Greece - weird!

I'm done. Will upload within the next couple of days.
Mine won't fit in any of the normal boxes, it's a little bit of
an abstract piece designed to visually pull the viewer in, and leaving
them wondering what the heck happened. My test audience says it's a
'sick' movie.
For the older generation, 'sick' is the new 'cool'. Go figure.
Due on July 5 right?

Yes I'm still on board. Shot it all this afternoon. Hope to edit it tonight. It's a bit of a rush. As a sideline my tripod collapsed, and I couldn't find the allen key to hold it straight. The show must go on so they say.

I've had that happen before; was it a Manfrotto tripod by any chance?

Hi Simon. Yes it is. It can be a pain in the butt at times. There is a small place to carry the allen key on one of the legs. It's never there when I need it. I also committed No. 1 rule and had no gaffa tape.

Its a crazy design that. My tripod actually has a little clip that the allan key slots into, and I check those religiously these days. See this thread:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-xl-h-series-hdv-camcorders/490437-xlh1-6ft-drop-concrete.html

I am done, such as it is. Anyone gotten the upload information yet ? Haven't use the new Vimeo set up yet.

Still not done, but I think I have enough footage to edit a sequence. Will try to make this film with ambient audio only, no narrating, the footage tells the story.
Good luck to everyone!

I am done, such as it is. Anyone gotten the upload information yet ? Haven't use the new Vimeo set up yet.

Yeah I have uploaded already. Send a message to Lorinda and she will send you the user name and password to access the UWOL Vimeo account. Uploading is simple enough, just a couple of clicks.

Chris is all set now. For the rest of you finishing up, remember to shoot me an email through uwol@dvinfo.net and you'll get the upload info.

Thanks Simon, and Lorinda !!

Splash! I'm out.

Have filmed only parts of what I needed, and what I have isn't enough to build a story around.
Better luck next time.

I look forward to see all the finished films!

Lorinda,

To bring up a perpetual question that I have never really seen answered. Does midnight July 5th mean the minute following 11:59 PM on July 4th (which it should be, according to universal time), or the minute following 11:59 PM on July 5th (which a lot of people assume it is)? Perhaps the deadline should read 11:59 PM, or 23:59. Anyway, if it is the former, should we be uploading our stories today?