The autumn season is here and so are the colors. Muskox is in the rat periode, no mate has been completed as far as I know. The females still turn down any male attempt.
I have been out filming a lot the latest weekends, trying to get nice colorful footage, click on the link below to view a flash movie:
http://video-film.no/snutter/muskox3.html

Mac-users: you can download a mov-file here:
http://video-film.no/snutter/muskox3.mov 17.6MB (please download before viewing!)

Enjoy!

Per,

That is absolutely stunning footage, the autumn colours combined with your long lens make it a dream to watch. I love the opening shots.

Are you still using Tony's settings or have you modified them?

I am now waiting for the next episode, of the Musk Ox in the snow - actually I want to see more of this episode

Bob

PS: My only criticism would be, that I would like to see the 2 shots of the man swapped, the "man out of focus" first

Per,

That was great. I also love the color saturation, depth of field and sharpness. Music choice and editing was superb. Compression for the web looked really good.

Regards,

I've been waiting for the next installment - and it's worth the wait. Lovely autumn colours. Great behaviour - I can't wait to see the finished film.

Thanks all for your comments.

Bob, I totally agree in your suggestion about those two clips. I have swapped them now. Looking much better. I'm still using Tony's setting.

Maybe some of you have noticed that one of the male in the film, is missing the horn of his left side. This probably happend during a fight last week, but it dosen't seem to harm him much.

Per Johan, that video is awesome.
Well done!!!

How close were you?

Per Johan, that video is awesome.
Well done!!!

How close were you?
Well, it's very important to approach these animals very carefully. You have to "read" their behaviour before approaching. I use to sit on a long distance at first, observing them carefully. It's also important to let them know that you are in the area, let them see and smell you. The safety distance for guiding is approx. 200 meter.

My philosophy when filming wild species is not to disturb them unnecessary, therefore I only approach them when they look calm and comfortable with my present. The distance to the herd vary much according to the circumstances. My long lense also help me to get good close up at a comfortable distance.

Per - That was a lovely clip of Dovrefjell - well worth watching. I bet the original uncompressed file is superb.

If there was one thing I'd like to add - and this is no criticism of your filming - would to be able to hear some natural background sound. The music blends in very nice with the footage, but just a few seconds of natural sounds, especially the deep sounds of when the Musk Ox breath out heavily or the sounds of hooves, would I'm sure enhance an already very good clip.

I’m glad that you liked using one of my presets. For a recent film project I used a slightly different XL2 preset (mainly dialled out the red to avoid pinkish cast on some subjects, centred the sharpness and slightly gained colour spectrum). Here is the Preset for anyone that is interested:

XL2 Globetrotter 2006 Preset (outdoor nature subjects):

Main dial on 50i
16:9 Mode
AV or M on dial.
-3dB gain
White Balance: on Outdoor sunlight (daylight temperature)
Gamma: Cine
Knee: Low
Black: Press
Colour Matrix: Cine
Colour gain: +4
Colour phase: Middle
R-Gain: Middle
G-Gain: Middle
Blue-gain: Middle
V-detail: Normal
Sharpness: Middle or +1
Coring: Middle
Setup level: Middle
Master Ped: -1
NR: Off
Skin detail : Off
Filter: A Circular Polarizer B+W F-Pro 72mm filter is used most of the time, although it is sometimes removed during extremely low light conditions and exchanged for a Hoya Super HMC Pro 1 UV(0), or removed altogether when I sometimes use my selection of Grad filters for dramatic landscapes.

Tony, thanks for the updated "Globetrotter 2006", I have been using the original Globetrotter with great success, all I am looking for now is for something that can dial out the terrible pollution we have

Cheers

Bob

Hi Per Johan,

I think the footage is brilliant. Making me wait for the next time.
Your footage is well filmed as other stated before, and you muster other skills
as editing and choosing and embedding the right music.
Do I understand correctly that you plan to go beyond the trailer format for this project ?
It would be interesting to see how it will be, and how you cope with the new challenges ahead.
How much equipment do you carry on those beautiful mountains ?
Is the area approachable or you had to camp with all your gear ?
Is it possible to film those animals at dusk or dawn ?

Waiting for the next one.
Sassi

Tony, thanks for the updated "Globetrotter 2006", I have been using the original Globetrotter with great success, all I am looking for now is for something that can dial out the terrible pollution we have

Cheers

Bob

I don't know a way of dialling out the pollution Bob - I wish we all did! A UV filter or polarizer does sometimes help to cut through some of the haze.

Are you filming in Hong Kong? I was actually born in Hong Kong, although I suspect that the pollution has increased dramatically since I was last there. Have you tried filming on the high hills above Kowloon during early morning when the cooler air keeps some of the pollution in the lower valleys? Filming outside of the warmest hours will also sometimes help avoid the dreaded heat-haze affecting contrast and sharpness when long lenses are used.

