On your mark!

DV Info Net head guy Chris Hurd is offering DVi-branded swag to each one of you who completes an entry, and he’s also giving a $100 gift card to the winner, $50 gift card to the runner up! But I know you guys…you want that swag!!

Get set!

This theme has many possibilities, just one of which is the hope that you will stretch yourselves beyond what you may normally shoot. The possibilities won’t be mentioned here, but if you have ANY trouble with the theme, shoot an email my way and I will gladly offer some options.

GO!!!

The theme: EXPANDING HORIZONS.

Thank-you, Lorinda, for another great theme with many possibilities. Good-luck all!

Wohoo! Great theme!

Thanks Lorinda - a theme as wide as the horizon.

Looks like we are going to see new places and do new things this round!! Love it.

Hmmm, interesting. Very interesting.

Going to have think on that one!!! Doooo.

On your mark!

DV Info Net head guy Chris Hurd is offering DVi-branded swag to each one of you who completes an entry, .

I had to look up the meaning:

Per Wikipedia:
Swag (bedroll), an Australian bedroll
-----

This could be very useful for the outdoor photographer.
Think about it.
How many times have you been filming on a rocky shoreline or mountain and needed
to lay out for a bit of a rest, but it was too...rocky.
With a swag you can roll it out and be living like a king no matter what the conditions.

...and then you could be a "jolly swag-man..." :)

Will certainly be interesting since Iowa is in that ugly in-between seasons state right now.
Wonder if I can come up with something outside the box? Might have to spend some time with the thinking cap on for this one.

Challenging theme with many opportunities I would think :)
Thanks Lorinda, for the job you do in Uwol
and at the same time gives us the challenge to broaden our horizons.
Good luck everyone and may the force be with you.

I had to look up the meaning:

Per Wikipedia:
Swag (bedroll), an Australian bedroll
-----

This could be very useful for the outdoor photographer.
Think about it.
How many times have you been filming on a rocky shoreline or mountain and needed
to lay out for a bit of a rest, but it was too...rocky.
With a swag you can roll it out and be living like a king no matter what the conditions.

Nope - no comfy photogaraphers here - that's only one meaning.... unless the swag is a swag of course.

Swag: "Promotional items, especially when given for free, considered as a group" (thefreedictionary.com).

Yes to Marj, in this case it's the J.R.R. Tolkein definition of the term: swag = loot.

Lorinda

I have a couple of ideas rattling around in my head but I just want to make sure that I understand this theme correctly:

In literal, pictorial terms 'expanding the horizon' means moving backwards or zooming out (photography) in order to get the bigger picture.

Or another example can be seen when climbing a steep hill. At first the landscape is dominated by the mountain you are climbing but when you reach the top you suddenly see the wider landscape; the broader context.

Figuratively it means to experience and learn new things. e.g. Read more! Travel! Go out and expand your horizons! (freedictionary.com)

So, am I correct in thinking we can basically choose any subject as long as we describe it within its broader context or environment? Additionally as you said, we should also choose something different from what we would normally do or approach it from a different angle from what we would normally do. In so doing, we not only expand our own horizons but hopefully give the viewer something new to learn. Alternatively our subject itself could learn something new – like a young animal or fledgling might.

Many thanks
Marj

That's about it, Marj! Thanks! Very thoughtful, and better than I would have said. I also got validation for the theme when I found a blog called Pushing My Horizon, by David Berlew Jr. He put into words an aspect that had been "rattling around in my head" but would have never formulated. I won't quote it here so I don't risk stepping on someone's grand idea, but anyone interested in reading it can find it in a search online.

Thanks Lorinda. And wow, that concept of 'expanding one's horizon' has very interesting possibilities!

Marj, it can also connote improving prospects.

Thanks Mike - now to piece it all together!

If I read the rules correctly I can have up 24 seconds of previously shot footage in my film?
I'm going to have to pull a few old clips to move my story along or at least not make it boring.:)

24 second's if 4 minutes long. That's the route I am taking. Just need some sunshine to get my subjects to start some noisy courting! Typical the Great Crest Grebes have all ready paired, courted and now sitting on eggs, the mallards are gang banging, but the birds(subject of the film) who wake me up with their noisy repetitive calling are conspicuous by their absence !!

Wow Mick, you are weeks ahead of me. Ice is still half a meter thick at least and no sign of any migration birds at the sanctuary so far...! Been very cold winter here this year. Read somewhere that the average temperature for February and March have been 20 degrees colder this year than last year.

Hi Per,

this time last year it was about 17c, lots of early nesting etc. We are at a least 2-3 weeks behind last year, but in reality about normal. The Bewicks at Slimbridge have only just left for this week for Arctic Russia.

Mick