Tony, I have been living & working in Hong Kong for over 30 years, most of my current work and for the last 10 years has been in the Country Parks ( 40% of HK is country park). Fortunately the company shot a lot of footage 7 - 10 years ago, before we were really hit with high pollution levels.

All our videos start and end with sunrises and sunsets as pollution is less visible at this time. It has just taken us 11 months to do 10 hours of helicopter footage, in fact all the footage was shot in 4 consecutive days, after 2 weeks of clear skies we went back to polluted skies again.

Unfortunately there are no front mounted helicopter mounts in HK but we still mange to get some stunning handheld footage in the parks

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7951351962907569678

Bob

The Sai Wan clip looked great Bob - just a pity that the rez is so awful in the clip - I'd rather wait a bit to download a higher resolution clip, even if in a smaller frame.

What was the black object flapping on a few occasions into the left side of the screen?

The black you see is the helicopter pilot's door coming into frame, originally this didn't bother us as the footage was only for TV and the door was out of tv viewing but this June we reshot the footage as it going on large LCD screens. Handholding helicopter shots and trying to look forward are very difficult to do especially when you see the ground flying past 30 feet below you.

Unfortunately the original uploaded footage to Google was reconverted to another codec and suffered badly. I will in the near future change most of the clips on google video

Impressive animals and equally impressive footage. Great stuff, the landscapes are just so emotive.....lovely! On a side note I wasn't keen when I saw the chap walk into shot, it knid of took away some of the natural remoteness the opening shots gave to the piece. I agree with the point about the sound recording aswell I think that would add some icing on an already tasty cake.

Look foward to seeing how this comes together into a collective piece.

Out of interest how remote is this site....lots of hiking involved?

Mat

Hi fellows!
Thanks for all you comments. I'm very pleased that some of you gives me critics. Criticism from fellows is very important for me besides practising in the field to improve my way of filming.

Tony:
First of all thanks for sharing your presets. I'm going to try out your new preset on my next trip to the montain.
I know that sound is very important and I'm working at this to improve it. My problem until now have been using long lens I haven't had good enough microphones to pick up a decent sound from distance. I'm now experimenting with 2 Sennheiser ME-67 shotguns. There is also problem with severe wind conditions to get good soundrecording. (Wish I could place a lavalier on them, any volunteer? :-))

Sassi:
I'm not sure if I understand with go beyond the trailer format? My plan for this is to make a documantary - A Year in the Muskox Life at Dovrefjell. I have a script/plan for the project. I have been experimenting with type of gear, lenses, microphones etc. How far/near to the object to shoot. I also read alot of scientific literature about the muskox. I'm collecting sponsors for the project, I have contacted the national tv-stations with samples of the footage, hopefully I get a positive response for broadcasting? I'm considering shooting the documentary in HDV with Canon XLH1 if I'm able to get enough sponsorship!!!
So it's alot of administration to complete before I can start up with what I like best, the shooting.
The film take place in one of Norways National Parks. No motorize vehicle is allowed, so I have to carry all my equipments in a backpack. I use to arrange a base camp 1 hours walk from my car. To bring all my gear to the camp I have to go 2 trips carrying an average of 25kg each time. I'm sleeping in a tent. Fortunately I'm a former pararanger in the army, so I'm used to such a life! From my basecamp the distance to the muskox vary but often I find them in a range of half an hour from the base camp. My plan is to film the muskox in all weather and conditions as far as the light conditions allow. One of my biggest concerns is shooting in the wintertime, manage batteries, camera, cold fingers etc.

Mat:
I could agree on the chap walking in to the picture are disturbing to the great wilderness. This was just an effect in this sample and I don't think I will be showing any humans in the finished film. About the remoteness see my answer to Sassi above.

So beautiful, such wonderful animals. Norway has two National Treasures, The Musk Ox, and Per Johan. Bob

Per,

I like the sequence so much I keep going back to watch it. One point, would the edit be improved it the Close Up of the Musk Ox, which comes directly after the 2 shots of the man, should this shot be flipped so the Musk Ox is looking out the left hand side of frame.

Bob

Bob, this is cool! I appreciate very much your comments to improve the video. I know that I need to improve my editing skills. And other eyes often see ways of improving the footage better than the guy who sits in the editing room for hours!

I might put you up as a co-editor Bob!

Here's the link to the improved video:
http://www.video-film.no/snutter/muskox3.html

And for you mac-guys:
http://www.video-film.no/snutter/muskox3.mov (17.9MB)

Per,

Forget the editor bit, I prefer to get in the field with my XL2 and canon FD 300mm t2.8 lens and get dirty.

Cheers and keep up the good work

Bob

The best I've ever seen, Per Johan. Cutting in close was an excellent editorial decision which you varied effectively; it gives an intimate impact to the video. I am amazed at how much insight into the lives of musk ox you conveyed in such a short time. Having respected their space and received their tolerance you made the best of it.

While the light lasts keep at it.